A very popular technique identity thieves use to obtain personal information is called “dumpster diving,” which one expert defines as “the active search for interesting stuff that others have thrown away.” As the term implies, dumpster diving literally involves digging through your discarded trash for credit card offers, medical statements and other papers that contain your personal information.
The average American uses 650 pounds of paper a year. Americans receive almost 4 million tons of junk mail every year — and much of it winds up in landfills. Each year, we trash enough office paper to build a 12-foot wall from Los Angeles to New York City.
Much of this paper contains personal information that is a gold mine of information for the identity thief. Carelessly throwing away documents, bills, credit card and banking statements, and other personal papers is akin to giving thieves access to your entire personal history.
Businesses Are Also Targets for Identity Thieves
While the average consumer discards hundreds of pounds of paper every year, businesses and organizations toss or recycle millions of pounds of paper containing information ready-made for identity thieves. Currently, businesses use about 21 million tons of paper every year. That’s about 175 pounds of paper for each citizen.
Washington State law requires businesses to “take all reasonable steps to destroy, or arrange for the destruction of, personal financial and health information and personal identification numbers issued by government entities.” If information is not disposed of in accordance with the law; businesses may be subject to civil liability if an individual is harmed by their failure. Washington is one of only four states with a law requiring businesses to dispose of personal information responsibly.
Shred Shred Shred
There is a simple way to avoid becoming a victim of dumpster divers that all consumers or businesses should consider – shredders. More and more people every year are taking advantage of this relatively cheap way of protecting personal information. Traditionally, only businesses used shredders. However, at a recent meeting with nearly 70 seniors, the Attorney General’s Office found that over 80 percent reported owning and using a personal shredder.
A little research will yield a large list of small to large machines that can do a lot to protect your personal information. One popular office supply chain offers shredders from $25 up to $1,500. The key is to choose what works best for you.
Dumpster diving is a low-tech method to steal personal information. The relatively low-tech protection to help stop the problem is as easy as shredding paper before recycling or throwing it away. Both businesses and consumers can help prevent this crime.
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In short, destroy all sensitive information including junk mail and paperwork that includes:
Account numbers
Addresses
Birth dates
E-mail addresses
Names
Passwords and PINs
Phone numbers
Signatures
Social Security Numbers
Below is a list of specific items you should shred:
Address labels from junk mail and magazines
ATM receipts
Bank statements
Birth certificate copies
Canceled and voided checks
Credit and charge card bills, carbon copies, summaries and receipts
Credit reports and histories
Employee pay stubs
Employment records
Expired credit and identification cards including driver’s licenses, college IDs, military IDs, employee badges, medical insurance cards, etc. (If your shredder can’t handle plastic, cut up cards with a scissors before discarding them.)
Expired passports and visas
Insurance documents
Investment, stock and property transactions
Legal documents
Luggage tags
Medical and dental records
Papers with a Social Security number
Pre-approved credit card applications
Receipts with checking account numbers
Report cards
Résumés or curriculum vitae
Signatures (such as those found on leases, contracts, letters)
Tax forms
Transcripts
Travel itineraries
Used airline tickets
Utility bills (telephone, gas, electric, water, cable TV, Internet)
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