![]() ![]() Has your company ever considered hiring a paper shredding truck? Shredding paper records is a method for guaranteeing any sensitive physical data is destroyed and put out of sight and mind for good. ![]() The physical storage of sensitive information remains a major liability for any company’s data security. What if you notice that there’s a persistent source of documents containing it? In that case, it’s worthwhile to ask the provider if they can withhold your social security number from printed forms as an extra precaution.With the constant threat of data breaches from malicious software in mind, it’s easy to gloss over those old documents that pile up over time in the office. This is why you should destroy any unnecessary documents containing your social security number. Your social security number is as good as gold to identity thieves. Even cancelled credit card accounts provide a way for thieves to gain access to your new account, or to open a new account under your name. ![]() This makes stealing your new account easy. The only difference between the two cards is the expiration date. Sometimes renewed credit cards have the same account number as the expired or cancelled card. This information is harmful in the hands of thieves.Įxpired Or Cancelled Credit Cards. Bills can contain your full name, address, account details and even your signature. Thieves can use your photos maliciously, and even if they can’t steal your identity using old images, it’s still a good idea to keep them secure. Also remember to be extremely careful with passports while they’re still in use.įamily photos. Consider shredding old photos instead of just throwing them out (after you’ve digitized them, of course). An identity thief with either is incredibly dangerous. Old passports and photo IDs. If you hold onto your old passports and photo IDs after they expire, shred them the minute you don’t need them. Transitioning to online statements is a great way to protect yourself from physical document identity theft, but if you do still get paper statements, make sure to shred them. Hold onto them for as long as your policy is active, plus about five years, then shred them - they’re another potential jackpot for identity thieves.Ĭredit card statements. Being a smart credit card user requires effort. Insurance records. Insurance records are another document you need to hold onto longer than other documents. Keep any medical bills for about a year after they’re paid, then throw them into the shredder. Medical records. Even though you should keep a personal copy of your medical records, remember to shred it when you feel that the information is no longer needed. ![]() Tax returns contain a wealth of personal information and should be safely disposed of. You should save tax returns for at least three years, but remember incorrectly filing your taxes can lead to IRS audits further down the road. Left un-shredded, an identity thief could easily fill out a pre-approved credit card application on your behalf. Shredding old pay stubs keeps identity thieves from knowing your health care providers and where you bank. Pay stubs. Though perhaps not thought of as dangerous documents, pay stubs contain more personal information than you might think. As soon as you get the information you need from your statement, shred the document immediately failing to ensures criminals have access to personal information. Experts across the board agree: bank statements should be shredded. ![]()
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