Sponsored by Fellowes®
When in doubt,
shred it
CURRENTLY, IDENTITY THEFT is the fastest-growing crime in America, and
this trend shows no sign of slowing down. Many people still aren’t aware of
how easy it is to have their financial information stolen. And if it is stolen,
victims spend an average of $800 and 175 hours of their personal time trying
to clear their names!
What to shred
Individuals
ATM receipts
Bank statements
Canceled checks
Credit-card statements and receipts
Insurance policies
Investment statements
Junk mail
Pay stubs
Retirement-plan contributions
Tax returns
Wills and other legal documents
Misconceptions about identity theft
Myth: Identity theft is not a common crime.
Fact: In the United States, there are 24,000 reported cases every day.
Myth: Senior citizens are the age group most vulnerable to identity theft.
Fact: Eighteen- to 29-year-olds report the largest number of identity-theft incidents.
Myth: Only strangers and hardened criminals steal information.
Fact: Fifteen percent of identity-fraud cases involve family members
and friends.
Business organizations
Accounts receivable
Client contacts
Financial documents
Insurance records
Medical records
Obsolete legal files
OSHA 300 logs
Payroll records
Personnel files
Trade secrets
Myth: Identity theft occurs most often on the Internet.
Fact: The majority of identity-theft crimes occur through stolen paperwork
or personal items such as credit cards and wallets.
Identity-theft protection tips
How can you fight back against identity theft and corporate espionage?
Depending on the laws in your
area or the nature of your business,
there may be privacy, retention and
destruction guidelines that you are
required to follow.
