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Document Destruction: Security Through Shredding

Thursday, 10 December 2009

Document Destruction: Security Through Shredding

Shredders Help Prevent Identity Theft
The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) has teamed with Fellowes® to offer people tips on how to prevent identity theft. Thieves can't steal what they can't read, so it can't be said enough-one of the most important steps you can take in preventing identity theft is to properly dispose of personal information so it doesn't end up in the wrong hands.

Experts agree that the best way to dispose of documents that contain your personal information is to shred them. Fellowes strongly recommends using a cross-cut shredder. Unlike strip-cut models or other in which the pieces can potentially be put back together, cross-cut or confetti-cut machines produce smaller pieces that are more difficult to reassemble, which ultimately provides greater document security.

Shred This-Recommended Top 20
It's not difficult to determine what you should shred. Essentially, any document containing information that you don't want others to have should be shredded. People who buy their first shredder are surprised as they often end up shredding twice as much as they expected. It's a simple step that goes a long way toward securing your information. Here's a brief list of documents that should be shredded:

Obsolete financial records, including loan applications
Pre-approved credit card applications
Personal medical records or physician statements
Correspondence and tax preparation worksheets
Receipts for purchases
Bank statements
ATM receipts
Credit card statements
Cancelled checks
Mail and old records
Utility bills
Credit card charges
Insurance forms
Investment transactions
Expired charge cards
Mailing labels from magazines
Pay stubs
Old driver's licenses or passports
Expired insurance and membership cards
Any documents that may contain Social Security numbers, birth dates, your mother's maiden name and any account numbers or online passwords