When it comes to identity theft protection, one of the most efficient ways to protect yourself and your family is to invest in a paper shredder. With this, you can destroy unnecessary documents before discarding them.
Whether they are work-related or private, it is crucial to the safety of your identity to keep any information on financial, legal, or other documents from being stolen.
5 Reasons You Should Shred
The truth is, shredding is beneficial in more ways than one:
- Prevents identity theft – Criminals will go through waste bins to locate personal information they can use to steal from you.
- Saves storage space – Unneeded papers can clutter a space where other important documents reside.
- Preserves mother nature – Paper that is shredded and recycled is typically used to create more paper, AND serves as a good composting material.
- Law compliance – By law, sensitive documents within a workplace must be shredded to protect client or employee confidentiality.
- Reduces the risk of a fire – Having a lot of paper lingering can be a fire hazard.
Documents to Shred
If you want to get specific, examples of documents with sensitive information can include:
- Tax returns
- Bank statements
- Voided checks
- Pay stubs
- Credit card statements
- Records of employment
- Insurance notices
- Medical documents
Identity Theft Protection
If you haven’t already, you can sign up for identity theft protection through different services. A good plan should include:
- Identity monitoring
- Social Security monitoring
- Debit or credit card monitoring
- Identity theft restoration
- Lost or stolen credit card assistance
- And more
