The Security of Shredding

Shredders Help 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 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.

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:

  1. Obsolete financial records, including loan applications
  2. Pre-approved credit card applications
  3. Personal medical records or physician statements
  4. Correspondence and tax preparation worksheets
  5. Receipts for purchases
  6. Bank statements
  7. ATM receipts
  8. Credit card statements
  9. Cancelled checks
  10. Mail and old records
  11. Utility bills
  12. Credit card charges
  13. Insurance forms
  14. Investment transactions
  15. Expired charge cards
  16. Mailing labels from magazines
  17. Pay stubs
  18. Old driver's licenses or passports
  19. Expired insurance and membership cards
  20. Any documents that may contain Tax File Numbers, birth dates, your mother's maiden name and any account numbers or online passwords