To protect yourself from identity theft, shredding sensitive documents is essential, but there's more you should be shredding than what you probably think. We recently gave you a list of five items people forget to shred that can put them at risk for identity theft. Now we have five more things you should always shred.
- Airline Luggage Tags The tags referred to are the adhesive paper labels attached by the airline, not the ones you stick yourself with your contact info (And never put your home address on it. Instead, only use a name and phone number).
- Death Announcements Thieves can use the information in death announcement cards to apply for credit cards in those names. These announcements can be rich in valuable material for identity thieves, such as the mother's maiden name of the deceased and other identifying material commonly used by financial organizations.
- Pet Documents Yes, save your pet medical records, adoption, and license information while it's necessary and relevant, but make sure to shred all of it as soon as it isn't. Why? Pet names are often used as passwords by consumers. Additionally, many companies use “What's your pet's name” or “What was your first pet's name” as a security question when resetting a password.
- Resumes Don't just toss old copies of your resume in the trash. Shred them because resumes contain valuable information to identity thieves like:
- Phone numbers
- Mailing address
- Educational information
- Employment information
- Leftover Funeral Pamphlets These have even more information that identity thieves can use than death announcements. For example, the death pamphlets typically contain the deceased's date of birth. More detailed family information like a parent's middle name may also be included, which might answer a security question. The identities of more than two million deceased people are stolen every year.
If you're like most people, you tear off those adhesive labels wrapped around your luggage handles and toss them in the trash (or worse, leave them on, which could confuse the airport). Like boarding passes, criminals could use the information on the luggage tags to gain access to your frequent flyer account. Traveling and don't have access to a shredder? Just remove the airline's luggage tag, tuck it into your bag, and shred it when you get home.
It's a habit that's quite prevalent. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) found that 15% of the population of Britain use their pet's name as a password, which translates to millions of people.
The habit is even more widespread in America. According to a Google survey, 31% of Americans use a pet's name as a password, and that rate is even higher in some states.
Identity thieves could use the last two items for more substantial frauds and cons, not just opening fake credit card accounts. Fake businesses have even been opened using fraudulent information, and the person whose identity was stolen gets left with a tangle of legal problems.
What Documents Should You Shred?
Some documents need to be kept for emergencies. Others should be shredded to protect yourself from identity theft. Protect yourself and shred the following documents:
- Financial statements
- Legal documents
- Medical records
- Payroll records
- Bank statements
- Tax records
- Receipts
Protect Yourself from Identity Theft with Storage Quarters
Protecting your data is essential to prevent identity theft. The data security experts at Storage Quarters can help with all aspects of storing and shredding your sensitive information, and we will keep your vital records safe and secure. Contact Storage Quarters today to get a free quote or book our services.