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Trash and identity theft.

Where can I dispose of my garbage?

         

HughMungus

8:16 pm on Oct 29, 2003 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Since learning how easy and lucrative identity theft is, I'm wondering what I can do with my trash. I live in an apartment so I can't burn the documents that have my name, address, credit card number, drivers license number, VIN, SSN, etc. etc. etc. Should I just invest in a shredder?

Yidaki

8:20 pm on Oct 29, 2003 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



> I live in an apartment so I can't burn the documents

That's no reason ...

Yah, shredder is good.

Brad

8:22 pm on Oct 29, 2003 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Yes, get a cheap shredder from an office supply and shred your financial papers before throwing them out.

And don't forget the other end of the paper stream - a locking post box is good protection too, especially for people with rural type mailboxes.

rcjordan

8:32 pm on Oct 29, 2003 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



And watch your mailbox.

ritualcoffee

9:25 pm on Oct 29, 2003 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



shred them and then mix the shreds in with nasty kitchen garbage.

If it has SSN on it or any other really personal numbers - sharpie them out and then shred.

u4eas

9:27 pm on Oct 29, 2003 (gmt 0)

10+ Year Member



I have a cross cut shredder... so it cits everything into 1" long x 1/8" wide confetti <-(sp?)

I shred all my recipts that are not paid in cash. I shred anything with important data on it. I also shred every one of my old bills...

I also have a safe deposit box with a list of all my credit cards, loans, accounts etc... with acct numbers, contacts, etc...

I also have photocopies of each card front and back and and a copy of all the ids I have.

Side note: the bank I use for my safe box is open 7 days a week. So chances are if I need something I can always get it. If not, the next morning it will be open.

I too have been known to dispense some of the shreding in various garbage bags, as well as wait till next weeks trash to toss some of the shredings...

Call me paranoid... I have seen people get burned by Identity Theft, and its something I want to avoid like the plague.

[edited by: u4eas at 9:31 pm (utc) on Oct. 29, 2003]

Mardi_Gras

9:29 pm on Oct 29, 2003 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Don't go too cheap on the shredder - someone gave me a cheap 5-sheet model and it strains on two pieces of paper - forget throwing an entire credit card offering into it.

Spend the extra money for more power and less noise - but do shred!

rcjordan

9:36 pm on Oct 29, 2003 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Don't set any of your banking accounts up on auto-drafting. If you need drafting, get a separate credit card with a low limit and draft that.

Turn in your credit cards every two years (at most).

bcolflesh

9:41 pm on Oct 29, 2003 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Where can I dispose of my garbage?

New Jersey Pine Barrens

<edit> oh - you're talking about mail - get a crosscut shredder with a credit card slot </edit>

HughMungus

11:56 pm on Oct 29, 2003 (gmt 0)

WebmasterWorld Senior Member 10+ Year Member



Turn in your credit cards every two years (at most).

Actually, this just came up recently. I lost a debit card and while discussing identity theft, someone pointed out that it's a good idea to get new credit/debit card numbers every few years or so.

What most people don't realize is that it takes one bag of trash lifted right off your front lawn to start stealing. What's always bothered me and still bothers me a lot is B&M stores that print my entire CC # AND expiration date on the receipt (and bartenders expect you to leave that on the bar after you sign it, YEAH RIGHT).