Identity theft is a crime that is on the rise in the U.S. It is becoming more and more common and of great concern to law enforcement agencies all over the country. This crime has been linked to bank fraud, credit card fraud, identity cloning, business identity theft, and terrorism. The latter seems aspecially frightening as a number of the 9/11 terrorst were in the US on forged or fraudulent ids.
It can target anyone, but among the most vulnerable are the elderly and the unwary.
How does it occur?
It can occur by simply revealing personal information in public. It can happen with the theft of personal or financial information which can be used to create credit or bank accounts in your name.
It can happen when someone goes through your trash looking for any information that they can use to create a false indentity with your name on the accounts. Called "dumpster divers", these thieves comb through the trash of others seeking any information that can be used.
What can be done to prevent identity theft?
While it is impossible to be completely secure in the protection ofyour identity, there are a number of ways to prevent this from happening to you, for the purpose of this presentation I want to focus on just one. The first line of defense to protect yourself from this crime is the simple paper shredder. It should be used to destroy old financial records such as bank account information or credit information which may contain active account numbers or your personal information.
It should also be used to destroy any current bank account information after the bills have been properly paid and or dealt with.
Which type of shredder should you buy?
There are basically three types of shredders: single cut or strip shredders, cross cut shredders, and diamond cut shredders. The basic rule of thumb for shredders is thatthe smaller the pieces it cuts, the better.
The diamond cut shredder is the type that most experts recommend as it prevents anyone from piecing together the documentation by cutting the documents into equal and identical pieces.
Other experts differ in opinion only in the respect that either the cross cut or diamond cut shredders will do the job with equal effectiveness.
As a final note: when using a shredder remember to oil it often by adding a little oil to the paper as you run it through the machine. Any good household machine oil will work, but always remember to consult your owner's manual first.
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Contributor's Note
Using a simple paper shredder can go along way to ensuring that your identity is more secure.
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