Who’s Digging through Your Trash?
Caution—discarded documents can put you at risk for identity theft!
The next time you get ready to throw out old bills or junk mail, you may want to stop for a moment and reconsider what types of information you’re putting in your trash bin. Today, a very common way for identity thieves to capture personal information is to pick through your trash or recycling. To protect yourself and family, always shred documents that contain confidential or personal data, especially those that may include your social security number or any important account numbers, such as:
- Charge receipts
- Copies of credit applications
- Insurance forms
- Physician statements
- Checks and bank statements
- Expired charge cards that you’re discarding
- Credit offers you get in the mail
You can also take a preemptive step and stop those credit offers from coming each week through opting out of receiving prescreened offers in the mail by calling: 1-888-5-OPT-OUT. You will be asked to provide your Social Security number which the consumer reporting companies need to match you with your file.
So, let’s say you have been careful of what you’re putting in the trash all year. The problem is, now you’ve got a mountain of discarded mail, receipts and old papers taking up space. The good news is that October can be the month you safely get rid of it all.
On Wednesday, October 1st, Tech CU will be holding its 3rd annual free Shred Day. We’ll provide access to a secure shredder truck for members to safely dispose of unwanted confidential documents. From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., you can stop by Tech CU’s San Jose Financial Center, located at 2010 North First Street (at Brokaw Road), and dispose of financial statements, canceled checks, credit cards, unused convenience checks, tax information, compact discs, and floppy disks.
Simply being just a little more conscientious about the types of information you’re putting in the trash can go a long way toward protecting your identity. And that’s important, because those who do have their identity stolen can spend months, even years trying to get it back.
Tech CU Shred Day
When: Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: San Jose Financial Center, located at 2010 North First Street (at Brokaw Road)
It’s free! Stop by and securely shred your confidential documents.
