Tips from Your Professional Paper Shredding Company
Whether you are part of traditional business that is heavily dependent on paperwork, or a technology-driven business that conducts every transaction online, the issues associated with information leaks, data hacks and identity thefts are common for all. Although the degree of risk may vary due to the nature of the business, both you and your customers are vulnerable to information security threats. In 2017, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that out of the 2.7 million consumer complaints they received, 23% were related to fraudulent debt collection, 14% were identity theft cases and 13% were imposter scams. Of this, identity theft alone accounted for a yearly loss of approximately $53 billion dollars.
With each passing day, hackers and fraudsters find newer ways to lay their hands on confidential information through which they can scam individuals or companies for hundreds of thousands of dollars. While cartels and mafia-funded sophisticated cyberattacks have been making waves for their scale and severity, low-tech, low-cost methods, such as dumpster diving also account for a significant portion of identity thefts.
At TITAN Mobile Shredding, we understand the value of protecting every inch of digital and physical information. Our professional data destruction specialists throw light on the dangers of dumpster diving, and how you can safeguard yourselves from this “technically legal” threat.
Top Tips to Tackle the Threats of Dumpster Diving
Why Is Dumpster Diving a Threat to Information Security?
An old-fashioned way of literally digging through trash cans and garbage dumps, dumpster diving is one of the easiest ways for crooks to get their hands on your personal or business information. Every day, you may receive a pile of junk mail, such as brochures, pamphlets, pre-approved credit cards and other promotional offers. While you may discard these stacks without even giving them a second glance, you are unknowingly parting with information that could be extremely valuable to those who scan through this waste.
How Do Dumpster Divers Use Your Information?
As the saying goes, one person’s trash is another’s treasure. While it may be a dirty job to go through large piles of waste, improperly discarded documents will reveal plenty of information that fraudsters can use across a wide range of cons. This includes scams related to employment, tax, phone or utilities, bank accounts, loan or lease, government documents and many others.
Protect Your Information from Dumpster Divers
Here are a few tips to ensure that your valuable information does not end up in the hands of crooks:
- Before you dump your pile of junk, make sure you have torn off or sufficiently destroyed the portions containing your name, address, contact numbers, email address, bank account details and other such confidential or sensitive information.
- Apply the same discretion while discarding bills or receipts that may have details such as your name, address, contact details and credit or debit card information.
- When you throw away your expired credit or debit cards, make sure you cut through the magnetic strip and the numbers.
- Shred all the documents instead of tearing up only the relevant portions by hand. This applies to all types of records, including the ones related to your financial, medical or employment details.
- As far as possible, keep your trash in your garage or yard until just before pickup. If you leave it on the curb, there is no legal exception for anyone to go through the contents of your bins. This only makes it easier for offenders to dig for information in a small amount of trash, as compared to searching through the humungous piles in the dumping yards or landfills.
The thought of identity thieves or crooks willing to going through heaps of garbage to search for your personal or business information, can be both, terrifying and disgusting. Hence, for all your document destruction needs, rely on a professional company such as TITAN Mobile Shredding. As an NAID AAA Certified company, we offer safe and systematic disposal of documents, as well as digital media, such as hard drives, discs, tapes, and thumb drives. Take advantage of our numerous services, including on-site, off-site, monthly community shred events and residential shredding.
Call TITAN Mobile Shredding and speak to our data destruction professionals at (866) 848-2699 today or contact us online to request your free quote.
