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Today there are so many things to worry about when it comes to identity theft, the best thing to invest your money in would be a shredder. The number of papers we all get on a regular basis and usually just toss in the trash can are potential problems. All it takes is the right person getting their hands on these papers or documents and you identity can be whisked away in no time.

What Should We Do to Protect Our Information?

The papers you receive from businesses such as bank statements, copies of contracts and other important papers that can be used for illegal activity should be shredded. There is no other way to make sure that no one can get your information.

The U.S. has passed legislation that requires all businesses to make sure any and all important papers which contain personal information to be destroyed. The destruction of these papers may make the difference between keeping your money safe and financial loss. Banks are especially vulnerable. The large amount of information that is exchanged between customers and the bank has a huge potential for identity theft.

The thief is always looking for somewhere to find the tools of their trade. They will pilfer through trash cans looking for all types of things that we throw out. The important personal information from your bank statements, ATM receipts and credit card bills can be taken right out of your mailbox if you are not paying attention. It may pay to install a locking mailbox so that thieves cannot easily get into your personal business.

Pre-approved credit offers are another thing that thieves love. They will use them to open accounts in your name and the next thing you know your credit is ruined. Any type of mail or item that has your personal information such as social security number, birthdate, names, addresses and driver’s license numbers are just the type of information they are looking to find.

Any and all of this information should be put in a shredder and totally gotten rid of to prevent a problem. There are many types of these that you can purchase. Some shred the papers smaller than others.

There are companies that do this for you. They will destroy any documents that you no longer need and would be dangerous to keep lying around. The bigger companies either purchase shredders to get rid of customers as well as their own information or they send the documents to a service to be shredded.

Portable shredders are available for you to use in your own home. Instead of putting everything in the trash, shred it and you will rest easier. There are also machines that can be purchased for destroying Cds. Sometimes there is a lot of personal and confidential information on the Cds. These machines use a steel cylinder to take the information off the CD and the information is gone forever. The machines only take a couple of seconds and the information is gone.

Whatever you do make sure your personal information is safeguarded from those who would use it for their personal gain. Your information can be shredded or wiped from hard drives and Cds so that you do not have to work for years to restore your credit.

Shimshon Hazan operates Shredex, the leading Florida Shredding company. Visit these links to know more about identity theft and document destruction and recycling in Florida

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - How Can You Protect Yourself From Losing Your Identity