Paperwork and Identity Theft

Even though the computer was supposed to eradicate the overflow of paperwork that people deal with everyday at home and at work, there is still a steady stream of papers that include personally identifying information. Paystubs often include your Social Security number. Bank statements include account numbers. And even seemingly innocuous junk mail may be an invitation to identity theft. That's why shredding paperwork that contains personal information is always a good idea. While shredding can't guarantee credit card fraud protection, it is a step in the right direction to shred credit card solicitations that you receive in the mail. You can get a basic shredder from an office supply or department store for as little as $10 in some cases. To the extent that shredding helps prevent identity theft, it's money well spent. You can also shred your paperwork by hand, although this is generally not as effective as using a shredder.