How to Use a Shredder to Protect Secrets

Most people think of paper shredders as a recent invention, but high-volume shredders were invented in 1970. The popularity of paper shredders has been in the news in the last few years for two reasons: corporate greed and identity theft. Many corporate officers who were eventually tried by the Justice Department had employees shredding documents that would have proven their fraud. At home, though, the less information an person has on paper, the less chance they have of becoming a target of identify thief.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Have your operations department research shredders and buy them for every department that has any personnel or corporate information that should not be stored in a filing cabinet.
2. Purchase an inexpensive shredder for your home or home office. Many banks and credit card companies do not seem to fully grasp the seriousness of identify theft even though they are willing to sell insurance for it. Most credit card companies print your entire account number on your monthly statement.
3. Check with your accountant and your attorney. All receipts and business papers are supposed to be kept for 10 years. Ask your accountant how you can dispose of confidential paperwork by shredding and still keep the IRS happy.
4. Slice and dice any documents which you may not want a family member to find, including secret bank account numbers, credit card numbers and telephone numbers.

Tips & Warnings

• When you throw credit card bills in the trash, "dumpster divers" can get their hands on your credit card numbers. Shred all bills and paperwork you don't need.
• Ask your creditors if you can go "paperless" and discontinue mailed statements.
• The majority of identity theft is conducted by hackers and by inside personnel who succumb to the temptation of selling personal information for money. Even if it's an employee who steals data, the employer is held responsible.

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