Shredding sensitive documents isn’t just about tidying up your home or office. It’s a vital step in protecting yourself from identity theft, fraud, and unauthorized access to personal information. Many people don’t realize just how much damage a single piece of discarded paper can do if it ends up in the wrong hands. To help you protect your privacy and security, here’s a closer look at the different types of documents that you should shred.
Financial Statements
Bank statements, credit card statements, and other financial documents often contain your account numbers, transaction history, and personal details. Throwing them away intact could give identity thieves all the information they need to compromise your accounts. Always shred these documents once they are no longer needed for your records, typically after a year, unless you’re keeping them for tax purposes.
Medical Records
Medical records and billing documents frequently include sensitive details like information about health conditions, insurance policy numbers, and Social Security numbers. HIPAA regulations in the US stress the importance of safeguarding this data. Shredding these records after they’re no longer relevant is a smart way to avoid privacy breaches and potential misuse.
Tax Returns
Although it’s wise to keep tax returns and related documents for at least seven years, you shouldn’t keep them forever. These documents often hold a treasure trove of personal and financial information, making them a prime target for criminals looking to commit financial fraud or tax-related scams. Once these documents have passed their retention period, shred them thoroughly to eliminate risk.
Utility Bills
Utility bills might seem harmless, but they include your name, address, and account numbers. This type of personal information can be used to steal your identity or gain access to your accounts. After you’ve paid your bills and no longer need them for reference, shred them to protect your sensitive data.
Old Checks
Old checks from closed bank accounts or those you no longer need for recordkeeping purposes can still contain risky information like account numbers and routing numbers. A thief could use this data to attempt fraudulent transactions. To keep your banking information safe, shred these checks along with any associated documents.
Junk Mail
You might not give junk mail a second thought before tossing it in the trash can, but many pieces of unsolicited mail include pre-approved credit offers or other personal information. Criminals can use these to impersonate you and open fraudulent accounts. You should always shred junk mail to reduce this risk, even if it doesn’t feel like it contains anything “important.”
Taking action to shred these types of documents isn’t just about staying organized; it’s about actively protecting your personal and financial security. Many of the different types of documents that you should shred carry more risk than you might realize, and a little extra caution in discarding them can go a long way toward protecting yourself. Keep a shredder handy, and make secure document destruction part of your routine.
