It’s the most dreaded time of the month – the time when you have to sit down and pay your bills. After going through all their expenses, writing checks and reluctantly hitting “Pay Now” on their online banking account, many people throw out their bills and patiently wait for next month’s to come in. I mean, that’s the right thing to do, right? Wrong. Throwing your bills in the trash may save you from piled up papers, but it also puts you risk to be a victim of dumpster diving.
What is dumpster diving?
Simply put, dumpster diving is when people go through your trash in search of your personal information in an attempt to steal your identity. This is different than when less fortunate people go through your trash in search of food to sustain them. The types of divers who concern us are those who are looking for an old bill, receipt, or another piece of paper with your name on it.
Why would people go through my trash just for a piece of paper?
To you, that piece of paper may be a simple receipt from the supermarket or paid cable bill, but to these dumpster divers, it’s the key to stealing your identity. Those trashed papers can contain the last four digits of your credit card, your rewards card number, your name, address, and more, all of which can be used to steal your identity.
Isn’t dumpster diving illegal, though?
Yes, it is. But if these people are willing to risk jail for identity theft, do you think they’re going to care about getting in trouble for dumpster diving?
How can I prevent myself from being a victim of dumpster diving?
You can shred your bills instead of just tossing them in the trash. These divers can’t and won’t spend hours trying to piece together a single piece of paper. Shredding your personal information can save you big time.
Complete Shredding Solutions safely, securely, and affordably destroys your documents beyond reconstructive recognition, so you are safe from identity theft. For paper shredding services on Long Island, in New Jersey, and nationwide, call us at 516-442-1624.
