Many people keep their documents for years without thinking that, in the wrong hands, they can be putting their safety at risk. Many identity thieves are constantly looking for personal information in the trash, and many papers we throw away without being careful contain data that can be used to commit frauds or identity thefts. This is why it’s important to know which documents you should properly destroy before throwing them away.
The best way to destroy them? A shredder, a machine that cuts paper into small pieces so nobody can read your information. So, let’s find out which 10 documents you should never throw away without destroying them first.
1. Expired IDs and unused credit cards
No matter if they are expired, IDs and credit cards can still have active numbers or information that a fraudster can take the most of. Even an expired credit card can contain information that allows them to access your accounts. So, before throwing them away, you’d better cut them or shred them.
2. Temporary driver’s license receipts
When you renew your driving license, you receive a temporary receipt with your personal data and that’s when you should destroy the old one. If someone finds it, they could use that data to create a fake ID or steal your identity.
3. Old medical data
Medical documents, like bills, test results, or insurance statements, often include very private information about your health. So, if you throw them away without taking care, your private data could be out there and misused. The best way to avoid this situation is to shred them when you don’t need them anymore.
4. Resumes and cover letters
In these documents we can see personal data such as your name, address, phone number, work and study history. This information can be used by fraudsters to create fake profiles or scam other people. So, once again, destroy them!
5. Pets’ medical records
Even though it seems inoffensive, these documents include your name, address, and phone number. What’s more, a study by the cybersecurity company Aura revealed that 39% of pet owners use the name of their pets as passwords. This means that if someone has that data, they could try to access your accounts.
6. Old insurance policies
When an insurance policy expires, it has no legal value. However, it still has personal data like the number of the policy, beneficiaries, or your job data. So, you should shred old insurance policies when you renew them.
7. Boarding passes
A boarding pass is not just a travelling memory, it contains information about the flight, frequent number of passengers, and personal data that can be used to access your accounts or loyalty programs.
8. Travel itineraries
Paper travel itineraries of flights or hotels can be very useful for fraudsters to track your movements or confirm your identity. So, never let them in hotel rooms or throw them without destroying them because they have more information than you can imagine.
9. Old tax documents
Tax documents must be kept for about 7 years in case you need them for an audit. After that time, you should destroy them with a shredder because throwing them in the trash without destroying them can expose your income data, bank information, or Social Security number.
10. Old property or vehicle titles
When you sell a house or a car, the old titles are no longer needed. However, these documents still contain ownership details that could be used by criminals to commit property-related fraud. The best option? Shred or burn them once you’ve completed the sale and received the official confirmation of transfer.
Properly destroy your documents
By taking a few minutes to destroy your old papers properly, you can protect yourself from fraud, identity theft, and other serious problems. Remember: when it comes to personal information, it’s better to destroy your documents than to let someone else find them.