Identity theft cases continue to climb to astounding heights. According to Consumer Affairs, recorded identity theft cases have increased 584% in the past two decades. Now, information is more accessible to others, and that includes people who don't have good intentions. Here's what you need to know to protect yourself from this crime.

Keep Personal Information Secure

It's always essential to protect your personal information. Avoid giving anyone your social security number, birth date, or any identifying information. Use secure shredding for paperwork that contains sensitive information. People are diving into dumpsters to get your personal information, making shredding necessary today.

Shred Bill Statements

Most people don't think about their bill statements, or they make jokes that other people are more than welcome to pay them before tossing them in the trash. However, this statement has your name and address on it. People can obtain that information and use other methods to get your social security number. That's all they need to start stealing your identity. Utilize secure shredding for that information, too.

Avoid Phishing Scams

While dumpster diving remains a popular way to get your information, it's not the only method. People often discover a name and address in the trash and try alternative means to get your social security number or other necessary information. Phishing scams are a common way to do that. Hackers pose as a business you work with, like your bank, and send you an email asking for information. As soon as you give it to them, they steal your identity. They know which bank you use because you didn't use secure shredding for your bank statement.

Be Aware of Corporate Documents

Corporate documents are full of valuable information scammers can put to use. They can contact people and pretend to be the company's president because they have their information, even if they don't have their social security number. They can use this to create fake job listings, which will get people to give them all their information. When you don't shred documents, you put other people at risk.

As identity theft increases and scammers get more brilliant than ever, it's essential to use a secure shredding service for sensitive information. We use shredding trucks to make sure no one has access to anything, even if it's your name. Contact ALL-SHRED, Inc today to learn more about our services.