7 Documents You Should Shred Immediately

1. 7 DOCUMENTS YOU SHOULD SHRED IMMEDIATELY

2. Identity theft is a serious concern for small and large businesses alike. In addition, a lot of technological innovation is happening because of which physical documents are taking a back seat. These are left on the shelves, in locked receptacles, and keep piling up with time. However, you must make efforts to remove these ASAP and clear the clutter. Not only does it secure the business identity, but it also avoids unauthorized access and use of sensitive data.

3. 1. Junk Mail Surprised why junk mail makes it to this list? Let us tell you why! Unsolicited mail, including pre-approved credit card offers and other promotional materials, can contain personal or sensitive business information. These documents can be used for identity theft if they fall into the wrong hands. Hence, you must shred these immediately.

4. 2. Financial Documents Next up is any document containing financial information, including bank statements, credit card statements, and tax documents, which should be shredded upon completing its retention period. These documents contain sensitive information, such as your account numbers, social security number, and other identifying information, which can be used for identity theft.

5. 3. Personal Identification Documents Other than financial records, documents containing personal identification information, such as driver’s licenses, passports, and social security cards, should be shredded. These documents contain sensitive information, such as your name, date of birth, and social security number, which can be used to steal your identity.

6. 4. Medical Documents Another set of documents you must shred includes your medical paperwork. These documents contain sensitive information, such as your health conditions, treatments, and insurance information, which can be used for medical identity theft. The exact records you can shred are insurance documents, prescription labels, medical bills, lab results, general newsletters, and more.

7. 5. Employment Documents Employment paperwork, including pay stubs, W-2 forms, social security numbers, employment history, and job applications, can contain a lot of sensitive information that can jeopardize your identity. So, call in a shredding services provider and destroy these documents immediately.

8. 6. Legal Documents Any documents containing legal information should also be shredded immediately, including court documents, legal settlements, and divorce papers. These documents contain details, such as your name, address, and other identifying information, that can put you at risk of major identity theft.

9. 7. Travel Records It is not just financial and legal information that can put your identity at risk. Even your travel records can be a cause of concern. Your travel records act as an information mine containing extremely private and sensitive information. Thus, your flight tickets, boarding passes, and expired passports must all be shredded ASAP.

10. The Final Word Identity theft is a growing concern. So it is increasingly becoming essential to protect your business data from falling into the wrong hands. Employing suitable preventive measures can keep you from experiencing unimaginable losses. Look up “shred services near me” and get started with a qualified service provider. But make sure you are hiring someone competent and who knows the ins and outs of the sector for personalized and reliable services.