Identity fraud is certainly not uncommon all throughout the United States. As a matter of fact, there are actually more than 16 million cases of identity fraud over the course of just one year alone, at least according to data representing our recently passed year of 2017. Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to prevent identity fraud – or at least to help mitigate the damages that can be caused because of it.
For one thing, monitoring your internet use carefully and diligently is very much something that you can do to help lower your risk for identity theft. The internet is certainly an important aspect of our modern lives, and one that is filled with valuable information and can provide access to valuable opportunities. After all, there are now up to three and a half million people – plus some more than that – now with internet access. But with all of these people connecting online – and with the internet being the large space that it is – it is hugely important to exercise a good deal of caution surrounding your usage of it. Fortunately, however, many people are already aware of this fact. Here in the United States alone, up to half of all adults online will avoid certain sites they come across in order to maintain their privacy and security. Not entering in sensitive personal information to various websites is yet another thing that will help to keep you in the clear, at least in terms of identity theft.
But though the internet has become such a powerful force in our world today, online usage is not the only way that identity theft occurs. In fact, it’s still not even the most prominent way that we see cases of identity theft here in the United States. In fact, most cases of identity theft can still be traced back to improperly disposed of paper documents. When you throw away a document that has this same sensitive information as discussed briefly above, you unfortunately open the door for identity theft. So while throwing out a sheet of paper might not seem like a big deal, it actually can be – very much so.
But taking the time to shred your documents through the use of a high capacity paper shredder is something that can prove to be hugely beneficial at the end of the day. A high capacity paper shredder, of course, is just one kind of paper shredder. There are many types of secure paper shredders to provide a secure paper shredding experience. Ideally, something like a high capacity paper shredder will be used in some type of office space, where paper filing systems are still quite common indeed. A high capacity paper shredder is a secure paper shredder that is more likely to meet the needs of a full office than any other type of paper shredder. A high capacity paper shredder will need to be used frequently, of course, so as to keep the wrong documents from falling into the wrong hands. With the use of a high capacity paper shredder or other such industrial office shredder, many cases of identity theft will be able to be quite fully prevented indeed. Unfortunately, more people need to take advantage of secure paper shredding, as very nearly one third of all people actually do not regularly shred their documents, no matter how sensitive said documents might be. Fortunately, high capacity paper shredders are more than able to meet this demand and this need, to say the very least.
In addition to utilizing a high capacity paper shredder, simply remaining vigilant is yet another way to stay on top of identity theft and prevent any real damage from being done. Unfortunately, up to nearly one full quarter of people who fall victim to identity theft don’t even find out intentionally but by mistake and chance. In these situations, a great deal of damage has likely already been caused by the perpetrator of the crime in question. Therefore, simply taking the time to check your accounts and monitor any account and bank activity is something that can help you to stop such a criminal in their tracks.