In today’s digital age, protecting your personal information is more vital than it has ever been in the past. We are constantly being warned about phishing scams, ransomware, and telephone fraud, but one threat that often gets under-represented is document theft. That’s why we are sharing with you the alarming statistics of junk mail, why it can lead to identity theft, and how you can utilize document shredding as your first line of defense in preserving your privacy and security.
The Alarming Statistics of Junk Mail
In 2021, the United States Postal Service delivered an astounding 128.9 billion pieces of direct mail. Readers’ Digest summarizes that due to this, “The average American household receives 848 pieces of junk mail,” which is “the equivalent of deforesting all of Rocky Mountain National Park every four months.”
While we won’t get into the environmental impact of junk mail (although it is horribly wasteful), we must address the risk it poses for identity theft.
Understanding Junk Mail and its Risks for Identity Theft
Junk mail encompasses a variety of unsolicited items, including credit card offers, insurance promotions, catalogs, flyers, coupons, and phone books. What many people don’t realize is that these materials can contain sensitive personal information. For example, preapproved credit card offers might not only list your name and address but also reveal your current credit limit and the issuing branch’s address.
What often ends up happening to junk mail is that it gets thrown into the trash, with many people not even opening it to reveal the potentially risky content. Therefore, it comes as little surprise that the Federal Trade Commission reported over 1.1 million identity theft incidents in 2022 alone, often initiated through seemingly harmless junk mail.
So how does this happen? According to the U.S. Department of Justice, one prevalent method of identity theft is when people throw away “pre-approved” credit card offers intact. Scammers fish them out of the trash and activate the card without their knowledge. Alternatively, they use the sensitive information to open loans, withdraw money from bank accounts, gain access to online accounts, or purchase goods or services under the victim’s name. All it takes is a few pieces of crucial information, and a scammer can commit a wide array of crimes!
Fortunately, there is a way to minimize the potential risk of identity theft through junk mail: secure document shredding!
How Document Shredding Can Protect You
Document Shredding is the process of mechanically cutting documents into tiny, unreadable pieces. This is a highly effective way to destroy personal information, as it cannot be reconstructed for misuse.
While some individuals can perform document shredding with at-home or in-office shredders, it is not a viable option for everyone. Not only do you have to buy, maintain, and store the shredder, but you have to take the time to manually shred and dispose of the shreds responsibly. Additionally, if you need to shred for your business securely, you must comply with data protection laws to secure a safe end to the lifecycle of sensitive documents.
Fortunately, companies like us, CI Information Management, can guarantee an easy process for document shredding with minimal effort from you and that once your documents are shredded, the information they contain is irretrievable.
Document Shredding Services with CI Information Management
If you are in or around the Tri-Cities area, we at CI Information Management offer local customers comprehensive document shredding services tailored to meet various needs, including one-time purge shredding, reoccurring on-site shredding, local drop-off shredding, and residential shredding.
Ideal for large-scale disposals like annual cleanouts or an office move, this one-time purge service lets you eliminate all your documents in one fell swoop with our trucks coming right to your door.
For businesses that require regular document shredding to maintain privacy and data compliance, on-site reoccurring shredding provides businesses with weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly shred services at their location.
Perfect for quickly getting rid of documents, customers can pop by our local facility to securely shred documents, hard drives, and other media. We provide a Certificate of Destruction for added peace of mind, ensuring your information is handled with the utmost security.
Ideal for those who have home offices, residential services offer pickup services with a minimum of two bins. Alternatively, for smaller tasks, our Seal N’ Shred Bag allows you to fill up to 30 lbs. of documents, providing a simple, prepaid shredding solution.
At CI Information Management, our document shredding service doesn’t just end there – we believe in creating an environment for community engagement. With us, you can enhance your business’s community presence by hosting a Community Shred Event. These events offer a valuable service by allowing your customers and community members to securely shred personal documents on-site. Add in a party or promotional event, and you have a great way to engage with your community!
Are you ready to secure your personal information with safe and effective document shredding? Contact us today for a quote!
