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(Continued from page 13) identity theft easy as well.
collecting billions of dollars in refunds.” 2. Package Receipts and Labels

TIPS: -When your loved ones pass, don’t list their birth Pre-printed address labels, including those free re-
date nor their mother’s maiden name in the obituary. -DO turn labels you receive in the mail, should be shred-
NOT shred documents that are still active (wills, property
deeds, etc.). -While you’re at it, you might want to go ded as soon as you receive them since they contain
ahead and shred any birth announcements you have, too. your name and address. Thieves can compare this
And, make sure you keep your kids’ date of birth off so- data with information you post on social media to
cial media. Also, minimize use of your children’s social piece together your identity. But, don’t forget about
security numbers those packing receipts inside the box. They have
your name and address listed on them, plus bar-
5. Documents Containing Your Signature
codes containing your personal information. Plus,
Contracts, memos, debit/credit card receipts, letters they may also reference your credit card number or
and anything else with your official signature should other payment details. TIP: Omit your name when
be shredded. Anyone who obtains a copy of your writing your return address on an envelope.
signature can open accounts in your name or use 1. Anything Involving Your Child
your existing accounts to make unauthorized pur-
chases. Plus, debit/credit card receipts not only in- As we stated earlier, it’s a good idea to shred your
clude your signature, but the last four digits of your children’s birth announcements. But, don’t just stop
card number as well. DID YOU KNOW? It’s not just there. Shred anything that involves your child. This
important records that should be shredded. The ex- could be mail, medical records, or school infor-
perts at ProShred and Fireproof Records, another mation, including report cards. Children are espe-
shredding service company, suggests shredding cially vulnerable to identity theft. In fact, they’re 51
birthday cards, too. In other words, if it has your sig- percent more likely than adults to become victims of
nature and it’s something you no longer need, shred identity theft — in part because most parents don’t
it! think to check their child’s credit report. As a result,
these thieves can do a lot of damage before the
4. Resumes
crime is even discovered.
Before you toss out that resume, make sure you
shred it first. These documents contain your name,
address, phone number, employment history, edu- CONCLUSION
cation history, and everything else crooks can use to Comment
steal your identity. Now, of course you don’t want to
get rid of your current resume. So what you’d need Now that you know the importance of shredding
to do is store copies of it in a safe place — perhaps everyday items, here’s how long you should hang on
on a passwordprotected computer. As for your out- to important documents before shredding them.
dated resumes, shred them ASAP! After all, there’s
no sense in hanging on to something that’s outdat-
ed. TIP: Shred old job applications, too. Triva Answer: Lightning is a giant discharge
3. Catalogs and Magazines of electricity accompanied by a brilliant flash of light.

Now before you go tossing the whole thing into the The average lightning bolt is five miles in length and
shredder, it’s important to note that you should only only 1 inch in width. It only seems to appear bigger
shred part of those catalogs and magazines you get because the bolt is so bright. Lightning is extremely
in the mail. What part are we talking about? The part hot—a flash can heat the air around it to tempera-
with your name and address. You know, that per- tures five times hotter than the sun’s surface. Light-
sonalized label. Also, check inside the catalog for ning flashes more than 3 million times a day world-
order forms before tossing it out. Those pre-filled wide which equates to about 40 times a second. The
order forms make it a cinch for you to make a pur- average American has about a 1 in 5,000 chance of
chase, but unfortunately they also make fraud and being struck by lightning during a lifetime.

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