All Points Mobile Shredding Blog

How Can Junk Mail be Dangerous?

And How to Protect Yourself

Although it may seem like trash, junk mail can be a treasure to an ID thief. Small bits of personal information on these seemingly innocuous papers can be just what a crook needs to steal your identity which can lead to numerous other problems. Here are some facts about junk mail and why you need to protect yourself against the risks it poses to your identity:

Junk Mail is Not Junk to an ID Thief

Experts state that the average American household receives nearly 900 pieces of junk mail a year. These items include the following:

  • Credit card offers
  • Insurance offers
  • Loan offers
  • Charity solicitations
  • Magazines
  • Brochures
  • Coupon & discount offers
  • College catalogs
  • Bank offers

How is Junk Mail Dangerous?

Most people simply throw these unwanted mail items away without a second thought, but the reality is they can pose a risk to your identity and your bank account if you don’t discard them properly. Junk mail contains just enough information for an ID thief to steal your identity,  information like your name and address–and other items even provide more personal information like an offer to increase your credit limit or loan offers with your current mortgage information and more. Reports show that most people throw away junk mail without ever opening it and it ends up in the trash or recycling bin. Here’s where it gets risky. Once it’s in the trash or recycling bin, it’s fair game to those who are unscrupulous and unafraid to pick through the trash and retrieve it. One of the most common ways identities get stolen is through pre-approved credit card offers–ID thieves simply take those offers and open a credit card in your name. This type of fraud can cause long term effects to your credit report.

Protect Yourself by Shredding Junk Mail

Shredding junk mail is the safest and most secure way to prevent fraud and scams. Mobile shredding services provide onsite shredding at your home or office and allow you to witness the entire process. This not only gives you peace of mind that your items have been destroyed, but is a convenient way to protect yourself and your ID.

All Points Mobile Shredding, located in Stuart, Florida, has been serving residential and business customers since 1994. Our state-of-the-art shredding trucks quickly and securely shred all unwanted documents and items, including junk mail. We also provide a certificate of destruction with every shred, giving your further peace of mind that your documents have been permanently destroyed. Give us a call today or complete the form on this page to get a quick quote.

Dawn Connelly

Dawn is the vice president of All Points Mobile Shredding. All Points Mobile Shredding is a family-owned and operated on-site document destruction company that has been serving the Treasure Coast, Palm Beaches, and surrounding areas since 1994.

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