If you think the biggest risk to your identity happens online, you might get surprised. Many people spend untold hours installing the latest spyware and anti-virus programs on their computers, only to ignore other equally serious risks. In fact, despite the growth of online identity theft, the majority of identity theft still takes place in the offline world.

That means it is just as important to protect your identity in the real world as it is in the cyber world. Some of the most common ways for thieves to get access to sensitive financial information is to go through the trash bins and dumpsters at businesses, apartment complexes and even private homes. If you are not taking steps to protect the sensitive documents you throw away, you are leaving the door wide open to those identity thieves.

Know Your Office Policies

With so many of us spending the majority of our waking lives at the office, it is only natural for us to pay our personal bills and conduct our personal business while at work. But before you bring those credit card statements and utility bills into the office, take the time to learn about the office policy regarding the shredding of sensitive data.

If you work for a large corporation, or for a company that deals with health care or financial information, chances are there is already a policy in place to shred office paper. Take a look around the office to see if there are any shredding bins – these bins can be used to safely dispose of sensitive information, just be sure to ask your boss if you can use them to discard your personal sensitive documents, and keep that personal use to a minimum.

If there is no shredding policy in place at work, at least black out any credit card numbers or account numbers with a magic marker. Be sure to black out the numbers at the bottom of your statement as well – your full credit card number could be encoded at the bottom of the page as well as at the top of the statement.

Invest in a Personal Shredder

Investing in a personal shredder is another effective way to fight back against identity thieves and other criminals. Buy a personal shredder and mount it on your trash can. Then use that shredder to destroy any personal documents before discarding them.

When selecting a personal shredder, be sure to purchase one with a solid motor – this will help the shredder last longer and provide better service. Also be sure to use a cross-cut shredder – identity thieves could piece together a personal document that has been run through a straight cut shredder.

By taking these simple steps, you can enhance your security and help to prevent identity theft. Cases of identity theft have been on the rise, and those crimes continue to originate in both the online and the offline world. By knowing where the risks lie, you can provide the maximum protection to yourself, your family and your good name.

Author Bio: Bruno is a web entrepreneur and social media marketing consultant working for the Norwegian dog community website Hundefeber.no. He also owns a lovely Pomeranian and a Mops dog.

Category: Finances
Keywords: Finance,finances,identity theft,risk