Experts WARN: Identity Thieves Using New Tactics – And It’s Not What You Think!

🗑️ Don’t be a victim of identity thieves! Learn which everyday documents you should always shred to keep your personal info safe. 🔒 #News #IdentityTheftPrevention #SafetyNews

St. Paul, MN – Folks in Minnesota are usually super careful about their online security, but what about the physical papers you toss in the trash? Even if it’s just your address or a tiny part of an account number, identity thieves can use that info to mess with your life. Identity thieves are getting smarter and there are new ways they are using your trash to start trouble! In this article, we’ll share some common documents you should always shred before throwing away.

🧾 Receipts: Not Just Proof of Purchase

You might want to keep some receipts, but make sure to shred the rest. Credit card receipts show the last few digits of your card number and maybe even your signature. Thieves can also use receipts to make fake returns and get store credit in your name. If you want to be extra careful, go paperless with your receipts whenever you can—bonus points for helping the environment!

💊 Prescription Labels: More Than Meets the Eye

Here’s a surprising one! Those labels on your prescription bags or bottles might seem harmless, but they’ve got loads of personal info. We’re talking your name, when you got the meds, what they are, and even the pharmacist’s name. Crooks can use these details to refill prescriptions or even steal your identity.

📝 Resumes: Your Life Story in One Page

Shredding your old resume copies and drafts is a must. Think about it—your resume has your name, phone number, address, email, work history, and education all in one place. It’s like a treasure map for identity thieves!

🐾 Pet Medical Papers: Fluffy’s Info is Valuable Too

Keep the important records from your pet‘s checkups, but shred the rest. Believe it or not, a survey found that people often use their pet’s name as a password. So if a thief gets their hands on Fido’s medical papers, they might be able to crack your online accounts.

📩 Return Labels: Not Just for Sending Stuff Back

If you get free return labels in the mail, shred ’em! Same goes for any envelopes with your name and address. Crooks can combine this info with what you post on social media (like your family member names and work history) to piece together your identity. Pro tip: when writing your return address, leave out your name.

✈️ Boarding Passes: Not Just for Souvenirs

Here’s one for Midwest travelers: After your trip, don’t just toss your boarding pass in the bin. It’s got your name, travel plans, and a barcode that can be easily read by free websites. This barcode often shows your frequent-flier number, which bad guys can use to get into your airline accounts, spy on your upcoming trips, and even cancel your flights. And if you’re into sharing everything on social media, definitely don’t post a pic of your boarding pass!

👶 Birth Announcements: Cute, but Risky

Did you know that kids are 51% more likely to have their identity stolen than adults? If you’ve got extra birth announcements lying around, shred ’em. They usually have the baby’s name, birthday, weight, eye color, and other personal deets. And if you’re the proud parent, be careful about accepting money gifts (like savings bonds) that ask for your baby’s Social Security number—you often don’t need it to open an account.

⚰️ Funeral Pamphlets: Honoring the Departed, Protecting the Living

It’s sad but true—thieves use the identities of over 2 million deceased Americans every year to apply for loans, open credit cards, and file bogus tax returns, raking in billions. So, shred any extra funeral pamphlets or obituaries you don’t want to keep. If you’re writing an obituary for a loved one, include their age but not their birthday or mother’s maiden name. Those personal details are super helpful for ID thieves.

🎉 Stay Safe, Stay Shredding!

Phew, that was a lot of info! But don’t worry, you’ve got this. Just remember: when in doubt, shred it out! A little extra effort now can save you a world of hassle later. Happy shredding, and stay identity-theft-free! 🙌

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🗣 What do you think of these tips? Have any of your own you’d like to share with the community? We’d LOVE to hear from you in the comments section below. ⬇️

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