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Protect Yourself: Don’t Be a Victim of Identity Theft

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Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only. 

It’s not a subject that is at the top of everyone’s mind, but in my humble opinion, it’s not discussed enough. This year’s identity theft statisitcs are in. And, they are downright scary.
Almost one in five Canadians have, or know someone who has, been a victim of identity theft. Think about that for a moment. Statistically, that means by the time you’re done reading this post, hundreds of Canadians will have been victimized.

Don’t be one of them.

Identity theft is the most serious, non-violent crime and fastest growing type of fraud in North America. When someone takes your personal information and uses it for financial gain, it is classified as identity theft or fraud. According to Statistics Canada, identity fraud has increased by 8.62% from 2013 to 2014. In 2014 more than 20,000 identity theft cases were reported in Canada, with a loss of more than $10 million, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. 

999999-43859638369_1The very best thing you can do to prevent identity fraud is to invest in a paper shredder, like the Fellowes Powershred W-10C Shredder. The Fellowes W10C Cross-Cut Paper Shredder is a reliable shredder for home office use. This medium-duty shredder can handle up to 10 sheets at a time. A patented safety lock disables the shredder for additional protection, and the unit includes 5.5-gal wastebasket.

So, what should you shred?

Monthly Credit Card Statements. This includes sample cheques or insurance packets that accompany statements, credit applications and expired cards.

Employment Paystubs. If you receive pay stubs on a weekly basis or otherwise, you should keep them only until you receive your annual wage and tax statement.

Personal Income Tax Reports. You should hold onto these (in a safe place) for six years. However, after six years, it is important that they be shredded.

Monthly Utility Bills. This includes anything from hydro bills to cable bills.

Spam Mail. Any document you receive by regular mail, including sign-up forms for a new credit card, a magazine subscription, or any other document that contains your personal information, such as your name, home address, phone number, etc.

Federal, Provincial or Municipal Government Documents. Examples of this would be your health card, driver’s licence or passport renewal notices, or even a confirmation letter of your childrens’ school registration for the new school year>

Express Mail Documents. General invoices or a confirmation of delivery that accompany a letter or package that was delivered to you by UPS, FedEx, or Canada Post Express – even the labels on delivery boxes or envelopes.

Membership Notices. If you are a member of any organization, such as a tennis club, fitness club, library, etc., be sure to shred all membership renewal notices and documents accompanying the delivery of membership cards, credit cards, store cards, etc.

Banking Documents. This includes bank account statements, ATM receipts and old, unused or voided cheques, etc.

Miscellaneous Documents. Any other documents (including junk mail) that contain usernames, passwords, mailing address or a signature (leases, contracts, letters).

Want more info? Join our #FellowesProtects Twitter Chat on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at 8PM EST. We’ll share ways to protect yourself from identity theft, with tips and advice from @AlwaysSaveMoney and prizes courtesy of @FellowesCanada and @StaplesCanada.
FellowesProtects_Invite_2_REVISED (2)There is no RSVP; simply join the conversation. And, thanks to my friends at Fellowes Canada, one lucky reader will WIN a Fellowes Powershred W-10C Shredder. (Want it sooner? Save $10 at Walmart Canada from March 1 – April 30!) To enter, simply fill the form below with your qualifying entries. Good luck everyone!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Tara Betterley

    Currently I have them piled. Occassionally I will rip them up and put them in two or three different garbages.

  8. Jen L

    I usually do shred anything with my name and address or personal information on it, however, I over-loaded my shredder and it is jammed. It has been jammed for a while and I think winning a new one would be awesome!

  10. Debbie White Beattie

    We usually burn all of our important papers, we can burn because we live in a rural area

  11. Lilly Wong

    The worst thing use to be Reader’s Digest Contest letters, My name & address would be On the envelope & all the inserts about 10 times. I have to rip them up by hand or snip them with scissors. Or save them in a bag & take them to a Shredding Event. ????????

  12. Rosanne Robinson

    I currently just rip up the papers as much as possible and put them in the trash, not the recycle bin. We definitely need a shredder!

  16. Treen Goodwin

    I burn them in the wood stove in the fall and winter months , but cut them up when we are not using the wood stove !

  20. Judy Cowan

    Usually we save everything up and then take it out to our trailer in the summer and burn the papers in the fire pit. But it would be easier to have a shredder at home.

  29. salexis alexis

    I was just a victim of credit car fraud!!!! I happens. It really does and it’s scary. Be careful out there and protect yourself!!!

  40. Lori Moran

    I shred them although but not sure for how much longer. It goes slow and sounds like it’s tired, it is well used and very old but better than hand shredding:)

  44. Leslie Crosbie

    LOL
    I sometimes feel like a hoarder because I keep EVERYTHING if I am not sure!

  45. Ron Giese

    We have an old shredder here, but it is really old. It was a hand-medown from someone who upgraded (prob 5 years ago!)

  46. Wendy Jensen

    I shred them up by hand into small pieces and add them to my yucky garbage (that should do the trick) as I do not have a shredder.

  49. Jenn Beckett @jennpup

    I rip up and give to my bunny to pee on and chew on, LOL. Then they go into the backyard composter.

  50. Nicole Bonomo

    I shred all papers that contain any personal/financial information, including labels from my medications.

  51. Julie-Lynne McCann

    I take the info to work & get rid of it in their shredder as we don’t have one

  56. Ryan Buschemeyer

    As I said during the party, I don’t currently have a Shredder so I rip everything to pieces and I also make sure to separate everything so all of it is blended together and not all is easily found clumps. I also scratch out Addresses on Packages before tossing the box

  60. Arly

    I am so careful with my documents but I have a box of items ‘to be shredded’ from moving, I just need a shredder. I usually just tear documents up and put the pieces in 3 or 4 different garbage cans around the house. #paranoid

  61. Angela September

    CURRENTLY i bring them and shred them at work, but this would be much easier!!!

  62. Laurie Cockburn

    I just tear them up and throw them away. I know I should be more careful. Had a friend who’s identity was stolen 10 years ago and she still comes across problems to this day

  63. Lynnie M

    At the moment, we burn them in the bonfire we have in the spring, which is not fun because it accumulates all year! Sometimes I’ll take something to work and shred it there, but We so need a shredder of our own.

  65. tanyab79

    I have been ripping them and seperate them in garbage bags so this shredder would be great to have.

  68. Lisa Bolduc

    I save a pile of them and give them to my nephew to shred. He is 15 and has downs and takes therapy in shredding. He has gone through countless shredders and we are just looking for a decent one to last a while.

  69. Jonnie

    I keep them piled in a closet until we have a bonfire, then I burn them all. A shredder would be much more effeicient!

  72. Amber Y

    I am guilty of tossing them in the trash unshredded. It’s not something I’ve ever really thought much about before.

  79. Nicole Jubleew

    I store them in a big pile in the corner, with the plan to get a shredder to dispose of them. Sadly the pile continues to grow.

  83. Tanya

    Sometimes I just recycle them most of the times they sit in a box dedicated to properly disposing of them but since I don’t own a shredder its getting out of hand.

  86. Linda G

    I place all personal papers into a container. A local merchant offers shredding truck service for a donation to a local charity.

  90. Janice Cournoyer

    I dispose of documets by burning them We live in a farm so not too difficult. But for the environment’s sake, shredding would be much more eco friendly.

  95. Dana Miller

    I remove my name and address and then recycle the rest of the documents. I would fell more protected from identity theft with the use of a personal shredder for home.

  103. Amanda Fontaine

    I do one of three things with them,
    1) send them to work with hubby to burn
    2) send them with my parents to burn
    3) rip them up and put them in recycling (not my preferred choice though.

  111. LUZVIMINDA GUNTER-SMITH

    I RIPPED IT AND THROW IN THE GARBAGE, I NEED A PROPER SHREDDER , THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE

  112. Kim MacAdam

    Would love a shredder, always nervous throwing away personal papers etc.

    Thx so much!

    Kim

  113. Tania B

    You really have to be so, so careful these days. Things that used to be considered harmless are now very dangerous. Thanks for the great post.