AP9 Privacy Plus, IK9 Privacy Plus Says Protect Your Important Documents, Shred the Rest

AP9 Privacy Plus, IK9 Privacy Plus, an Adaptive Marketing LLC^® membership security program, warns that careless storage and disposal of personal documents can lead to identity theft. But there are steps you can take to greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of this costly and aggravating crime.

AP9 PrivacyPlus, IK9 Privacy Plus recommends keeping the following documents in a locked filing cabinet: tax returns (seven years); medical insurance information (five years); homeowner’s/renter’s insurance policies (10 years); pay stubs (one year); bank and credit card statements (three months); utility bills (three months); and mortgage documents (until it's paid off). If your filing cabinet does not have a lock, keep it in a room not accessible to visiting repairmen or cleaning persons.

Other important documents, such as your passport, will, Social Security card and backup computer discs, should be kept in a fireproof lock box, available at office supply stores. (Note: Do not use a “personal safe” disguised as a household object such as a can of soup — it can easily be lost or forgotten.) For even greater peace of mind, you can open a safe deposit box at your bank; however, your access to these documents will be limited considerably by the bank’s business hours.

AP9 Privacy Plus, IK9 Privacy Plus suggests using a paper shredder

AP9 Privacy Plus, IK9 Privacy Plus says other documents, including old bills and ATM receipts, should be shredded with a personal document shredder — not merely ripped up. Home shredders are also available from office supply stores for around $50, and new models even shred credit cards, computer discs and CDs.

Security experts say a seasoned identity thief can easily piece together documents that are torn up by hand. They can also reconstruct shredded documents if they have the determination to do so. To reduce the chances of that happening, mix up the shredded documents in two or more receptacles before throwing them in the trash.

Finally, AP9 PrivacyPlus, IK9 Privacy Plus recommends that you take a personal inventory of your wallet, briefcase or purse. If possible, eliminate anything that could be useful to an identity thief, such as blank checks, your home address, or anything containing your birth date or Social Security number.

This article was prepared for you by AP9 Privacy Plus, IK9 Privacy Plus.

AP9 Privacy Plus, IK9 Privacy Plus

Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., Adaptive Marketing LLC^® is a category leader in membership programs, bringing value direct to consumers through an array of benefits in healthcare, discounts, security and personals. With broad online and offline distribution capabilities, Adaptive Marketing offers its corporate client partners effective tools to enhance market presence, strengthen customer affinity and generate additional value through programs such as AP9 PrivacyPlus, IK9 Privacy Plus.

Page Top