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It would be easier if there were only one way to succumb to identity theft. Unfortunately, there are multiple vectors through which somebody could be the target of a scammer.

Data leaks and security breaches can occur on multiple fronts and in different ways. Here are five common ways that identity theft occurs.

#1 Stolen Wallets and Mail

When an identity thief steals a wallet, they can take a lot more than cash. Wallets contain credit cards, bank cards, and other forms of identification. Likewise, mail may contain sensitive information that identity thieves can leverage against you.

If you need document destruction in Toronto to eliminate the sensitive papers you received in the mail before they end up in the wrong hands, call us.

#2 Dumpster Diving

When an identity thief goes through your garbage, they could find gold. What paper records are you throwing out into the trash?

Imagine what kind of documents they could find pertaining to bank and credit card statements, pre-approved credit card offers, tax info, and documents containing other personal details. It’s essential to protect your business from identity theft by ensuring that all your sensitive papers are shredded rather than simply discarded in the trash.

You don’t want your garbage resurfacing in the hands of business rivals or scammers.

#3 Personnel Records Stolen from the Workplace

Workplaces need to keep a tight lid on their sensitive information pertaining to employees and clients. Businesses store various types of info about the people they work with and alongside, and this repository can be a gift to identity thieves if it’s accessible.

Credit: Candid_Shots via Pixabay

Whether you have banker’s boxes filled with sensitive paper documents, old electronics storing gigabytes of data, or other unorthodox forms of information, call Absolute Destruction to shred it securely.

#4 Phishing Scams

Cybercrime is one of the most frequent ways that data spreads to where it shouldn’t. A simple way to combat this is don’t click on a link in an email from an address you don’t recognize. If the government or your bank wants to contact you, they’ll never send you a sketchy email!

Do not share private, personal information over email. Be wary of text messages and websites that don’t appear legitimate, and get the software to stymie hackers too.

#5 Stolen Electronics

Paper documents aren’t the only thing that can go missing. Cybercrime is a major problem, but so are electronic devices storing reams of data that aren’t connected to the internet.

Smartphones, computers, tablets, laptops and other devices can be a treasure trove of information for an identity thief, but so can other devices you may not immediately think of, such as photocopier and printer memory cards, or USBs, and flash drives.

Clearly, there is more than one way to succumb to an identity thief. Remember to keep guard against the above risks in your home and the workplace. If you need convenient and secure document shredding in Mississauga or the GTA, call Absolute Destruction.