Legal Base article

With identity theft and the security of personal and business information becoming increasing points of concern, paper shredders have become an essential item in any office or home. Any sensitive document that contains information like a Social Security number, birth date and credit card information should be shredded. If you don’t already own a shredder, you will find them available in everything from personal sizes for the occasional home user to big, industrial sizes for offices. The following article explains the main differences between the two most popular types of paper shredders available.

Cross Cut Shredders

Also known as “confetti” shredders cross cut shredders offer maximum security, there is little chance that an enterprising thief can piece the papers back together again. Cross-cut shredders provide more security by cutting paper vertically and horizontally into confetti-like pieces. They use two contra-rotating drums to cut rectangular or parallelogram-shaped shreds.

Probably the most well-known paper shredder manufacturer is Acco Rexel. Acco Brands products are marketed in over 100 countries across the globe. They are the largest suppliers of paper shredders in the U.K.

Paper shredders are divided into three categories: heavy use, for 10 or more users; medium use, for 6 to 10 users; and light use, for 1 to 6 users. Acco Rexel also offers machine models designed for use in homes or home offices. Heavy-use shredders can shred from 7 to 38 sheets at a time. All of its shredder models are able to handle a variety of items, such as credit cards, paper clips, and staples. If you think you will need this functionality, be sure to choose a shredder that is capable of destroying these objects.

An advantage of cross cut shredders is that shredded paper compresses better so the basket holds more cut paper, however they may require more maintenance and generally cost more.

Strip Cut Shredders

Strip cut shredders shred documents into long narrow pieces of paper. Although these types of shredders perform the basic job, they are not as secure as cross cut shredders because it may still be possible to reconstruct the shredded documents. Strip-cut shredders generally can handle a higher volume of paper with lower maintenance than that of cross cut shredders. But the strips don’t compress as well as crosscut shreds, so you’ll need a larger basket (or more frequent emptying)

Shredders can cost anywhere from about $40 to over $10000. Before choosing one, keep in mind that each shredder can only handle so many sheets in a session, ranging from approximately 80 to 920 sheets. Shredding sessions vary from two to 10 minutes, so if you have a large number of documents to shred, you may need to complete your work over the course of a day. Most shredders require a cool-down period, ranging from 4 to 30 minutes; if you need a frequent-use shredder, be sure to check for that specification.

At shredderoffice.com shredderoffice.com you can browse our Huge online collection of top-quality, brand-name shredders. Direct from the Manufacturers, at Factory Low Prices

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Identity theft has become one of the United State’s top crimes.
It is estimated that on a yearly basis, this crime costs the government an
alarming $1.3 Billion. Identity theft works so well because the
swindlers are easily able to get all the information and documentation
about their victim that they need.

Another very alarming fact is that theft of an identity can go completely
unnoticed for many months prior to the realization that the crime has occurred.

In 2007, the United States will implement a new type of
identification card. This card will have biometrical information on the individual.
The information included could be in a few different physical characteristics.

The main characteristics that are surfacing right now are an individual’s
fingerprint, vocal characteristics or a retina scan. Several experts have
said this will not solve the problem of identity fraud.

Even when they do come out with this identification card, it will still be up
to you to protect yourself from identity theft. The card will just make it
harder for the criminals and easier for you.

Here are some tips that you can use to help protect yourself against identity fraud.
This is not a guarantee, but will help you to guard yourself against this crime.

When going through your personal papers and documentation, you will
need to guard your personal information carefully. This information would
include any receipts, bills, and credit card or banking statements.
These items should never just be thrown away.

They should always be disposed of properly by shredding or burning.
It may be a good investment to purchase a shredder.
Depending on the type you purchase, they can have multiple uses.

It can be used for destroying all documents that contain identifying
information as well as floppy or compact discs.
Many types of shredders can even shred your credit cards.

You should provide protection for your credit cards just as you do your cash.
If you obtain a new card, sign it immediately upon receipt.
If you need to destroy a card, you should mutilate it beyond recognition.

Make use of a shredder or sharp scissors for this task.
If a credit card ever becomes lost or stolen, it is extremely important
that you contact the card issuer right away.

By doing so, you will prevent your card from being used.
You should also carefully watch your card when you are eating out or overseas.
Sometimes a thief will take this information by jotting it down or making
an impression of the card information.

Finally, you should very carefully look at all credit card and bank statements
immediately upon receipt. If you notice any suspicious activity, call the proper
authorities and they will begin to investigate.

You should also be aware of your mail, if any statement fails
to arrive on time, call the company right away. Some thieves are able to
route the statements to another address in an effort to keep you from finding out.

I wrote this article because I was a victim of credit fraud. I wanted to help others avoid this problem. To see more information on Identity Theft Protection and how to avoid being the next victim go to: discoverebooks.com/identitytheft.htm www.discoverebooks.com/identitytheft.htm

Copyrighted 2006

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One of the most annoying and troublesome things you can experience is to have your identity stolen. It could very well be days or weeks before you discover that something is wrong, and by then plenty of damage has been done. Bills are run up in your name, your credit gets trashed, and you have to argue with jerk collectors over money that you haven’t even spent. Just about every aspect of your life becomes an open book, and it’s a long and painful process to fix everything.

MSNBC reports that 1 in 12 people will become a victim of identity theft. The most recent story regarding identity theft on a big scale happened with retailer TJ Maxx. Almost 46 million identities were stolen from the corporate giant over an 18-month period. When you consider that there are 300 million people in the U.S., that means almost one-sixth of the country’s population was affected by this one incident!

Theft doesn’t have to happen on a large scale like that. Many thefts occur because a close friend or even a family member who is bad with money will steal the information of someone they know so they can get a cell phone, open a bank account or even gamble online. This is the lowest of the low. If you sign someone else’s name instead of your own and you don’t have a signed and notarized power of attorney, you are a criminal who should go to jail.

This is just one more reason to show you that credit cards daveramsey.com/the_truth_about/credit_card_debt_3478.html.cfm” target=”_blank are never a good idea. Identity theft is real and the more cards you have, the easier a target you become. That’s not to make you paranoid or feel like everyone’s out to get you, but you must be very careful with your identity. This is a good example of why cash is the best way to buy something. Not only do you tend to spend less when you use cash, but your identity is safe. You also don’t have to worry about being charged 18% interest when you use bills.

Source: Foxnews.com

Dave Ramsey is a personal money management expert, an extremely popular national radio personality and best-selling author of daveramsey.com/shop/The_Total_Money_Makeover_P123C48.cfm The Total Money Makeover. Dave is changing the face of America by helping people daveramsey.com/etc/cms/index.cfm?intContentID=2926 get out of debt and build wealth. Ramsey exemplifies his life’s work of teaching others how to be financially responsible, so they can acquire enough wealth to take care of loved ones, live prosperously into old age, and give generously to others. Find out more of what Dave says about daveramsey.com/etc/cms/identity_theft_6713.htmlc identity theft.

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While nothing is ever foolproof you can learn how to protect yourself from identity theft. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America today with victims reporting new cases to authorities at an alarming rate.

Last year alone in 2004, more than 9.9 million Americans were victims of identity theft scams. Those crimes cost them nearly $5 billion. That number of victims and their losses are probably much higher. Several cases go unreported because people are either embarrassed that it happened to them or have no idea where to report it when it does happen.

First, here are a few ways to prevent identity theft so you have less chance of it happening to you. A very important step in learning how to avoid identity theft is to keep a close watch on all of your personal information and your credit report.

Check your credit reports from all three credit bureaus at least once a year to see that everything is accurate. If you find an error, dispute it immediately so you can protect yourself against fraud. Similar names and similar social security numbers often get mixed up, or even worse, someone could have stolen your identity.

Another way to prevent identity theft is not to carry your Social Security card or anything with your Social Security number on it in your wallet. Keep your social security number private because someone could easily steal your identity with your number.

The same goes for your bank card pin number because it makes it easy for a thief who has stolen your wallet to help themselves to your bank account at an A.T.M.

Other ways to prevent identity theft also need to be applied to the Internet. If you use the Internet, make sure all your security software like virus protection and spyware software is up to date. Be aware of Internet scams that ask for any personal or password information.

Legitimate businesses will never send you an e-mail asking you to confirm your personal identifying information. So never give out personal information unless you initiated the contact or you’re absolutely sure who you’re dealing with.

Also be especially careful about giving your credit card number over the phone to telemarketers. While most companies are legitimate this is a popular way for thieves to obtain your name, address and credit card number.

So what happens if you do become a victim and what is involved in reporting identity theft? Here is the information for the agencies you need to contact.

1. Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge.

Equifax: 800-525-6285

Experian: 888-397-3742

TransUnion: 800-680-7289

2. Close all of the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use an ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts. The credit bureaus will help you with this step.

3. File a police report. Get a copy of the police report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime. If you don’t file the police report you may have trouble proving this actually happened.

4. File your complaint with the FTC. The FTC maintains a database of identity theft cases used by law enforcement agencies for investigations. Filing a complaint also helps them learn more about identity theft and the problems victims are having.

Visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Web site at consumer.gov/idtheft . The FTC provides educational materials and self-help tools, as well as an online reporting form. The FTC also maintains a toll-free hotline at 1-877-ID-THEFT, with consumer counselors available to assist victims.

If you’ve had bank accounts set up fraudulently in your name, call these check guarantee companies: Telecheck at 800-366-2425; and the International Check Services Company at 800-526-5380. They can flag your file so that counterfeit checks will be refused.

If your crime was email related, the best place to report email scams is The Internet Fraud Complaint Center or (IFCC). They are a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). Their web address is: www1.ifccfbi.gov

The bottom line is keep any personal information about you private so you won’t become a new victim of this terrible crime. Using these tips to learn how to protect yourself from identity theft and reporting it to the proper authorities will give you a better chance of avoiding this nightmare for you and everyone around you.

Copyright © 2005 Spyware Information.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is provided by spyware-information.com spyware-information.com where you will find free spyware cleaners, downloads, removal software, valuable tips and updated articles about adware and spyware removal programs to protect your identity. For other informative spyware and adware articles go to spyware-information.com/articles_1.html spyware-information.com/articles_1.html

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My dad always says that “it takes all kinds of people to make up the world”, but looking at the ever-increasing reports of identity theft, you have to wonder if that is really necessary. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes today, and if you don’t take precautions, you could be the next victim. The funny thing is, if you think about it, the precautions you should take are all common sense!

How does it work? Very simply, someone gets some information about you, perhaps online or perhaps even via some junk mail that you tossed in the trash without even tearing it up. It has your name, address, date of birth, and social security number. So armed with that information, someone opens a Visa account at a bank with YOUR information, except that they put THEIR address on the application form. What’s wrong with that, people move all the time, so they indicate this is a new address and also enter your old address. Based on the name, old address, social security number, it is determined that you have good credit, so the card is issued and sent to the NEW address, where the thief then starts a spending spree.

The problem comes in because it will be at least 30 days before the Visa company knows there is a problem there. That is 30 days of spending and charging that Visa card up to its limit. The bill is sent 30 days later, it is of course ignored, and then they start trying to call you. When the REAL YOU is finally reached, now there is a problem because someone via identity theft used YOUR information to charge up a truckload of stuff and now they cannot be found.

Interestingly enough, the majority of the credit card companies are skeptical and very suspicious when you tell them you are a victim of identity theft. From personal experience, I can tell you that Citibank is the worst of the bunch. “I’m sorry sir, it was YOUR social security number on the account so you owe the money, when can we expect a payment?” Maybe when hell freezes over?

At that point, the identity theft has already happened, and you can plan on spending countless hours and probably some legal fees until many months or even years later, things are back to normal for you. But if that doesn’t sound like a good time to you, there are steps you can and should take TODAY that will make the act of someone stealing your identity much more difficult. Unfortunately, it will probably never be “impossible” but if the best you can do is “much more difficult”, then by all means go for it.

First of all, almost all of us get junk mail – great insurance rates, new mortgage program, car loan offers, and much more. If you look at the content of some of that mail, you would be surprised at the level of detail they contain – name, address, phone, date of birth, sometimes even social security number. Take any and all junk mail that is addressed to you and SHRED it. You can get a decent shredder at any office supply store pretty cheaply. Shred that junk mail.

When you are working online, we all know that there are some great deals that can be had online. But just because a web site is designed well with attractive colors does not automatically mean that the vendor can be trusted. Heck, most 12 year olds today can create a very professional looking web site, so just think of the site that could be created by someone intent on identity theft. One great way to protect yourself when purchasing online is to use a debit card that has ONLY enough money on it for the current transaction. Anything costing more than that will not get approved. Just before you make a transaction, you can transfer funds from your regular credit card or checking account to this single-use debit card, and only transfer enough to cover the current transaction. NEVER give your social security number to an online site. It is never a requirement, and if they insist it is, you should surf in the other direction as fast as possible.

With the emails you get, NEVER open an attachment if you don’t know who the email is from. And if there really is a “computer problem” with your bank or investments account, they will NEVER ask you for your password or personal information from an online form. This is known as “phishing”, and it totally blows me away to see how many people fall for such a thing regularly. If you go to their online form, which may look exactly like the one your bank actually uses, once they have your password and other personal information, you are toast and can look forward to months of trying to get your very own case of identity theft resolved.

In summary, just apply some LOGIC to it. Shred that junk mail. Use spam filters for your email. Do not divulge personal information via an email request from your bank, since they will never ask you to do that. Never open an email attachment from somebody you don’t know, even if the filename of the attachment has your mouse finger twitching out of curiosity. Be smart about your personal information, and remember that identity theft is no picnic and a LOT of work to get straightened out.

Jon is a computer engineer who maintains many websites to pass along his knowledge, experience, information, and findings. You can read more about Identity Theft at his web site at identity-theft-info.com identity-theft-info.com

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Do you use email? Online bill payment? Look at your brokerage account online? Utilize a wireless network at home, work or while traveling? In an effort to protect your personal and financial information, consider the following items.

Get Up-to-Date Anti-Virus Software: Up-to-date anti-virus software protects your computer against current virus threats. Most commercially available virus protection programs offer automatic weekly and emergency downloads of the latest updates. Scan all your files for viruses at least once per month. For the best protection, however, set up your anti-virus software to scan every file you open.

Get Up-to-Date Anti-Spyware Software: Spyware runs on your computer and can gather private information such as passwords and credit card numbers, deliver unwanted advertising, and monitor your browsing patterns. Spyware is typically hidden in an otherwise harmless program, often in freeware or shareware you download. Before downloading any free software, make sure you know and trust the provider. Some Internet Service Providers (“ISP’s”) offer assistance in finding and removing spyware. The maker of your anti-virus software may also offer anti-spyware protection. Make sure you are protected against this growing threat.

Use a Personal Firewall: Firewalls serve as protective barriers between your computer and the Internet, preventing unauthorized access to your computer when you’re online. Be sure to set up a firewall around your computer. Some ISP’s offer firewall software to their customers and you can buy firewall software or hardware at your local computer store.

Install Security Updates Regularly: Most major software companies regularly release updates or patches to their operating systems to repair security problems. Some websites, such as Microsoft and Apple, offer the ability to scan your computer for missing updates. Check your computer for missing updates at least monthly. For the best protection, set up your computer to receive updates automatically whenever possible.

Protect Your Wireless Home Network: The default configuration of most wireless home networks is not secure. Contact your wireless software vendor for specific information about enabling encryption and strengthening the overall security of your wireless home network.

Exercise Caution with Wireless Hotspots: Taking a few simple precautions when using wireless hotspots can help protect your computer. Wireless technologies are continuously changing. Consult the manufacturer of your network hardware to ensure you have the most up-to-date security technology…then, install a firewall on all network computers, disable wireless connectivity when not in use, use reputable encryption software and disable the wireless ad hoc mode. This will allow only wireless networks that you created to use your wireless software. If you are unsure of the security of a wireless hotspot, don’t use it for conducting confidential business, such as accessing your work e-mail or financial information.

Protect Your Passwords: Make your passwords as obscure or abstract as possible. Avoid obvious numbers and words, such as a maiden name, birth date, or an anniversary, which would be easy to guess. Never divulge your passwords to anyone, including family or friends. Protect Yourself from Phishing Scams: “Phishing” is the mass e-mailing of messages that falsely claim to come from a legitimate business. These messages often provide links to phony web sites, where you are asked to supply personal information such as passwords, credit card, social security number or bank account numbers. Never enter personal information unless you are sure the website is legitimate. You should also be certain the site is encrypted. Look for the letter “s” at the end of “https” at the beginning of the URL address. This ensures that the site is running in secure mode.

How to Recognize Phishing E-Mail: Phishing messages have evolved drastically over the last year, and they are often difficult to recognize. The creators now incorporate realistic company logos and graphics, provide links to the real company’s privacy policies, and even include “legal disclaimer language” at the bottom. To help determine if an e-mail is part of a phishing scam, ask yourself the following:

Do I have a relationship with this company?

Would I expect this company to contact me this way?

Would I expect this company to use this tone or make this request?

(If you are at all unsure, contact the company by phone.)

Don’t Open Unexpected E-Mail: Be cautious of e-mail and attachments — even if they look like they’re from a friend — unless you are expecting them or know what they contain.

Don’t E-Mail Personal or Financial Data: Most e-mail is not secure or encrypted and should not be trusted to send personal or financial information. Protect Your Personal Information: A few simple steps make a tremendous difference. For example, shred sensitive documents instead of simply throwing them away. Also, be absolutely sure you know who you’re dealing with before giving any personal or financial information. OnGuard Online, a site created by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), offers additional information on preventing identity theft.

Avoid Using Your Social Security Number: Ask companies and government agencies you do business with if you can create an alternate customer identifier.

Monitor Your Financial Statements: Promptly read any account or credit card statements or correspondence when they arrive. Make sure there are no changes or transactions you did not initiate. If a bill arrives unusually late or not all, call the company. Also, be sure to monitor your credit for inaccuracies. As of September 1, 2005, all US residents are entitled to receive one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You can request your report at AnnualCreditReport.com. Identity theft warning signs include:

Seeing unauthorized charges or withdrawals, not receiving renewed credit cards, bills, or other mail, receiving credit cards for which you did not apply, notices for changes you did not initiate and denials of credit for no apparent reason. Although it could be a simple error, never assume a mistake has been made that will automatically be corrected. Follow up with the business or institution. If you suspect that your personal information has been used wrongfully, immediately:

Review your credit reports

Place a fraud alert on your accounts

Close any accounts opened or used fraudulently

File a report with the police File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission

Copyright 2006 Rafael Velez

Rafael O. Velez III is the Managing Director and Registered Principal of Summit Financial Advisors, LLC, based in San Mateo, California. Additional resources and ideas are offered on their Web site, summit-advisors.com summit-advisors.com. Please e-mail comments about this article to mailto:rafael@summit-advisors.com rafael@summit-advisors.com.

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