Identity theft is a real concern. Simply tossing old documents into the trash isn't sufficient to protect yourself. There are those that sift through garbage hoping to find just a few key pieces of information – a bank account number, social security number, or even a member number can give them some key data for hacking into your accounts or to pose as you. This guide will help you protect your identity by ensuring that you dispose of the documents properly. 

Document List

The following list is key documents that you should destroy instead of simply throwing away.

• Old financial documents. This includes tax forms, pay stubs, bank statements, canceled checks, and anything else that pertains to you and your money. These documents usually contain everything an identity thief needs – name, social security number, and birthdate – so it's vital to destroy them completely.

• Receipts and bill stubs. While these do not have as much information on them, they may still contain items an identity thief can use, so it's best to destroy them.

• Electronic records. Old CDs, thumb drives, hard drives and SD cards are the primary culprits, along with some smartphones. Either destroy the old device or reformat it to wipe it clean.

• Anything with your name on it, such as prescription labels and junk mail. These are the least likely to cause an issue, but it's better safe than sorry.

Disposal Options

You have several options when it comes to disposal. Some people use fire as their disposal methods. There are some concerns with this since paper can produce flaming embers that can lead to house fires. The documents are typically burned outside in areas where bonfires or leaf burning is allowed. If you attempt to burn them indoors, twist the paper into dense paper logs to cut down on flying embers, and make sure to place a screen in front of the fire so no embers blow indoors.

Shredding is the best option. If you stay on top of your documents, a personal shredder is all you need. Simply feed everything into the shredder as it enters the house or as it becomes time to dispose of it. Most home shredders can even destroy thick items, like credit cards.

Professional shredding is a good option if you have a lot of items that need to be destroyed, such as boxes of old tax returns or the paperwork from an old business. Some communities offer free or low-cost shredding days, or you can hire a private shredding firm to come right to your door.