Unbelievable - why are people so daft?

[kitten_caboodle]

I can't believe that in this day and age people don't shred or even destroy their documents. Last week after the bin men came, there was the usual amount of litter that they drop haphazardly and leave blowing around the street.

We live near the bottom of a long road about 8 houses up from the end where the bins are picked up. I was amazed when my OH picked up a few pieces of paper that had blown into our garden to dispose of and found they were bank statements - just chucked away - not shredded, or blacked out or anything. Just begging to be picked up. There were other documents too from the same person - for a business that's run from a house a few doors down. I can't believe that people still put themselves at risk in this way with all we know about identity theft - I shred or rip apart everything I throw away - Am I just paranoid or do you guys do the same?

 

[agw_01]

Nope, you're not paranoid.

Every single piece of paper that goes in my bin (even Tesco receipts for beer) gets ripped up until it's pretty much unreadable.

I work for a security company and so know all about "bin snoopers", if that's the right term to use.

 

[Matblack]

I ship all mine to a recycling project in Nigeria someone emailed me about, oddly I have been having trouble getting a loan recently :/

MB

 

[iCraig]

I forget the statistics but a huge amount of people fall victim to fraud because they don't shred their important, unwanted information.

Some people don't take identify theft seriously enough, it's a serious problem.

MB

 

[SexyBetty]

Take them round to their house and tell them how stupid they are

 

[Tru]

I've always been canny about throwing stuff away, I used to burn bills and things like that.

I love shredding now, it's almost theraputic, if I could get a shredder that didn't make such an infernal din I'd do it all the time.

 

[LeoWyatt]

I work for a security company and so know all about "bin snoopers", if that's the right term to use.

I always use the term I first heard on Off The Hook, they go trashing

 

[MR_Punk]

They will only take it serious if they get caught out.

+44

 

[Tasocahtfu]

I ship all mine to a recycling project in Nigeria someone emailed me about, oddly I have been having trouble getting a loan recently :/

MB

To the OP, no you are not at all paranoid, everyone in my house chucks all their 'important' paper rubbish in the same bin and then we burn it regularly. In my opinion it is just not worth the risk nowadays.

 

[4T5]

I ship all mine to a recycling project in Nigeria someone emailed me about, oddly I have been having trouble getting a loan recently :/

MB

Cheers for that.

I live in a heightened state of awareness left over from my dodgey days. I am permanently in stealth mode.
All documents are shredded and my tracks are covered constantly.

 

[Kol]

I ship all mine to a recycling project in Nigeria someone emailed me about, oddly I have been having trouble getting a loan recently :/

MB

ROFL

/man, I wish my posts were a bit more substantial. Lately, it's all chuckles

 

[Jez]

I just chuck all mine away normally, what can anyone do with a bank statement other than know how much money i (dont) have?

 

[Luke]

Last week I bought a cheap shredder and now shred all my documents, then distribute the resulting debris between different bin bags.

 

[Luke]

I just chuck all mine away normally, what can anyone do with a bank statement other than know how much money i (dont) have?

Gain your name, address, bank account number, sort code amognst other things?

 

[Le_Petit_Lapin]

Shred them?

Burn them for the win. Ain't no way they're piecing that back together.

 

[Jez]

Gain your name, address, bank account number, sort code amognst other things?

So what? The only thing they can do with that information is pay money into my account. I give my account number to loads of people on ebay for bank transfers, this is no different and account numbers are not confidential pieces of information.

 

[PrettyInPink]

I love shredding now, it's almost theraputic, if I could get a shredder that didn't make such an infernal din I'd do it all the time.

I am so glad i'm not the only one

They will only take it serious if they get caught out.

+44

Very true and then they'll be all "omg how could this have happened someone must have been going through my bins etc"
No it's because you are daft and have left your personal paperwork fly about all over the street

*ooohh i'm in a bad mood today*

 

[Noxis]

So what? The only thing they can do with that information is pay money into my account. I give my account number to loads of people on ebay for bank transfers, this is no different and account numbers are not confidential pieces of information.

Take out a loan in your name? Sign up for credit cards? You also realise many shops still print your FULL card number etc on a receipt right?

 

[Dolph]

So what? The only thing they can do with that information is pay money into my account. I give my account number to loads of people on ebay for bank transfers, this is no different and account numbers are not confidential pieces of information.

Use it to get credit in your name? Most places will take a bank statement as a proof of ID.... They can also use it to set up direct debits from your account and the like if they so choose.

 

[Cueball]

So what? The only thing they can do with that information is pay money into my account. I give my account number to loads of people on ebay for bank transfers, this is no different and account numbers are not confidential pieces of information.

With your name and address, they can open bank accounts in your name. They can buy mobile phones and get credit, all in your name.

When they don't pay, the bailifs will be smashing down YOUR door with a sledge hammer and you won't be able to stop them.

You may as well give them your credit card and pin number whilst you're at it.