The Drastic Rise in Social Security Number Thefts

In the end of May 2011, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report stating that the IRS has seen a staggering jump in identity theft cases since 2008. In 2010 there were 245,000 cases of SS# theft compared to that of 52,000 in 2008, an increase of almost 5 times the 2008 amount. The cases sited by the IRS were of people using these stolen numbers to either falsely try to collect a refund or to get paid for work and avoid taxes. Unfortunately these statistics are well below the actual amount of cases because of the significant lag in the detection of these crimes.

The fact that the IRS is very limited in the amount of information they are able to divulge to the victims or even the investigating bodies based on privacy laws, makes it very difficult for the victims to resolve these issues in a timely manner.

The increase in detected cases can be traced to the increased level of technology and computer programs which can flag duplicate filings.

Here is a list from the Federal Trade Commission of the main ways Social Security Numbers are stolen:
**From workplaces
**By pay an employee who has access to these records
**Hacking into the records
**Stealing mail with personal financial information
**“Dumpster diving”
**By posing as a landlord, employer or someone else who may have a legal right to access your report
**Stealing your wallet or purse
**Completing a change of address form to divert your mail
**Posing as a legitimate company and coaxing you to reveal the information by phone, a web form or by email

At least 4 of these can be prevented by the simple act of shredding your documents. Let ALLSTAR SECURE SHRED help you protect your identity. By allowing us to securely shred your company's or you own confidential information, we can save you hours of aggravation and hundreds or thousands of dollars that would be used to rectify the situation.

Why Outsourcing Your Shredding Benefits Your Company

"My company is too small", "it costs too much", "we do it ourselves", "we don't shred", "we have to save files for 7 years". These are statements I frequently hear. The fact is that by outsourcing your shredding needs, you will increase productivity, decrease costs, become compliant, and you will be going 'green' as well when we recycle the paper post shredding.
There is no set 'scheduled service' program. You might require a monthly, a quarterly, a semi-annual or annual pick up, but by creating a consistent and documented shredding/destruction program you maintain a level of integrity that will be seen as pro-active among your peers, clients, and auditors.

Benefits of scheduled shredding service:

1. Once you analyze the cost and maintenance of the shredder on a monthly basis, time spent shredding that could otherwise be utilized handling more productive tasks, as well as employee salaries, you will most likely find that the hours and dollars spent over the course of the month could better be served elsewhere within your company.

2. There is also concern that the proper information is not always being destroyed. What one person would consider confidential, another individual may not. Having consoles placed in your space and having a scheduled service plan, you will eliminate guesswork by your employees.

3. Sometimes information is not destroyed properly because of the unwillingness of an employee to take the extra time to use the office shredder. A simple trip to the console once a day eliminates the employee’s dislike of ‘wasting’ their time at the shredder.

4. The above benefits take into consideration that your company already has a shredding program in place. Should you be considering the implementation of a program for the first time, the benefits are as simple as dollars and cents. The economical shredding program you will initiate in your office will far outweigh any fines or attorney fees accrued due to non-compliance and accusations of identity theft. It can be viewed as an insurance policy to protect yourself and your company.

Allstar Secure Shred will consult with you to create a schedule for pick up based on your company's needs. This helps us serve you in the most convenient and economical way for you and your company.
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Key Statistics Of An Individual's Identity Theft

• 11.1 MILLION adults were victims of identity theft in 2009.


• The total fraud amount was $54 BILLION.


• The average victim spends 21 hours and approximately $375 out of pocket resolving the crime.


• 13% of identity fraud crimes were committed by someone the victim knew.

Three common methods used by thieves.

1. Stealing mail from unlocked mail boxes--Think of how easy it would be for someone to snag a pre-approved credit card application from your front porch, fill it in with your name, and send it in using a different mailing address.


2. Dumpster diving--Anytime you throw out a document that has a credit card #, Social Security #, bank statement, or any other personal information, you are creating an ideal opportunity for someone to dig through your trash and get their hands on it.


3. Shoulder surfing--This occurs when someone watches over your shoulder at an ATM machine or on a checkout line at any store and steals your PIN.

Preventive methods.

1. shred your mail--Pre-approved applications, bank statements, financial dealings.


2. shred your garbage--Cancelled checks, old insurance policies, check books from inactive accounts, cancelled check, Social Security information.


3. Permanently remove your name from the pre-approved mail offer list. Call (888) 5OPT-OUT (888-567-8688), or visit www.optoutprescreen.com.


4. remove your name from direct marketing/bulk mailing lists.