Every other week Roy drags our big black bin and our recycling out the back of the workshop, down the lane and all the way down to the main road so that it may be picked up by the council. He might put it out around 9pm the night before or 6am in the morning before he goes to work. The bins don’t get collected until perhaps 10am or even 11am on our specified day. This means our rubbish could be sat exposed for twelve hours or more.
I shudder when I consider the amount of personal info I was throwing out unprotected. I now take time to learn all about the different fraud preventions I can take, to ensure my personal details are kept safe. One of the most important for me was learning about check fraud prevention best practices, as I didn’t think it was possible for a check, but it is!
Fellowes and National Identity Fraud Prevention Month
Fellowes is strongly supporting National Fraud Prevention Month and has asked me to spread the word. They’ve sent me what may only be described as a rather gorgeous (and seriously effective) shredder to help me sort my own piles of paper securely. As part of the scheme, Fellowes is challenging parents to give their family home a “Shred Over”, ensuring that the family’s identity information remains secure, even on recycling day.
During half term, Fellowes invite you to take part in the fun #shredoverchallenge – shredding your unnecessary paper properly and perhaps even having a bit of fun in the meantime (shredded paper makes great stuffing for homemade toys, for filling a sensory hide-and-seek box and in my home, snow which may be sprinkled from one side of the house to another).
We emptied the office of unnecessary paperwork, got rid of junk mail and sorted the “home” files. I was rather amazed to find that even shredded into tiny pieces we managed to fill two whole big black bin bags to the top. Had even half of this hit the bin without being properly shredded identity thieves would have had a field day in our names.
Fellowes have provided these handy hints and tips, as well as identity fraud information to get people started and educate us all a little more about staying safe. ID fraud really is something that needs to be considered these days. With households having so many accounts, banks, clubs and so many documents coming in.
Find Out More About National Identity Fraud Prevention Month
For more information on how to combat ID fraud visit www.stop-idfraud.co.uk and to find fabulous Halloween shredded paper inspiration and more visit the Fellowes Ideas Centre for instructions.
Don’t forget to tweet Fellowes at @FellowesUK and show off your shredded paper crafts or your bags of shame. Our two bags have been collected by the recycling now so I don’t have to think about how much paperwork I’d accumulated and previously not discarded effectively.
