June 10, 2025

7 Risky Documents You Should Shred

When it comes to protecting your personal information, shredding documents is a prudent choice to mitigate the risks associated with identity theft. While shredding confidential documents such as old tax returns may seem obvious, it is important to recognize that even seemingly innocuous documents discarded in the trash or recycling bin can pose a threat if not properly secured or destroyed.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the personal information criminals are most interested in are:

• Name, address, and phone number
• Date of Birth
• Social Security Number
• Driver’s license number
• Credit card information
• Bank account information
• Mother’s maiden name

The DOJ points to stolen mail and items found in the trash or recycling as the main culprits for the majority of identity theft, and it recommends document shredding as a way to safely dispose of sensitive information.

Here are seven types of documents you might not currently be shredding, but should be:

• Pay stubs – Pay stubs contain a lot of personal information. Collect pay stubs and store them in a locked location until they can be securely destroyed.
• Shipping labels – Address labels on packages potentially include personal information, such as name and address. Always remove and securely dispose of these labels before boxes or packages are broken down and recycled.
• Junk mail – Junk mail isn’t just annoying or harmless trash. This correspondence often includes confidential data. For example, pre-approved credit card applications include names and addresses, which identity thieves could use to send in these applications. So, always shred junk mail and never put it into the garbage or recycling bin.
• Photo prints – Photos should be securely shredded instead of tossed into the garbage. Even if thieves can’t completely steal an identity with a photo, they could be used to create fake IDs or for other malicious purposes.
• Old credit cards: Cut credit cards can expose unchanging credit card numbers, allowing thieves to piece together information. Shredding old credit cards negates the temptation to simply cut them up and put them in the trash.
• Bank statements and bills: These documents contain personal information that could facilitate unauthorized access to bank, phone, or other accounts, enabling identity theft. For example, a thief could use a discarded health bill to contact a victim by posing as a medical debt collector and asking for financial information or a social security number.
• Hiring information – Summer is a peak time for people looking for temporary employment. Résumés contain key personal information. Shred any leftover résumés or store in a locked location and shred them when no longer needed.

Paper shredding is one of the most secure ways to dispose of unneeded or unwanted documents containing personal information. Secure shredding services, like Shred-it^®, offer fast and convenient options such as:

• Residential shredding: Shred-it ^® collects documents from residences.
• Drop-off shredding: Drop off your documents at your local Shred-it ^® office.
• Free shredding events: A Community Shred-it ^® event is often free to residents to bring a box or two of confidential papers for secure destruction.

Why You Should Use a Professional Shredding Service

Hiring a professional paper shredding service is the best way to safely, securely, and reliably dispose of sensitive documents, but not all shredding services are the same. The National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) establishes strict standards for shredding services, so choose a NAID-Certified service. Certification ensures a secure chain of custody, from pickup through disposal, and provides proof of service for your records.

Unlike do-it-yourself shredders that typically strip-shred documents and leave behind materials that could potentially be pieced back together, Shred-it^® uses industrial-grade, cross-cut shredders to transform paper documents into small, confetti-like pieces, which cannot be reconstructed, thus limiting chances for theft.

Learn more about how Shred-it^®’s secure document destruction solutions can help serve as identity protection.

^{**This article is for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any specific facts or circumstances.}