For almost everyone else, having a mailbox full of spam is extremely annoying. so the first thing that comes to mind is to get rid of it by throwing it in the trash.
You should never throw away any mail with your address on it! You should always shred any mail with your address on it before throwing it away. a cheap paper shredder or scissors can save you from identity theft.
However, when it comes to deleting unimportant mail containing your address and other information, there are always some risks involved. In this article, we’ll talk about why it’s not safe to discard spam with your information and how you can get rid of it safely.
then, let’s get started!
risks related to spamming with personal information
If you’re about to toss your spam in the trash can or your garbage bag, wait and read on. Please note that it is extremely dangerous to throw away your mail with address and other information.
One of the main reasons is that these harmless email items can potentially lead to identity theft. Identity theft means someone can use your personal or even financial information to use your identity to commit crimes.
Also, if your only concern is the address, also be aware that anyone can obtain it with the help of your spam and carry out fraud or theft. therefore, it becomes necessary for you to always be cautious when it comes to disposing of your mail. Now, let’s talk about how you can remove mail containing personal or other sensitive information.
easy ways to get rid of spam containing an address
You can’t just leave your spam unattended just because of the risk of identity theft. Otherwise, they can take up a lot of space in your home.
Then, the question arises: what can you really do with all the spam that contains your address? the answer is: discard them but with certain precautions and other steps.
Below are some of the easiest ways to do this.
1. destroy them by crushing them
The shredding method is the most effective method to destroy your spam.
Do you know why? well, with the help of shredding, each and every part of the mail will be shredded into a useless pile of paper shreds.
Because of this, no one will be able to figure out your address or other sensitive information. by the time they do, you may even have moved places!
Now, to shred your mail, you can get yourself a paper shredder.
There are mainly two types of shredders available for this purpose such as single cut shredder and cross cut shredder. a cross shredder will ensure proper shredding of your mail into small pieces rather than long shreds.
Note that most of the time you can’t recycle shredded paper because the fibers are too thin. in this situation, it is best to dispose of it or use it as a composting material.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you destroy your mail by shredding it before throwing it away.
2. destroy them by cutting them
If you don’t want to buy a shredder or want to get rid of the mail right away, you can simply cut the paper with scissors. this method is great for people who don’t have a lot of mail stored and have time.
Note that if you choose to go ahead with this option, you must cut the paper correctly and not just into three or four parts. if you don’t cut it correctly, it can again be very easy for people to tape it together and thus make use of your information.
Therefore, always cut mail into small pieces that are difficult to stick together or tape together.
3. destroy them by burning them
Another option you have is to destroy the mail by burning it. This may seem like the easiest and fastest way to get rid of spam, but it’s definitely not green.
In fact, many places don’t allow you to burn anything without a permit. it is also unsafe due to the fire hazards involved. so make sure you are allowed to burn things outdoors and do so carefully.
If you don’t want to burn them in your backyard, you can burn them over a fire pit or even a wood stove.
4. destroy them by making them mush
If you want to destroy your confidential information, you can also try the pulping method. this is what it means to make a pulp. In this method, you simply insert the paper into the bleach water. this ensures that the text is unreadable.
5. make use of the wood chipper
Lastly, if you have a wood chipper, you can put all the unimportant documents with your address inside. once it’s chipped, you can use it as compost for your backyard garden. this way you get both benefits!
So, here are some of the easiest ways to dispose of your mail without risking personal data being leaked to third parties.
how can you protect your information from being stolen by mail?
In addition to destroying your mail containing addresses and other important information, there are a few other steps to ensure you protect all sensitive information from being stolen.
These steps are:
1. check your mailbox often
You should ensure that you always check your mailbox at least three times a week for mail that contains sensitive information.
2. try to go digital
If you don’t want to go through the effort of destroying mail, you can simply try going digital. for example, you can request online delivery of account statements and invoices.
3. cancel unwanted subscriptions
Sometimes you may have filled out forms to receive mail that you are no longer interested in. if that’s the case, be sure to unsubscribe from unwanted subscriptions and thus reduce the amount of spam.
In this way, you can prevent any fraud that is carried out with your identity.
conclusion
any compromised information can be misused. therefore, you must take care of its proper disposal and how you do it.
so the next time you throw out any addressed mail, do so only after you properly destroy it.