Identity Theft Information in Florida: Don't Be A Victim!

There are six main types of identity theft commonly reported in Florida. Credit card fraud ranks first with more than 4,000 reported victims in 2007. Phone and utility fraud comes in second, bank fraud ranks third, fourth type is government documents or benefits fraud, while employment related fraud and loan fraud are fifth and sixth, respectively. According to one article from the Sarasota Herald Tribune, Florida ranked 6th in identity theft rating in the entire United states. The most common locations of these thefts are Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Fort Lauderdale.

There are probably numerous situations that led to the victimization of thousands of people but one reason that is often disregarded is the failure to properly dispose of documents like financial records, credit card reports, payroll records, employee profile records, medical files, and others. Whether you leave these files out in the open or you throw them in the trash, other people will get a hold of them. In fact, throwing away closed but confidential documents is a no-no. This is because “dumpster diving” in Florida is legal! “Dumpster diving” is a practice in which people go through others' trash in search of anything they could benefit from. It could be broken furniture, old gadgets, or discarded documents. The bottom line is, once it's in their hands, you can't do anything about it.

In order to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft, make sure you keep confidential and important documents in a safe place; and when these documents expire, you're next step should be proper and secure disposal of them. One way of disposing files safely is by shredding. If you have a lot to shred, ask for the help of professional shredding companies. Shred-it is one of them. You can look for other companies closer to your area on the net.

These companies provide secure shredding of files, and other forms of file storage systems like digital storage (e.g. computer hard drive, CDs, DVDs, video tapes, cassette tapes). Document shredding is the most basic service. You can have employee records, old financial records, or payroll records destroyed. For medical institutions, patient records and other medical files could be disposed safely as well. Medical record destruction is part of the policy of hospitals. This even includes X-ray film destruction of old patients.

Most companies charge by the pound but they also offer services for recurring and one-time shredding needs. You can also opt to have the file disposal process on-site by asking for their mobile shredding services. This is particularly convenient for companies that have a lot of files to get rid of, or simply do not have the time to take boxes of documents to a shredding company.

Shredding companies are now conveniently available in many locations around the state. Companies that serve in South Florida can be found in Fort Lauderdale, Aventura, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Boca Raton, Miami, Miramar, Miami Beach, North Miami Beach, Tamarac, Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Davie, Cooper City, Weston, Sunrise, Palmetto Bay, Kendall, Homestead, and Plantation.

Also, to make sure you choose the right shredding company, ask them if they are HIPAA compliant. Some question you might ask are, “Where does all the trash go?” or “How sure am I that they won't go through my trash?” Knowing that they comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) should leave your mind clear of having your documents misused, and destroying the environment and. The act, in essence, guards the community against waste, fraud, and abuse in health care delivery and health insurance.