In order to run a profitable business and maintain efficient operations, warehouses and commercial properties have a lot of responsibilities. Finding a solution to unexpected obstacles is essential when challenges present themselves.
Theft of identity is one of the obstacles that can bring your business to its knees, specifically dumpster diving identity theft. Maybe you’re wondering what dumpster diving identity theft is. Businesses and their employees are at risk from exactly what it sounds like.
A poorly secured dumpster on your property could cost your company more money than you realize. The Matrix Locksmith Toronto will provide a comprehensive four-step process on how to prevent dumpster diving identity theft in this article:
1. Discard sensitive information properly
For the welfare of employers and employees, it is always important to be aware of how to prevent dumpster diving identity theft. If you work in a large office building and have no control over who empties the dumpster or takes out the trash, or if you own a small business and take out the trash yourself, it doesn’t matter.
If sensitive information is discarded properly, dumpster diving identity theft can be completely avoided. A simple act like this may seem insignificant, but it could very well be the difference between survival and failure for your company.
Developing good habits is the first step. You should always check to make sure no personal information is on a document before disposing of it. Offices that process hundreds or thousands of papers every day find this extremely difficult, but it is necessary.
To destroy sensitive information on papers, shredders and incinerators are probably the most common methods. Using a marker, you can black out names, addresses, and accounts on every line of a document. The process may sound tedious and take some time, but the trade-off makes dumpster diving identity theft almost impossible.
It may be possible for larger companies and corporations to hire extra staff to handle these tasks. It may seem absurd to hire someone, pay a living wage, offer benefits like health insurance and a 401K just to go over papers, but it is worth it for some companies.
Dumpster diving identity theft can cost you a lot more than hiring additional staff or purchasing office equipment. In a worst-case scenario, a paper shredder is a pretty small investment compared to what it could save you or your employees.
2. Keeping your files safe
Dumpster diving identity theft can be prevented by discarding employee personal information. These materials must be stored in some form of filing cabinet, business safe, or private computer server. Dumpster diving identity theft has no direct connection to these areas of the office, but it is related to your overall filing system.
A secure filing system forces you to consider ways to prevent information leaks just as every business owner has to understand the mindset of the customer they are trying to attract. As with general loss prevention, dumpster diving identity theft is only a few steps removed from mishandling these files.
In most office settings, file cabinets store business records and personal information of clients and employees. The easiest way to ensure file cabinet security is to have locks installed by a professional locksmith and have them replaced every few years to maintain a level of consistency.
Throughout this article, there is a theme layered on file cabinet lock replacement that illustrates that every business can ward off something as drastic and crippling as dumpster diving identity theft for a small amount of money by establishing these simple habits and procedures.
3. Enhance the security of buildings
If you do not have a secure perimeter around your commercial property, everything else is at risk. Building security is often overlooked by many businesses. With a few exterior security adjustments, dumpster diving identity theft can be reduced.
A gate or fence is the most obvious outdoor security barrier. Business buildings are often protected by perimeter security. The boundary acts as a physical barrier that cannot be crossed without permission. Trespassing is one of the main reasons why someone cannot search through your dumpster, as we learned earlier about the legality of dumpster diving.
Building security can also be enhanced by installing security cameras in the appropriate locations. The police will be able to track down the perpetrators if dumpster diving identity theft occurs. Deterrence can also come from the mere presence of security cameras.
Law enforcement authorities and security experts agree that most criminals seek secrecy when acting. Criminals will not take action if they know their illegal actions are being recorded on video. When found guilty, things like dumpster diving identity theft carry substantial consequences.
Your business’s perimeter security can also be enhanced with outdoor lighting. Using motion sensor floodlights and other types of general lighting around the dumpster can eliminate secrecy for dumpster divers. Trespassers can gain access to dumpsters through blind spots that are eliminated by lights.
Parking lots and other open spaces around your building should be illuminated to create an unwelcoming environment for dumpster divers. All of these measures work together to strengthen the external security of your building, even if it is not as effective as a security camera system or a fortified gate.
4. Be sure to lock your dumpster
Any business that wants to restrict trespassing that could result in dumpster diving identity theft will benefit from additional security around their commercial property. Nevertheless, businesses need to find the right lock to secure the dumpster itself, which is often overlooked as a preventative measure.
It is best to use high-security padlocks on dumpsters because they are portable and effective. Due to the fact that you are securing an outdoor dumpster, it is very difficult to find something better than a padlock.
Because dumpsters are out in the open, dumpster diving is enticing to criminals. When someone has reached the dumpster, the only thing left to do is open the lid and search for valuable information.
It is unique about padlocks that they latch onto the hasp that is already attached to the lid of the dumpster. A trusted lock and a key are all you need. If you want to reinforce a padlock and increase its ability to lock a dumpster, you will need the craftsmanship of a locksmith.
An affordable locksmith can install a dumpster lock quite easily, adding another layer of defense against dumpster diving identity theft for a small fee and a short window of time. All building security needs, both on the inside and outside of the office, can be handled by locksmiths.
Knowing when trash pickup day is is very important when locking your dumpster. It may vary slightly, but you should know when the dumpster is emptied each week, which means someone will need to unlock the lid. You can always reduce the chances of dumpster diving identity theft by limiting the amount of time your dumpster is unlocked.
Closing Thoughts
Identity theft destroys people’s lives every day in Canada. Your name and valuables are illegally taken for the benefit of someone else. When confidential information is not disposed of properly, dumpster diving identity theft poses a real risk to businesses.
The use of security cameras, walled gates, motion lights, and high-quality padlocks are excellent prevention strategies. Nevertheless, determined criminals may not be deterred. Whatever obstacles they face, ambitious people will find a way to accomplish their goals.
Professional locksmiths know how to combine these different forms of security for maximum protection against dumpster diving identity theft. You can rely on technicians to provide you with the best advice and then implement a hardware installation plan.
