Dumpster Diving
People worry so much about digital information leaks nowadays that we forget you can still score plenty of information the old-fashioned way -- by rifling through someone's trash. Credit card offers are the big offender here, which is why you may want to opt out of receiving them. But ATM receipts, bank statements, prescription bottles, and more give ID thieves plenty to work with. And remember, someone who's out to steal your identity doesn't necessarily need all of your information given to them on a silver platter. Once they have a couple of pieces of info about you, that starts the ball rolling, making it easier and easier to collect more by calling your bank, your insurance company, or whomever else they might think makes an easy target.
Consider Steven Massey, who racked up more than a million dollars in profits on gambling and credit card debts on cards that he filed with other people's information -- information that he found dumpster diving outside of accountancy offices. This was back in the 90s, and today offices that handle personally identifiable information are held to standards about how they handle it. But not everyone follows those guidelines, and private individuals aren't held to them at all, so while your own trash may not be as lucrative a target, it's still a good idea to shred your personal info before putting it on the curb.
Did you know...
- Paper money is actually pretty heavy. One pound would be worth $454 in $1 bills. That means $1 million comprised solely of $100 bills would weigh over 20 pounds. Those suitcases filled with money in movies must be hefty to lug around all that paper money. If you plan on robbing a bank, you better bulk up!
- Once you've handled all your money, you should probably wash your hands. Money is some of the dirtiest things that we own. In fact, it's been found to be dirtier than a household toilet! During flu season, the virus can live on a bill for up to 17 days. That's just plain disgusting!
- Have you ever wondered who prints the most money? That would be Hasbro, as in the makers of Monopoly. Hasbro prints more Monopoly money in a given year than there is money in the entire world. Each set of the game comes with $20,580. Bet you didn’t know you had that much money lying around the house!
- Do you know what the lifespan of U.S. currency is? The higher the denomination, the longer it stays in circulation. Both $50 and $100 bills last 9 years. The $20 sticks around for 4 years. $10 bills circulate for 3 years. The $5 bill has a 2-year lifespan, and the $1 bill only lasts around 18 months before being retired. Coins last around 30 years.
- It's an understatement to say that the odds when playing the lottery are not in your favor. You are statistically three times more likely to die in a car accident while driving 10 miles to buy a lottery ticket than you are to actually win. Even more astounding, over half the tickets in an average lottery draw are bought by only 5% of the participants.