Sunday 7 September 2014

Don't Stockpile Papers, Opt to Shred Instead. @FellowesCanada Powershred 63Cb shreds the paper trail to your personal information. #FellowesProtects

Identity Theft is a Crime of Opportunity. Don't Give Identity Thieves the Opportunity by Stockpiling Papers Containing Personal Information. Opt to Shred Instead.

I'm not sure whether it's my age, having been born in that nowhere land I like to refer to as the "generation gap". Those of us born at the end of the Baby Boom, sandwiched between the true boomers who have already downsized in preparation for retirement, and the Gen X and Y'ers who are wired connected and paperless. Maybe it's because I come from a banking background, before the days of online banking and paperless statements. Documents and cancelled cheques (Gen Y'ers will have to Google that) were all filed in banker boxes and labelled to be held until year of destruction (12 years back then as I recall). 

Either way the practise of saving all my receipts, statements, cancelled cheques and warranty forms, just in case I ever needed them became the norm. 


I know I'm not alone, since I have had many conversations over the years with people about how long and exactly what we need to keep. The notion that we should keep all these in case we ever need them, has turned piles into shoe boxes, and shoe boxes into banker boxes of receipts, and statements. 

I'm pretty sure I will never need the 1982 receipt for gas I paid cash for, so why do I still have it?


Then along came kids and crazy busy lives, and the years passed, until the boxes were moved to a corner of the basement or garage or storage unit. There they stay for years collecting dust. Warranties on appliances we no longer own, cancelled cheques and statements for accounts closed years ago. Sound familiar to any of you? 

All those papers with addresses, names, signatures, and personal information on them. 


I married an engineer who works in hi-tech, and fiercely guards his privacy both online and off. We have spend hours talking to our kids and setting rules about Internet usage and protecting their privacy and information online. All the while a paper trail of information sits in a box. Surely "the box" deserves as much attention as the credit card offers we receive in the mail and shred on a daily basis. 

Clearly it is time for a change people! 


So with the help of the Fellowes Canada  and their Powershred 63 Cb Cross-Cut Shredder I'm ready to turn over a new page on protecting my personal information against Identity Theft. I'll start by saying goodbye to that box, and going forward following their Top 10 Documents You Must Shred. 

The PowerShred 63Cb Cross-Cut Shredder is perfect for a home or home office with features such as:


  • Jam Blocker: blocks jams before they start.
  • SafeSense Technology: stops shredding when hands touch the paper opening.
  • Energy Savings System: ensures optimal energy efficiency.
  • Shreds 10 sheets at a time into 5/32" x 2 " cross-cut pieces. (Security Level 3)
  • Shreds credit cards.
  • Comes with a 5 gallon pull out bin.
Personally energy efficiency is a must when I'm looking at purchasing a new product, so I love the Energy Savings System. My Hubby was impressed with the SafeSense Technology, and how it worked. But lets face it at the end of the day it just has to work so the Jam Blocker and the fact I can shred expired credit cards are what sealed the deal for me.





You can find the Fellowes PowerShred 63Cb Cross-Cut Shredder at Staples Canada.

Yep, just me Cathy thinking out loud about protecting my personal information and fraud prevention.

Note: I received a Fellowes Powershred 63 Cb Cross-Cut Shredder free of cost for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own and reflect my personal experience with this product and brand.

90 comments :

  1. I will no longer be throwing my restaurant receipts into the garbage and make sure it get shredded or at least ripped up.

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  2. I learned that I don't need my gas receipt from 1982. But really, can you ever be 100% sure...

    Seriously though, I learned that the total reported dollar loss by Canadian fraud victims in 2011 was $13,204,091. That's a lot of moola.

    Besos, Sarah
    Blogger at Journeys of The Zoo

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  3. I learned that Approximately 17,000 Canadians reported that they were victims of identity fraud in 2011. That is alot of people.

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  4. Wow! Have we become lax in our efforts to protect ourselves?

    The cost of this fraud has gone up $3,600,807 from 2010! That's amazing!

    I need this shredder! The best shredder we ever had was a Fellowes that we bought in the 90s. It travelled internationally with us and eventually (after a LOT of use) died. :(

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  5. I also commented on "Love the Product, Hate the Brand".

    Great post.

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  6. I think this is so so important to talk about! I had my wallet/iphone stolen a few years ago and low and behold, identity theft. I have so much warnings on my credit not, I don't even care how many checks I have to get through before purchasing something big - as long as I am safe. I can't believe 17000 of us reported identity theft in 2011. I was one of them. Insane. I totally am all for shredding documents

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  7. Well since I have already been the victim of credit card information theft I am extremely diligent about shredding (even though my credit card info was stolen at a retail location). Now I just need a shredder at home so I can stop hauling my stuff to the office to shred!

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  8. I would love to be able to shred I think that is the best way to protect yourself and I Learned that information they get is often sold to the highest bidder, It is creepy that so many people are out there trying to steal your identitiy

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  9. Probably a good idea to collect all my personal information and have a yearly fire

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  10. I'm going to be way more careful when ripping up canceled checks.

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  11. I guess I will be tearing the over of my magazines off before I toss them. I get tons of mag subscriptions and have never thought twice about throwing them in the trash with the mailing label on them.

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  12. I need to be extra careful by shredding all my bills.

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  13. I didn't know that I should be shredding my junk mail. I never thought twice about just throwing it in the garbage can!

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  14. Did not know that thieves actually try to find a label of your info even if you tried to stredded

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  15. I will no longer just toss the Copy of Restaurant Credit Card Sales Receipt, which is a habit I do have. (Judy Cowan)

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  16. i shred all personal information

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  17. Wow, sounds like a shredder is worth investing in!

    Lori R Jackson

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  18. I won't be throwing away credit card receipts after just ripping them in half anymore.

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  19. Making sure to shred membership notices.

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  20. I rip everything and take names off packages/magazines/envelopes but I really should be shredding them...

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  21. i could use a shredder! i don't think I take enough precautions.

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  22. I'm going to shred those unwanted Pre-Approved Credit Card Applications!

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  23. I left a comment on @RiseGear Jumper: Gear that Rises to my pack better not less challenge! #Review #Travel as Judy C (Judy Cowan)

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  24. I am going to shred anything with my whole name & address

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  25. I'll be more careful about throwing out mail envelopes with my info on it!

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  26. I would shred my name and address on my mail.

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  27. To make sure to scrap all documents that have my name that I throw away

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  28. I will be shredding my restaurant receipts

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  29. Shred restaurant cc receipts

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  30. Approximately 17,000 Canadians reported that they were victims of identity fraud in 2011. thanks

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  31. I will shred everything before throwing out.

    Florence C

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  32. I didn't know that I should be shredding my junk mail.

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  33. I will not throw paper into the recycling. I need to shred first.

    billiondollarprincesss@hotmail.com

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  34. Commented - http://cathythinkingoutloud.blogspot.ca/2014/01/tips-and-ideas-from-kitchen-of-cathy.html - Vesper Meikle

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  35. I'm already a diligent shredder, I take our names off all mail and shred. I shred all documents. I just wish my shredder didn't overheat all the time. I can't believe the amount of over 13 million dollars was the amount reported by fraud victims, that is astounding. It's terrible! How many people are out there also that didn't report being victimized, so sad.

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  36. I commented on TIPS & IDEAS FROM THE KITCHEN OF CATHY EASY TARTAR SAUCE! Wonderful! Debbie S.

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  37. I'll be making sure to shred Restaurant Credit Card receipts

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  38. I am already careful about what I toss into garbage/recycling....but will be more cautious about the junk mail.

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  39. I will not be throwing my restaurant credit card receipts away anymore as they can be used for identity theft.

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  40. I learned that shedding my paper trail including CC receipts will help protect me from identity theft

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  41. I think I'm pretty good at destroying personal information. I could use a better shredder, like this one instead of ripping up my documents into little pieces and disposing them in different trash cans.

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  42. I really should shred my details found on envelopes.
    Thanks.

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  43. I need to remember to shred everything with my name and info on it. I often just throw receipts in the garbage.

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  44. I usually shred bills but never shred magazine covers with my personal info on them. Need to start!

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  45. I make sure that everything I throw out has my name removed from it. Even emails have my account name shredded. And if I receive a parcel I remove the label with my name and address.

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  46. I really need to be extra careful by shredding all my bills and personal mail

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  47. http://cathythinkingoutloud.blogspot.ca/2014/01/tips-and-ideas-from-kitchen-of-cathy.html#comment-form
    kathy downey

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  48. Sales receipts....I never even used to pay too much attention just tossed them in the garbage!

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  49. 17,000 Canadians reported that they were victims of identity fraud in 2011, thats so many people and I bet that numbers just sho up so much. I don't want my husband or I to be one of those numbers.

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  50. I will not be throwing out torn up cheques any longer

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  51. more careful when ripping up canceled checks.

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  52. seeing i use the credit card for everything so i can get points i should really be shredding my personal information and i havent been.

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  53. I learned that I really need to shred everything with my info on it before putting it in the recycling bin.

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  54. I will be more diligent about shredding anything with any sort of personal information before tossing it into the recycling from now on. scary stuff.

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  55. I will be shredding anything with my personal information on it from now on.

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  56. I think I'm going to start shredding my bills from now on.

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  57. well if I win this shredder, I'll at long last be able to shred my bills and anything with my address on it or personal info - at the moment I use scissors but I'm sure a shredder would make a better job of it :-) It really is amazing how many identity thefts there are, so everyone should do their bit to help prevent it happening.

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  58. I will no longer be throwing my restaurant receipts or gas recipts into the garbage and make sure they get shredded.

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  59. I learned that I've actually been destroying all the right documents! However, I do have some pretty old stuff that I really need to shred and get rid of.

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  60. I didn't realize how many things you should be shredding and getting rid of. I usually just toss them in the trash, but i guess i need to stop that asap.

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  61. I will now shred cancelled checks.

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  62. I would shred my bank information letters and other personal letters

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  63. I'm going to be shredding financial documents from now on!

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  64. I need to do a better job shredding magazine labels and restaurant receipts - and I need to talk to my spouse about this too.

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  65. Shred everything

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  66. From now on, I will keep my receipts from the stores that I shop at!
    Aarone M.
    cherry_251@hotmail.com
    @ContestLuv251

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  67. I shred everything, have done so for years. I need to be more diligent in shreding on a more regular basis. winning a brand new shredder would be good as ours is starting to wear out from excessive use

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  68. Instead of just tearing a sheet of paper up, I will now shred it. It won't be put back together!

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  69. There is absolutely nothing I wouldn't do being someone who has been a victim of identity theft!

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  70. I posted in know your vocabulary, "K" brought to you by C for Cathy under the name of "M" for Matthew and "T" for Tully not to be confused with that cool guy from Answer The Tullyphone or the abrev... he's too scared to use in fear of legal ramifications such as "A..T & T" :-P

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  71. I will shred my letters from now

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  72. I will be shredding or burning my mail from now on.

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  73. I'm going to do an inventory of what documents are around and shred those I no longer need and have personal information on them.

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  74. From now on I will be shredding all written materials with my personal information on it. Thanks!

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  75. I will shred all documents with personal information.

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  76. I will definitely be shredding more from now on. It's better to be safe than sorry!

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  77. comment on http://cathythinkingoutloud.blogspot.ca/2014/09/risegear-jumper-gear-that-rises-to-my.html
    Suzie M

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  78. I also commented on TIPS AND IDEAS FROM THE KITCHEN OF CATHY: MEDITERRANEAN WRAP

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  79. Commented as Bons on: http://cathythinkingoutloud.blogspot.ca/2014/03/recycle-juice-carton-boxes-into-file-folder-boxes.html

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  80. I should be shredding but I rip and put in Recycle Bin

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  81. I will be diligent about shredding, sometimes I get lazy and throw out receipts!

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  82. I won't be throwing things out anymore like reciepts or bills. Hopefully I will be shredding them!

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  83. I will shred everything. I usually just toss my hydro bills in the recycle :/

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  84. I would shred my old credit card bills and grocery receipts.

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  85. I learned that nearly 17000 Canadians reported that they had been victims of identity fraud in 2011.

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  86. Id use a black marker to blackout our info if i cant shred it

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  87. Commented on http://cathythinkingoutloud.blogspot.ca/2014/10/what-2-watch-wed-w2ww-MI5-series-suspense.html?showComment=1412307898021#c6546159366356733365

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