Author Archives: HV Shred

A Happy February Record

Posted on by HV Shred

In this month of record low temperatures, we are warmed by our record total of shredding and recycling. Thanks to the continued support of the Hudson Valley business community and our recent acquisition of Metroshred we shred and recycled nearly 80 tons of confidential paperwork in the month of February.

That’s enough paper to protect over 1000 trees and nearly 250 cubic yards of landfill.

We look forward to keeping the momentum going with Spring, yes it is coming…Spring cleaning!!!

Please keep in touch with how we can help securely dispose of confidential paperwork–both on-going monthly service as well as on-call cleanouts.

On-site shredding service is the most secure. We provide the certificate of destruction to substantiate a client’s due diligence, and we RECYCLE the shredded paper.

For more information, please visit www.hvshred.com

Latest Tax ID Theft Scheme

Posted on by HV Shred

Tax season is now in full swing and a story dominating the scene has been false filings specifically targeting TurboTax users. State tax departments are telling victims they should contact the Internal Revenue Service and their state tax authority as well as the Federal Trade Commission.

The FTC advises consumers who have discovered theft of their identities to contact the three major credit-reporting firms — Equifax Experian and TransUnion — to place initial fraud alerts on their credit files. These alerts last for 90 days and can be renewed. Victims are entitled to a free copy of their credit report, which they can use to identify suspicious activity and dispute errors.

Consumers also can ask the credit-reporting firms to impose a credit freeze, which makes it harder for a thief to open new accounts. Your personal information also may have been used to rack up unauthorized charges on credit cards or to open new accounts.

Of course, TurboTax is assuring the public their software is safe whether downloaded or using the cd.
Still, some experts believe that using downloaded software can be safer than online preparation, although far fewer taxpayers use the former. With software, “you’re not putting your personal information on a company’s server,” says David Barton, a managing director at UHY Advisors, an information-security consulting firm in Chicago.

Intuit and outside experts say one of the best protections against identity theft is to change all passwords on a regular basis and make sure they are strong.

A huge safety issue is taxpayers using unsecured Wi-Fi access. Anyone using computer software applications should be using the latest versions available and making sure there is a password on home Internet access. Taxpayers should also update antivirus software to help prevent thieves from getting access to their information.

As always, be on the lookout for “phishing” emails that purport to be official notices from the IRS or tax preparers. One recent phishing attempt, for example, warns that “Your Federal Return Has Been Rejected” and asks the recipient to click through and enter personal information.

State tax departments are telling victims they should contact the Internal Revenue Service and their state tax authority as well as the Federal Trade Commission.

For more on best practices regarding identity theft protection please visit www.hvshred.com

New Year File Maintenance Guidance

Posted on by HV Shred

With all the snow lately, there has been some extra quiet time for offices to go through old files and do some new year cleaning out.

Here is some basic guidance:

Whether it is a client’s financial information or your own, you need to shred all documents. This includes paperwork that has credit card information or bank and routing numbers. It can be voided checks or bank statements. Any pages that have sensitive financial information need to be shredded.

Any paperwork that has employee, client, or your personal social security numbers should be shredded. This can also include customer ID numbers that are used to get into accounts.

If your forms require someone to write down pin numbers or login information for their accounts, these documents need to be destroyed. Should they fall in the wrong hands, it can put someone at severe risk of information breach.

When you are ready to clear out old clients or personnel, be sure you get rid of any documents that have contact information. This is to include email addresses, physical addresses, and phone numbers that will tie the individual to the contact information.

If you are getting rid of receipts, be sure to send them through the shredder. This can include original receipts as well as copies of receipts. It is best to keep yourself safe from people who can find this information and use it against you.

Still unclear what needs to be shredded? Go ahead and shred everything. This might not be the best idea if you are paying for the services, since it will cost you more. However, paper shredding should be taken seriously. If you are in doubt about what has to be shredded, go ahead and put it in the stack. It is better safe than sorry when it comes to HIPPA compliance.

It is a good idea to keep a running list of all documents that need to be destroyed. This will help you avoid throwing away information that should have gone through the shredder.

If you have any questions about this article, or need assistance with your shredding program, contact us today!

The more sensitive the information, the more important it is to have it destroyed securely.

Let us help keep you compliant and lessen the burden when handling sensitive information. Contact HV Shred, Inc today www.hvshred.com

HV Shred and Metroshred Merge

Posted on by HV Shred

Great news Hudson Valley!   Judith Papo, President and owner of HV Shred, Inc. and Dean Rothstein, President and owner of Metroshred Document Destruction are excited to announce as of February 1st the two companies have merged.

“We have long considered ourselves partners in the industry so this just makes that relationship official,” said Judith Papo, President of HV Shred, a Southern Dutchess based on-site shredding service. “We both approach our clients as extended family, so this is a marriage made in heaven.”

We will continue to provide the highest level of security and customer service to the Hudson Valley business and residential community with our regularly scheduled service, as well as our on-call cleanout service, and community shred events.

To learn more about government compliance including HIPAA, best practices in secured document disposal, and identity theft prevention, visit www.hvshred.com

More From the IRS Dirty Dozen Scam List

Posted on by HV Shred

A couple of weeks ago, we covered the fact that Identity Theft is still the top scam as determined by the IRS.  The other prevalent scams warrant attention as well.

Though there are lots of warnings about pervasive telephone scams, many are still falling prey.  These involved the use of false and misleading information that is conveyed to the taxpayer via the telephone.  Some of the calls are made by parties alleging to be from a given organization or government agency, especially the IRS.  Since the fear of the IRS is a top fear, listeners are prone to take heed.

Scams may include the allegation that the victim owes money and may even threaten arrest or driver’s license revocation.  Calls are sometimes followed up by fake calls from the local police department or state of motor vehicle.

Scammers may create a fake name and IRS bagde number; use the last four digits of the victim’s Social Security Number; spoof the IRS’s toll free number on Caller ID; send bogus emails; or use background noise to mimic a call center.  These with the intent to make their contact seem legitimate and actual.

The advice from the IRS is to do the following:

If you know you owe taxes or think you may, call the IRS directly 1 (800) 829-1040.  The IRS employees at that line can help you resolve any such issue.

If you know you don’t owe taxes and have no reason to think you owe, then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1 (800) 366-4484.

For more identity theft and general best practices please visit www.hvshred.com

Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week January 26th-30th

Posted on by HV Shred

We have already addressed this issue recently but it can’t be emphasized enough. As the latest post on the FTC’s OnGuardOnLine blog states, tax season is increasingly a time of year when individuals are at risk for tax identity theft or IRS imposters. Tax identity theft happens when someone uses your Social Security number to get a tax refund or a job. You usually find out something’s wrong after you file your tax return.

Also, IRS imposters work year-round — posing as the IRS when they call and say you owe taxes. They even threaten to arrest you if you don’t put money on a prepaid debit card and tell them the card number. They might know all or part of your Social Security number, and can fake caller ID information to make it look like it really is the IRS calling. But it’s not. Ever.

Want to know what you can do about these scams? January 26th-30th is Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week. That week, the FTC, AARP, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) will be hosting a webinar. Join us to get the facts about these scams and learn how to protect yourself and those you care about:

Webinar on Tax Identity Theft and IRS Imposter Scams
Hosted by the FTC, AARP, and TIGTA
Open to everyone
Tuesday, Jan. 27th 2:00-3:30pm EST

Find login information, as well as articles and other resources, at ftc.gov/taxidtheft.

For more information on best practices to stay safe from identity theft, please visit www.hvshred.com

Free De-Clutter Program Saturday, January 17th

Posted on by HV Shred

It is our privilege to be a resource for the upcoming “De-Clutter” Program this upcoming Saturday.  The free event will help members of the Hudson Valley Community follow through on their New Year’s resolutions to get better organized in 2015. Offered to Dutchess County residents, this program is designed to help you get into the ORGANIZING mindset and prepare for improved CHANGE for your home, business and life!

Presenter is Sheila Delson, CPO-CD, founder of FREEDomain Concepts, LLC a 20-yr. award winning industry Professional Organizer, and co-sponsor, Maureen Lashlee, Director of Habitat for Humanity Dutchess County, bring combined objectives to educate, motivate and inspire Dutchess County residents to create more “spaces for your places!” Becoming better organized promotes efficiency and improves time management, saves money, less stress and overall improves one’s quality of life!  Habitat for Humanity is improving the quality of life for others right here in Dutchess County!  Please join us!

EVENT DATE & TIME: Saturday, January 17, 2015 – 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM  (snow date: 1/24/15)

REGISTRATION required: RSVP here – OR – call/email: Sheila Delson: 845-463-4140; sheila@freedomainconcepts.com SPACE IS LIMITED to 100 attendees only.

REGISTRATION  DEADLINE: January 15, 2015

DATE: 1/17/2015 (Sat 10:00AM – 12:00PM)

LOCATION: Senior Center, 14 Abe’s Way Drive, Poughkeepsie, NY

Safely de-cluttering often involves securely disposing of obsolete paperwork.  Remember anything thrown in the garbage is considered part of the public domain.  Even though using information to impersonate someone isn’t–the best course of action is to shred sensitive information.

For more information on best practices in identity theft protection, please visit www.hvshred.com

Identity Theft Again Atop “Dirty Dozen Tax Scams”

Posted on by HV Shred

As the saying goes, the only truly consistent thing is life is that things change.  Unfortunately, one of the things that stayed the same in 2014 is that Identity Theft once again topped the IRS’ “Dirty Dozen Tax Scams” list.

As defined by the IRS, “Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your name, Social Security number, or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.  In many cases, an identity thief uses a legitimate taxpayer’s identity to fraudulently file a tax return and claim a refund”.

As the current year tax season gathers momentum, our first post of 2015 is a reminder to be extra vigilant as tax documents begin to arrive in the mail and you start to gather your files to file personally or bring to your accountant.

Now that the IRS has specifically targeted this scam as the “leader” of the dirty dozen, taxpayers and tax preparers should be that much more alert.

The potential damage to both the individual tax payer and, especially the tax preparer as trusted professional is worth using this space as a reminder to be mindful of taking every step imaginable to protect personally identifying information.

Store the data under virtual and physical lock and key; distribute only through secure methods; and when it has completed its useful life, be sure the data is securely disposed.

For more on best practices and, in particular, on site shredding service, please visit www.hvshred.com

Best Practices to avoid becoming a Sony-like Victim

Posted on by HV Shred

In the midst of the Sony hack, this seems like a good time to review “Cyber safety”. It’s a realm that impacts businesses and individuals on small and large scale. Beyond embarrassing and expensive, Sony has shown us the mushroom cloud that potentially hovers over each instance.

A joint effort is necessary.

The following blog is adapted from The US Department of Homeland Security’s “Stop. Think. Connect” site.

The Stop.Think.Connect.™ Campaign is a national public awareness effort to guide the nation to a higher level of Internet safety by challenging the American public to be more vigilant about practicing safer online habits. The Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign’s overarching goal is to help Americans understand not only the risks that come with using the Internet, but also the importance of practicing safe online behavior.

To understand and practice cybersecurity, individuals must be able to recognize risks, threats, and vulnerabilities that exist online and their impact at a national and individual level.

Who: Malicious actors intend to cause harm in cyberspace, such as a hacker stealing personal information. Benign actors accidentally cause harm to a network, system, or the Internet, such as an employee who accidentally downloads malware onto their company’s network.

What: Malicious actors exploit the anonymity and vulnerabilities of the Internet using methods that range in sophistication from botnets to viruses. Benign actors introduce threats through simple actions that can range from clicking on an unknown link to using a USB drive.

When: It is impossible to predict when a cyber incident will occur.

Where: Cyberspace, often interchanged with “the Internet” is created by and accessible through computer networks that share information and facilitate communication. Unlike the physical world, cyberspace has no boundaries across air, land, sea, and space.

Why: Benign actors unintentionally and often unknowingly cause harm while malicious actors may have a range of motives, including seeking confidential information, money, credit, prestige, or revenge. There are many risks online, some more serious than others. The majority of cybercriminals are indiscriminate; they target vulnerable computer systems regardless of whether they are part of a government agency, Fortune 500 company, a small business, or belong to a home user.

To minimize risk:

o Set strong passwords, change them regularly, and don’t share them with anyone.

O Keep your operating system, browser, and other critical software optimized by installing updates.

O Maintain an open dialogue with your friends, family, and colleagues about Internet safety.

O Use privacy settings and limit the amount of personal information you post online.

O Be cautious about offers online–if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

For more on best practices related to identity theft and related resources, please visit www.hvshred.com

Keep the Holidays Merry and Avoid this Latest Scam

Posted on by HV Shred

It’s already Christmas week and many of us are expecting packages to arrive on our doorsteps. That’s the good news. The bad news is, the scammers are, too.

In this week’s blog credited to Aditi Jhaveri a Consumer Education Specialist at the FTC, we cover the topic of being wary of these scammers.

The FTC has learned of a phony “delivery failure notification” email making the rounds. It looks like it’s from the U.S. Postal Service — but it’s not. The email says you missed a delivery. But, it says, if you print the attached form and take it to your local post office, you can pick up your package and avoid penalties. The message might also include a link for more details.

Here’s the truth: the email is bogus and there is no package. And if you download the attachment or click on a link, you’re likely to end up with a virus or malware on your device.

Con artists often use the names and logos of familiar organizations to get under your guard. So how do you tell what’s legit and what’s a scam? Here are some ways to spot a bogus email:

  • It tells you to click on a link or download an attachment
  • It urges you to take immediate action
  • It asks you to “re-confirm” personal or financial information

Another sure sign an email is a scam? If you hover over the link in the email, it won’t show the official website of the supposed sender — in this case, the U.S. Postal Service website.

If you have questions about a delivery by the U.S. Postal Service, visit usps.com or call 1-800-ASK-USPS.

For more on identity theft protection and best practices for security in all phases of data, please visit www.hvshred.com