Year-end is that time when businesses large and small often take a closer look at line by line expenses and consider opportunities to stream-line costs and get more out of every dollar in the upcoming year.

Outsourcing shredding service is one such opportunity to increase productivity and beef up the bottom line. After all, in order for a small business to grow and succeed, it needs to achieve a balance between reinvesting profits to meet growth benchmarks while maintaining certain cash reserves. That challenge can create a mindset of constantly economizing and trying to reduce outside expenditures. Yet, some third party expenses can be so beneficial to the overall health of your company that they bear consideration. In other words, the return on investment is great enough to make the expense worthwhile.

One area where the profitability or ROI of using a third party resource is worth such consideration is document destruction and shredding. Compliance legislation mandates that even the smallest businesses need to adhere to certain practices in terms of record-keeping and the destruction of confidential personal information. With that in mind, ask yourself, “How is my business handling the destruction of such information?”

One common answer is to handle document shredding in-house. At first glance, that solution certainly seems to be the easiest. You can simply station shredders at certain location points throughout the office and instruct personnel to shred confidential information. Is it really cost effective?

For as little as $50 per month, HV Shred can take all the hassle, frustration, and anxiety out of properly destroying confidential information. If you are paying staff as little as $10 per hour and shredding about 1 box of copy paper per week, you are already paying over $40 per month–since most office shredders are limited to about 10 sheets per minute. Factor in sorting out paper clips and staples, clearing jams, or just waiting for the shredder to cool down for the next load, the costs really add up.

Owner operated and ON-SITE, HV Shred provides the most secure option for document destruction. For more information on a customized service program, contact judith@hvshred.com. It just makes sense…

First of all, our best wishes to all for a Happy Thanksgiving!

Now, our annual public service reminder to shop safely over the holidays:

Many people will be using their credit cards more during the holiday season. This creates increased risk for identity theft. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you do your shopping:

* Empty your wallet. Only carry what you really need. Get rid of extra cards and absolutely any Social Security Cards.
* Keep a close eye on your mail. Statements and invoices you don’t recognize are a red flag for fraud.
* Check you credit card statements closely. It is easy to do frequently online.
* Shred all of the credit card offers that come in the mail.
* If you shop online make sure the site is secure (has an https at the start of the address bar).

Once again, at HV Shred, we thank you for your continued support and hope the season brings you good times with friends and family.

For more information on how HV Shred can help ease the worries and hassle of identity theft, visit www.hvshred.com

American Bankers Association has issued a new warning to highlight increases in phishing scams linked to consumer bank accounts.

According to the ABA, phishing schemes that aim to gather credit and debit details from consumers are on the rise. The crux of most scams: Misinforming consumers about closure of or trouble with their bank accounts, a lure to consumer replies from the socially engineered scam.

Last week’s smishing attack, which targeted thousands of Wells Fargo customers by sending out a flood of phony text messages to mobile numbers in Oregon, is a prime example. The scam, feigning to come from Wells, attempted to get mobile recipients to respond with bank details related to their Wells accounts.

Authorities say consumers were receiving phishy text message that asked accountholder to call specified numbers to resolve possible compromises of their bank accounts. The smishing attacks included the last four digits of the user’s debit card, which made the text messages appear legitimate.

The ABA says these types of schemes are common. In some cases, consumers are even asked to text or e-mail card expiration dates and CV security codes.

“Those who respond to these inquiries run the potential risk of having their information used to fraudulently purchase goods and services, or to obtain credit,” the ABA says.

To avoid fraud:
(1) Never give out personal or financial information in response to an unsolicited phone call, fax, e-mail or text.
(2) Contact the bank to confirm the legitimacy of any e-mail that asks for the submission of personal or banking account information.
(3) Check credit card and bank account statements regularly for unauthorized transactions, even small ones.
(4) Make sure websites are secure when submitting financial information online. Check for padlocks or key icons at the bottoms of Internet browsers. Most secure Web addresses also use “https.”
(5)Report suspicious activity to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center. http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
(6)Contact your bank immediately if a phishy link may have been clicked or a suspicious communication responded to.

For more identity theft resources, visit www.hvshred.com

Thanks to a public/private joint effort including the FBI, there is now a website to help identify scams and protect potential victims. Lookstogoodtobetrue.com

The idea is that every day, American consumers receive offers that just sound too good to be true. In the past, these offers came through the mail or by telephone. Now the con artists and swindlers have found a new avenue to pitch their frauds — the Internet. The on-line scams know no national borders or boundaries; they respect no investigative jurisdictions. But, as with all scammers, they have one objective — to separate you from your money!

An interesting point about fraud is that it is a crime in which you decide on whether to participate. Hanging up the phone or not responding to shady mailings or emails makes it difficult for the scammer to commit fraud. But con artists are very persuasive, using all types of excuses, explanations, and offers to lead you — and your money — away from common sense.

This website was developed to arm you with information so you don’t fall victim to these Internet scam artists. Education, good judgment, and a healthy dose of skepticism are the best defenses against becoming a victim. Remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is!

For more on keeping your information safe, visit hvshred.com