If you are in the habit of opening your mail over the trash can and simply throwing away the useless junk, you could be at risk.  Your junk mail could be the dumpster diver's treasure!   Most dumpster divers are harmless; they're collectors or they're very poor and just looking for items they can use.  But, some are looking to steal your identity with the junk mail that contains personal information and account numbers

One reported case of identity theft that was prosecuted was a case of dumpster diving.  Dumpster divers go through other peoples' trash, looking for items they can use or sell.

Most dumpster divers are looking for clothing or household items; some are even looking for food.  Most dumpster divers are harmless; some are homeless and this is one way they survive. 

Some dumpster divers are hooked on drugs and looking for whatever they can find to sell in order to finance their next fix.  Back in the 1990's, Stephen Massey leader of an identity theft ring, meth addict and dumpster diver, began stealing identities when he found barrels of recycled paper in a dump.  These barrels contained all the personal information he needed including names, addresses, birth dates and social security numbers of people who were careless with their trash. 

Massey and his partner were caught and imprisoned in the year 2000.  This case led to certain legislative acts being enacted to require corporations and businesses to handle personal information more responsibly.  Many use paper shredding services to dispose of personal and confidential information on their customers.

People need to handle their personal mail this way at home too.  Dumpster divers make it a point to know the trash pick-up routes and they plan their own schedules accordingly, as to when they'll be in each neighborhood. 

Shredders are available at most office supply stores.  They come in all sizes; smaller ones for homeowners; larger, commercial grade models for businesses.  Shredders are becoming as common of an item to own as the microwave oven. 

Use care when throwing out junk mail, especially those annoying pre-approved credit card and mortgage loan letters which many people just throw out without opening.  These are quite valuable to the identity thief; just what they need to get started in business.

Besides the issue of identity theft, dumpster divers also pose a liability risk to business owners who have dumpsters.   Most dumpster rental services provide dumpsters that can be locked at night.

This article was written by Sherman Rogers of All-waste, LLC; a dumpster rental company who provides dumpster delivery service and same-day dumpster pick-up service to residential, commercial, retail and industrial customers.  Sherman has the size, shape and competitive priced dumpster for any size job.  Other services include container service, trash pick-up, hauling rubble, waste removal, delivery of landscaping supplies including mulch, sod, top-soil, crush aggregate and more.  Visit http://thegarbageman.com/ for more information about services offered.