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To obliterate your address on packaging

(106 Posts)
Shinamae Tue 26-Mar-24 10:40:12

Just seen this on Jeremy Vine, if you rub a small amount of hand gel onto the address,onto the barcode,anything like that that you’re going to put out for recycling, it completely obliterates it.
That to me is a very useful tip

BlueBelle Thu 28-Mar-24 07:58:56

Doesn’t anyone (of the name and address worriers) not do internet buying?
Every time you buy something online your details are out there ? Far more dangerous than your name and address in your bin !! It just happened to me and the man in the banks fraud ‘squad’ who I rang to report it to said it happened to him last week and the young lady I spoke to in the bank said she had it happen three weeks ago !!!
I only ever use responsible sites with ‘trusted’ payment schemes I never use Chinese sites and haven’t used anything new to me lately so…….

NotAGran55 Thu 28-Mar-24 07:48:46

Did anyone ever worry about sending cheques off into the post as used to be the traditional, and still is by all accounts on some threads?

Not only are you probably sending your name and address you are giving your bank details and signature ✍️!

Some folk must live in constant fear and I can’t begin to imagine their anxiety levels.

BlueBelle Thu 28-Mar-24 07:24:29

Exactly Monica I certainly destroy anything with any ‘ bank details’ on
My name and address is known by half the world I don’t understand the logic at all of this

M0nica Thu 28-Mar-24 07:16:57

people need far more than just a name and an address to steal identity.

No one has yet given any examples of people being scammed, cheated, had their identity stolen or anything else as the result of people bin diving for informarion.

The real danger is disposing of documents with bank details and numbers on. So forget worrying about the envelope and start worrying about the other paper you put in the bin.

Curtaintwitcher Thu 28-Mar-24 06:37:30

Nice to know I'm not the only one concerned about my name and address being in my bin. I usually use scissors to cut off the label, then snip it into tiny pieces.

grandMattie Thu 28-Mar-24 06:19:24

Be warned …. I tried that yesterday and forgot to bin the label. A couple of hours later, I looked at it and, once the alcohol has evaporated, the print was as visible as ever!

Ailidh Thu 28-Mar-24 06:02:55

I always rip off labels or anything with my address on. I don't shred or obscure, though I have in the past, but I put the torn bits in my general waste bin rather than the recycling, where they get thoroughly soggy and hopefully illegible under vegetable peelings and used teabags.

I don't think general waste is sorted before it goes to landfill but happy to be corrected.

henetha Wed 27-Mar-24 23:23:13

I've got one of those too, Georgesgran.
They are good. I always obliterate name and address details etc as people can steal your identity otherwise.

Doodledog Wed 27-Mar-24 22:53:35

BlueBelle

So the person who delivered the letter or parcel who may or may not be honest never saw the address ???

They'll know the address if they delivered the parcel, as they'll have walked up the path grin.

FoghornLeghorn Wed 27-Mar-24 22:36:13

I just shred anything with my name and address on. For stuff too large to shred I have a dye stamp (like a library stamp) that covers the name and address.

BlueBelle Wed 27-Mar-24 22:34:38

So the person who delivered the letter or parcel who may or may not be honest never saw the address ???

welbeck Wed 27-Mar-24 22:01:33

Jimjam1

QVC sell rollers that you literally roll over name, address etc. Erasers any confidential information. Absolutely brilliant. I use mine every day. They were roughly £20 for a pair including delivery.

i got lidl's version of sharpies, 10 for £5.
indelible black, write on any surface; does the job on address labels too.
cheaper than the scrambled rollers, and more useful too.

Musicgirl Wed 27-Mar-24 21:36:20

I tried this tip today. It works.

BlueBelle Wed 27-Mar-24 21:30:08

The one time I ve was burgled was when I had a highly recommended workman in to do some work in my bathroom he was a friend of my work colleague so seemed as safe as houses.
I think our information is out there constantly for all to know,
I don’t understand either doodle monica
Obviously I m not trying to persuade anyone not to use these destroying precautions/techniques, just saying I think there are lots of other ways easier than going through someone’s bin.

Every time you sign up for anything from a food delivery to a shop card to an exercise class you are giving out your address, tel phone number, and many other details

M0nica Wed 27-Mar-24 20:49:23

I am not sure we have ever been scammed in the sense of falling for one. In fact I cannot remember anything happening in the last 20 years or more - and that involved someone buying something and randomly generating a 16 figure credit card number - but this was before codes or passwords of any kind.

Doodledog Wed 27-Mar-24 20:45:02

M0nica

Why this obsession with removing your address? Are youy all fly tippers.

It has never bothered me and no harm has come to me or any of my family.

That's what I'd like to know. As I say, Mr D used to shred until I got him a roller thing (also available on Amazon), but I can't imagine what's so secret about having my name linked with my address - I'm always filling them in on something.

Norah Wed 27-Mar-24 20:42:20

BlueBelle

But don’t many people know your address?
Postman, delivery men, locals, all those Evri men/ women that people are all moaning about, if you give stuff away on free sites etc etc they can all pass your info on if they wanted to !!! Not to mention more formal routes like electoral roll, postcode finder, buying online etc etc

Indeed.

However, I think special codes are in the odd jumbly code bit on many labels - not known by everyone of course, but criminals have ways/means.

I've prior posted that our bank told me though I have no mobile, our accounts were compromised by a scam using mobiles. Criminals have ways.

I'll continue attempting to keep our information safe.

BlueBelle Wed 27-Mar-24 20:30:22

But don’t many people know your address?
Postman, delivery men, locals, all those Evri men/ women that people are all moaning about, if you give stuff away on free sites etc etc they can all pass your info on if they wanted to !!! Not to mention more formal routes like electoral roll, postcode finder, buying online etc etc

Norah Wed 27-Mar-24 19:48:50

Germanshepherdsmum

Yet …

Indeed.

We've been scammed often, the information comes from somewhere. Of course I remove labels, shred information.

Always another scam on the horizon ...

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 27-Mar-24 19:39:13

Yet …

M0nica Wed 27-Mar-24 19:36:17

Why this obsession with removing your address? Are youy all fly tippers.

It has never bothered me and no harm has come to me or any of my family.

Jimjam1 Wed 27-Mar-24 18:56:05

QVC sell rollers that you literally roll over name, address etc. Erasers any confidential information. Absolutely brilliant. I use mine every day. They were roughly £20 for a pair including delivery.

Shinamae Wed 27-Mar-24 15:24:13

Well, I have come back with an update and I am quite embarrassed to say I did what he did on his show and it’s done nothing whatsoever 🤷‍♀️🫣
I would be interested if anybody does get it to work. I shall be getting in touch with Mr Vine as soon as possible.
Now I’ve ordered a shredder 🤓

Doodledog Wed 27-Mar-24 15:03:23

Germanshepherdsmum

You can opt not to have your name and address visible on the electoral roll Doodledog. We have done that, and as you can still be provided with a phone book if you ask, we continue to be ex-directory on our landline.

We were never in the phone book grin. I know you can be removed from the public electoral register, but why? What can fraudsters do with basic information such as a connected name and address? Surely they'd need bank details, an ability to intercept mail - things like that, before they could do anything?

Germanshepherdsmum Wed 27-Mar-24 14:55:39

I do that too maytime. Paranoid, moi?!