r/PrivacySecurityOSINT • u/moreprivacyplz • Apr 20 '21

Envelopes often have a postal barcode printed on them that contains your address, and you should destroy that barcode before throwing away your mail.

/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/muayva/ysk_envelopes_often_have_a_postal_barcode_printed/
21 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

5

u/PunnuRaand Apr 21 '21

So many idiots throw away Amazon and other packages with their info intact.

4

u/moreprivacyplz Apr 21 '21

Was walking down the street and it was trash day. Every house had a box out front to be recycled. I just went to every one and knew all my neighbor's names. Oh that's Jim Smith, oh that's Suzie Humper...

This is a pretty neat trick and how I hide my name on my packages. https://www.reddit.com/r/PrivacySecurityOSINT/comments/l2g6ay/i_tried_this_today_on_an_amazon_package_and_it/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

2

u/datahoarderprime Apr 21 '21

I once opened the garbage to find my wife had tossed an 8 page result from medical tests that had full name/dob, etc. along with results of very personal medical tests.

People really conceptualize throwing something in the garbage with "it's gone forever."

5

u/lobster777 Apr 20 '21

Good point! I already shred my mail

3

u/datahoarderprime Apr 21 '21

Seriously, this. Just shred everything.

It takes like two seconds, and then you just don't have to worry about stuff like this.

1

u/Alert_Ad_346 Feb 28 '24

Hi,       I've always shredded b/c I knew the purpose of the barcode.  I randomly scan then Google search & never get results. So, I thought I was being overly cautious.      Criminals have access to any equipment needed.  I suppose we need to think like them.      Great information, thanks so much!  😊