A thief may go through trash to obtain which of the following?

• A. Identity documents
• B. Discarded credit card offers
• C. Old prescriptions
• D. Security badges

Answer: (B)

Rummaging through trash to pull personal information is a common risk in data security, because everyday items you discard can still reveal who you are and how to reach you. Discarded credit card offers fit this risk best because they are mailings sent to your home and often contain your name and address, and sometimes other identifying details or even partial account information. That combination can be enough for a thief to impersonate you, apply for new credit, or verify other accounts in your name. In contrast, identity documents are typically securely stored or disposed of with extra care, and security badges or medical records usually require more sensitive handling or are less likely to be found discarded in a way that enables easy misuse. Old prescriptions can reveal health information, but they’re less commonly exploited alone for broad identity theft compared to a simple junk mail offer that’s easily discarded yet information-rich. To reduce this risk, shred sensitive papers before disposing of them and use secure disposal methods for mail that contains personal data.