Tips on destroying old credit cards

From Tip Sense

Contents 1 Tips on destroying old credit cards 2 Tools 3 De-magnifying the strip 4 Flattening the Numbers 5 Scratching data off 6 Lamination

Tips on destroying old credit cards

• Old credit cards are often useful for identity theft.
• A Credit card contains personal information that should be removed.
• This article is for people interested in protecting their identity.

Tools

1. powerful magnet
2. Dull knife
3. Cigarette lighter

De-magnifying the strip

• The strip along one side of the card is magnetic.
• Run a powerful magnet along the strip to kill the magnetic data there.
• Machines will no longer be able to read the card.

Flattening the Numbers

• Some areas use carbon paper to copy the raised numbers on the card.
• With the card vertical, run a flame over the raised side of the numbers.
• Now these cannot be easily copied by carbon paper.

Scratching data off

• A dull knife can be used to scrape off some identifying material on the card.
• You can scrape off the following verification materials:
  • Magnetic stripe
  • Signature box
  • Holographic image.

Lamination

• Some data on the card is protected by plastic laminates.
• Bend the card in half until it breaks, and you can peel off these laminates.
• Any other information on the card can now be scratched off as well.