CONSUMER ALERT: New device "unshreds" your shredded documents

CONSUMER ALERT: New device "unshreds" your shredded doc ... (Added: March 13, 2010)

The Unshredder allows people to take shredded paper, scan it to a computer and a program will reassemble it. (more)

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By Larry Collins
Published: March 13, 2010

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Everyone shreds different kinds of personal documents. For College of Charleston soccer coach Kevin Dempsey, it's records from his soccer camps.

"We've kept this stuff for 6, 7 or 8 years and it's been like... what are you going to do with it? Credit card statements and bills and records," he said.

There are different materials, but a universal reason -- identity theft.

For years, we've relied on home shredders. But, Maria Audas with the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs says home shredding may not be enough.

"A lot of the home shredders do the cross shredding and you get the big strips. They are easily put back together. There is even a new device that we have just heard of in the last week that will put back together pieces digitally from a cross shredder," she warned.

The Problem Solver Team looked into the new device. It is called the Unshredder. The Unshredder allows you to take shredded paper, scan it to a computer and a program will reassemble it.

According to the Unshredder website, the reconstructed document can be saved to disk, printed or even e-mailed.

Experts say industrial shredders are the best bet to keep your information safe.

"It's called a pierce and tear system. It actually pierces and tears it," James Christie said.

Christie is the owner of SHRED360. He explained that your pulverized documents would mix with those of others; making it nearly impossible to reassemble or read.

"Hundreds of people's documents up to 10,000 pound of other people's documents co-mingled and taken directly to the recycling plant," Christie said.

Find a Shred Day event near you.