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(NBC News) -- You think ripping up those credit card applications is enough to prevent identity theft? Think again.
Getting the credit card applications has never been the problem. It's what to do after they pile up that's the real consumer dilemma.
We've been warned for years-- if you don't want 'em, destroy 'em. However, ripping and tearing may no longer seem like enough.
With five applications, and a little muscle, we started ripping. Scotch taped them back together. And wrote around the tape- filling out the application the way an identity thief might if he'd been digging in our garbage.
Think that's far-fetched?
Dave Colen, Postal Inspector"There's no expertise required in going through somebody's garbage, so we're dealing with a whole different strata of criminal."
Cases from around the world note thieves are not above a little dumpster-diving.
Now-- take a look at our final product.
"There we have a pretty crazy looking application ..."
A messy, crooked, patchwork each time. Who would possibly give a credit card based on this type of application?
The answer: Some of the biggest banks in America. Of our five taped-up applications, three returned new credit cards to us - lines of credit worth more than 21-thousand dollars.
From MBNA, Bank of America, and Chase.
On the Bank of America application- we even changed the address. The card was sent to the new address.
"I'm disappointed in the banking industry. The easier they make it for people- for the wrong people to get credit cards, the more difficult our job becomes."
In a statement, chase card services says it has "rigorous policies" for handling applications and a "special handling process" for the rare torn applications. In this case, however, "it is clear to us our procedures were not entirely followed for this particular application...and we are investigating."
For the two cards it issued, Bank of America, which merged with MBNA, says the applications "both went through the proper verification processes" and that "the signature, social security number and birth date matched" a (current) customer with excellent credit.
The company added that it sometimes sends cards to unrelated addresses as a convenience customers have requested.
Bob Bulmash, Privacy Advocate: "What were they thinking?"
Still, critics like privacy advocate Bob Bulmash say these unsolicited applications- along with ubiquitous convenience checks- just invite fraud.
Bob Bulmash, Privacy Advocate: "It's like opening the door to a bank to a guy with a mask on- it's evident there is something wrong here."
So what can you do to prevent Identity theft? Use a cross shredder. Ripping up applications isn't enough. You can also stop companies from sending you pre-screened credit cards by calling 1-888-5-opt-out.
