Copier and Printer Identity Theft

Printers, copiers, and fax machines often contain internal hard drives that store sensitive document data; when devices are not properly sanitized before resale or donation this retained data can be recovered and used for identity theft and fraud. The report highlights lifecycle and public-use risks, cites rising identity fraud in South Africa, and recommends audits, secure disposal, vendor sanitisation, device security controls, and employee training to mitigate exposure.