Malta based international penny auction BidRivals.com is requesting user’s sensitive personal information to verify accounts.
According to a PAW member, BidRivals requested the following documentation when asking where won items were.
“Kindly provide us with the following documentation which should correspond to the details registered on your BidRivals account in order to assist us with our verification process.
1. Personal Identification – one Photo ID from the following List • Passport, • Driving License, • National Identification Card (photographic), • Citizenship Certificate
2. Address Verification – one of the following • Utility Bill (less than 3 months old) • Tax Bill • Copy of Bank Statement – (less than 3 months old)
Once we confirm receipt of the required documentation, you will be contacted shortly. Meanwhile, we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely, Carl. Verifications and Payments Manager www.bidrivals.com”
The question we’d like to ask… Why is this sensitive information being requested and is it necessary? Why isn’t BidRivals (or any other penny auction) using a 3rd party verification service to protect themselves against allegations and safeguard their users information.
BTW, the PAW member paid with PayPal.
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Yaniv Chechik February 21, 2011, 12:14 pm
Requesting verification is probably one of their KYC (Know your customer) procedure.
As an international company that serves members from all around the world its almost impossible to have 3rd party vendors that can match and verify members better than copy of photo Id.
To us, the customers, it looks too much, but if looking from the company’s point of view, this is required to maintain “fraud free” environment.
Yaniv Chechik – CTO
Payoneer Inc
http://www.payoneer.com
Amanda February 21, 2011, 3:08 pm
Thanks for your input but what concerns me is anyone can do ID theft with this info.
.
John February 21, 2011, 7:59 pm
What needs to be remembered here is that it is NOT only companies in this industry that commit fraud.
There are many, many individuals that enjoy bringing fraudulent transactions against companies.
What would you (Amanda) do if you had to pay out a major prize and are reliant on the fact that a customer has paid by credit card and could easily chargeback?
ID Theft is the last thing going through these companies minds, they need security too.
It is more and more common for companies to ask for verification.
Yes, consumers have rights… But so do companies!
Amanda February 22, 2011, 11:05 am
Yes of course, but I just think they should use a 3rd party to give their customers more piece of mind and protect themselves from liability.
Keith Montanaro February 24, 2011, 10:47 am
Hi All,
firstly i would like to thank John and Yaniv for their experience and knowledge based replies. Their comments reflect our situation and work ethics perfectly. We would just like to remind you that our privacy policy on our website states that we treat user information with the greatest confidentiality.
KYC procedures like this are very common and we are sure that you can understand it.
Your suggestion for us to look into a verification company that performs this service is a good suggestion and we will look into it.
You can see our privacy policy here
http://www.bidrivals.com/mt/privacy.html
Kindest Regards,
Keith
Social Media & Public Relations Specialist
BidRivals