n00b questions about protecting your identity

7 replies
Hi guys,
thanks for having me as a member!

This is my first post. I've done a few searches and couldn't quite find any posts related to my question, so I though I'd post a new thread.

I've been interested in IM for quite a while, and while I've got some great ideas for products and have read up quite a bit about it, there's a few technical questions about protecting my identity and setting up company names I'm concerned with.

At the moment I'm currently in a full time job, and while I guess it might seem like I'm predicting more success than I should expect, what are the steps I should take to keep my name and other personal details private?

I'd like to have a business name on paypal, but as I've no track record and no actual real business, do I need to set up a business/company or trading name before I can apply? I currently reside in Australia.

Can I change my name or have multiple accounts on Clickbank?

The reason I ask is that the ideas for products I have are in different fields, and I think it would affect sales if they are all going through the same name for my products which I think would seem quite unrelated to the products I'm selling.

I realise that there are people on this forum that insist I should use my own name for anything I'm doing, but as I said, I'm still in a full time job, and until I can prove to myself and my family that this is a valid form of income, I'd rather remain as anonymous as possible, even if I might end up making less money or having less credibility doing so. The rich jerk can protect his real identity, how can I as well?

I've looked at clickbank and paypal, but I seem to be going around in circles, so I thought I'd ask the experts on this forum.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Brock
#identity #n00b #protecting #questions
  • Profile picture of the author kennycannon
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    • Profile picture of the author jaijav29
      Originally Posted by kennycannon View Post

      You can protect your identity from people (the rich jerk) but why would you want to protect it from ClickBank?

      My name is Kenny Cannon...if I signed up for an account on Clickbank with the name Ron Jeremy I'd have a really hard time cashing my checks.

      Use your REAL names on your accounts for Paypal and Clickbank and any other affiliate/cpa program you use. Use fake names (if you want) on your sales pages, articles, sites, products, services, ect.

      The people buying your stuff are not going to see your name from clickbank or paypal. They will see your email with paypal.
      I think kenny is right. Use your real name when you are doing business with these companies because you will have a hard time cashing your checks or you cash. Just don't reveal too much of yourself in this kind of business.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brockster
    Hi Kenny,
    Thanks for the quick response.

    I guess I should change my paypal email from the one that has my full name in the address...
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    • Profile picture of the author Scott Burton
      Originally Posted by Brockster View Post

      Hi Kenny,
      Thanks for the quick response.

      I guess I should change my paypal email from the one that has my full name in the address...
      Paypal will let you have multiple email addresses on the same paypal account (at least I know they will on premier and business accounts) and so the 'public name' and email address can be different than the one you sign in with. They let you have 8 total email addresses I believe.

      In fact, I'd recommend keeping the email address you sign into paypal with separate and hush hush. But that may just be my natural paranoia showing through.
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      - = Signature on Vacation = -
      (We all need a break from what we do for a living. I thought it was time my signature got a break too)

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    • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
      Originally Posted by Brockster View Post

      Hi Kenny,
      Thanks for the quick response.

      I guess I should change my paypal email from the one that has my full name in the address...
      As others have said, PayPal will allow more than 1 email address assigned to an account.

      It is a violation of PayPal TOS for a person to have more than x? (I believe it is 2) accounts. As with Google you do not want to violate their TOS and get banned.

      Clickbank is a different story, but until you have significant ongoing business it may be problematic for you to have several accounts. Clickbank will AFAIK let you open as many as you can. Also if you should break their rules and use your account for your own purchases be aware of https://www.clickbank.com/accounting.html#CDR
      and the fact that you have to make real sales to get paid.
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      Robin



      ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
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  • Profile picture of the author Audrey Harvey
    Hi Brock

    Welcome from another Brisbane-ite. Why not predict success? - it's the first step to getting there :-)

    I use my real name for any financial transactions such as paypal, or affiliate programs. However, I also have a company I set up for an offline business, so can trade under it's name too. Being a separate legal entity, the company has its own paypal account, separate to mine.

    I use pen names for my niches - I have a few sites in the dog/pet niche and am still a practising vet so like to keep my online and offline activities well separated.

    There are a few Brisbane-ites on the forum, we should all do coffee sometime.

    Audrey
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    Expert content written by an experienced veterinarian and published magazine and newspaper writer.
    Feel free to contact me for details.
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  • Profile picture of the author rondo
    You should really consider registering for an ABN and GST. Sole traders can do business under their own name or register a different business name.

    Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author Brockster
    Hi Guys,
    thanks for the responses.

    @rondo I have an ABN and have registered for GST, so I'll have to look into registering a trading name.

    @ Audrey coffee sounds great

    Cheers

    Brock
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