PayPal wants my Social Security number

11 replies
First I got an email claiming that they needed my SS# with this wording:

As of April, 2012, new Federal Regulations require Money Service
Businesses, such as PayPal, to verify the identity of a customer before we
can provide various services or product offerings. As a result, PayPal must
ensure we have collected and verified important data such as customer name,
address, date of birth, and national tax ID or social security number.
Because we were not able to fully confirm your identity based on your
current account information, we need to request additional supporting
documentation from you.

You will continue to have full access to your PayPal account, but until we
are able to confirm your identity, we may be unable to process certain
types of customer initiated requests such as adding funds to your PayPal
account.


I assumed it was a phishing-type email and instead of clicking on their link, I went to PayPal in my browser, and the message was there as well. So, okay, it's really them asking for it. But rather than sending my SS# without question, I emailed them asking for more information on why it was necessary. I've gotten no response other than to get a second email along the same lines as the first. I emailed them again to ask for clarification, still no response.

Has anyone else gotten this notice and if so, what did you do, if anything? What other kinds of transactions are they limiting? Do they really need my SS#? I've been using PayPal for years and years. Why are they suddenly saying they can't confirm my identity? If they weren't sure who I am, why have they allowed me to have an account at all? So many questions. :-)
#number #paypal #security #social
  • Profile picture of the author Ken Strong
    Since 2011, PayPal (at least in the U.S.) sends both you and the IRS a 1099 at the end of each year, indicating how much money came into your account that year.

    I'm assuming that's why they want your SSN.
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  • Profile picture of the author RogueOne
    Do they really need my SS#?
    I think they are required to start sending out 1099s to people in the USA.

    I just checked my account and I see my SS# is on file with Paypal.

    Do you have a business account?
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    My SS is already on my paypal accounts and has been for some time.
    Only the last 4 digits of the number are displayed on the site in your profile.

    new Federal Regulations
    That's the reason, right there. I expect the deadline is end of 2012 to have all info added.

    You wouldn't "send" the info - just go into your paypal acct and add it in the Tax ID section of your profile there.
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  • Profile picture of the author barry jenkins
    Banned
    they send out 1099 only to people with $20000 gross yearly sales and over 200 transactions...anything less is not reported.
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  • Profile picture of the author onegoodman
    It been a year since they started, as a manner of fact if you don't have it on their file and you are a seller, they keep notify you each time you sign in to PayPal
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  • Profile picture of the author Laura B
    Well, now I feel stupid. I just went in and realized I misunderstood what it said in the Resolution Center. They already have my SS#, they just want proof of it, like an uploaded or faxed copy of my card. I guess I read it too quickly and thought they didn't have the number at all. So apparently I have to scan the dumb thing.

    Thanks for your help, people. :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author SandraLarkin
    Banned
    Tax purposes.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Laura,

    The IRS has been trying to track all money TO people. Unfortunately, they are too stupid to really track FROM. Anyway, they have this garbage even from stock brokers and have for a while. Since they don't track any coming FROM on things like brokerage accounts, where it is childsplay, they obviously felt there was nothing wrong with having companies like paypal do this.

    I wish it WERE a phishing attempt. One bit of advice for everyone. NEVER NEVER NEVER send such info via EMAIL. If any place like paypal wants it, INSIST on an SSL protected webpage, like the profile page KAY referred to, to enter it THERE!

    Of course, this means that if you get a loan repaid at 0 interest or some such, you must declare BOTH, and tie the return to the TAX document. Failure to do so could land you in an expensive audit. It's a shame. I wonder how many trees die, and how much pollution is created JUST by this garbage. Oh well, it helps the post office stay in business.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    WOW, you would think that its tie to your bank account, and your verification on the bank account would be enough. *I* even had a credit check, so hopefully that is enough.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Hill
    PayPal the only Non bank trying really hard to act like a bank and enforce banking legislation. WOW
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