Amazon Seller wants passport details

FlyingDonkeys

Hi All,

Amazon Seller account wants passport info. I'm not happy about giving a third party access to my passport info and birth dates. It would leave me open to ID fraud if anyone hacked into their systems.

Lets face it Hackers are at it 24/7. Any ideas, other than closing seller account. Its dammed intrusive of them inconsiderate.

Guessing there is no way out.. Bye bye Amazon.

Feral_Moon

Same as Facebook then! If they suspect you're not using your real name they close your account until you can provide passport details.

Flyonthewall

They just need it to make sure you are who you say you are. They already have your name, address, bank details etc. If someone hacked Amazon they'd get all your details regardless of whether you send them your passport info to check. Same goes for anywhere you buy or sell.

Contains_Mild_Peril

What if someone doesn't have a passport?

Flyonthewall

Contains_Mild_Peril wrote: »

What if someone doesn't have a passport?

It doesn't have to be a passport, it's just a form of ID. So driving licence would be fine too.

fishybusiness

A business bank statement was all I was asked for this time around.

hollydays

Are they based in Italy?

RFW

FlyingDonkeys wrote: »

Hi All,

Amazon Seller account wants passport info. I'm not happy about giving a third party access to my passport info and birth dates. It would leave me open to ID fraud if anyone hacked into their systems.

Lets face it Hackers are at it 24/7. Any ideas, other than closing seller account. Its dammed intrusive of them inconsiderate.

Guessing there is no way out.. Bye bye Amazon.

Amazon are rolling out updates for all seller accounts. You're essentially holding a bank account with them so they need the information.
Personally, I'd be more worried about government systems being hacked as they are known for it and Amazon aren't.
Currently, if you're a seller, Amazon will have your credit card details and your name and address, possibly along with other information. I'm not entirely sure why the passport tips it over the edge.

soolin

I had my ID request last week, worried me a bit when they wanted my business registration document with HMRC as I've no idea what that is, but clicking for other options gave me the option to give my UTR instead which I did.

I also opted to scan and upload my driving license rather than passport as I had my license to hand.

I'm still apparently being reviewed.

I only sold 3 books last year and one so far this year...so I'm not unduly worried if I have got it wrong .

FlyingDonkeys

You're right re credit card etc. A pain, but easily stopped and replaced. Not so with a passport situation.

A Passport also seems a gross intrusion. Re hackers in Amazon and Ebay, you'd have to be dreaming if you didn't think its a risk.

duchy

Feral_Moon wrote: »

Same as Facebook then! If they suspect you're not using your real name they close your account until you can provide passport details.

Don't think so

Plenty of people don't use their real names on FB -I certainly don't-I use my first name and a nickname. If someone knows me they'd recognize me from it- If they don't- they don't need to know my legal name unless I choose to share that info with them.
So long as no-one complains about your posts FB don't care.
It's actually advised not to use your real name from a identity fraud and inquisitive employer viewpoint.