As you guys will notice by all of the MOVED threads...

I just created a new forum section just for beginning mystery shoppers!

Check it out:

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

Jacob

Thanks Jacob. That may make it a lot easier for folks to readily find the information they need to get started rather than landing head first in discussions of nuances and nonsense

It's almost like you have your own little group of students now, Flash. I'm so proud of you.

Oh goodie [she said rubbing her hands and twirling her mustache].

Fresh young minds to impress upon, a la Miss Jean Brodie!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/13/2008 08:44AM by sneakers.

I am just at the stage where I am signing up with companies, and some of them want me to enter both my SS# and my birthdate. My concern is that I see that some of these website are not secure (not https). I feel I am inviting identity theft. I also realize the companies need certain information if they are going to send me a 1099 at the end of the year. How have other MSers handled this.

My usual rule of thumb is if I know of shoppers who have worked with the company I will grit my teeth and put in correct information on an unsecure website because some of the companies where I have used 000-00-0000 or 999-99-9999 never bothered to approve me as a shopper (some have, which allows me to then go back,usually with more security, to provide the correct information).

If it is a company I have never heard of, and can't find much information on, they won't get much personal information at all until I am comfortable they are legitimate. This is true whether it is a secure site or not.

Dear Flash: Thank you for that information. My concern regarding putting my SS# and birthdate on an insecure site is someone not affiliated with the company, i.e., someone deliberately looking to steal identities, would have access to that info.

Would it be safer if I had an EIN#?

Mary

I understood that that was your concern. In this day of scams and pfishing I am more concerned about the deliberate and blatant attempt to deceive. I'm sure you have firewalls on your machine, I feel sure the companies have firewalls on their machines, we have moved somewhat beyond the Wild Wild West that was the early internet years. My concerns have moved more to providing the wolf with a meal on a platter than the possibility to snatch a mouthful.

I have never bothered with an EIN, even though they are available at no cost because I am not convinced that they are that much safer. Certainly an EIN does not have a date of birth or mother's maiden name attached, but it can be compromised as well. Credit can be established for an EIN and abused, etc. It may be more difficult to do, but it can be done.

If you are deeply concerned about identity theft, there is insurance against it that would appear to cost about $75 a year that would probably be deductible as a business expense if you pose the reason for having it as "I am at risk because in order to work I must sign up with unknown companies, with unknown employees, frequently at unsecure internet websites." My bank offers such insurance, there is some outfit that has been advertising it on TV that is offering it through AAA or directly, etc. It is the current "in" thing.

I tried 000-00-0000 and 9-- etc on some sites, and was told that XX YY has the same SS #, and I can't use it.

Hmmmm, all this talk about identity theft is getting me nervous. Doesn't the company you're shopping for send you your paycheck? Obviously I'm new and haven't shopped yet. I've just applied with BestMark and waiting a reply. Now I kinda feel like a sitting duck. Quack, quack.

Hi Patunia-Welcome to MSing
Some companies pay by check (like Bestmark), some direct deposit into a checking or savings account, and some (most, actually) pay into your pay pal account. If you haven't already, set up a pay pal account. It's really easy to do, and you can have the funds transferred from there into your regular account. One thing you might want to do is to pick up a bank shop where they have you open an account. Then you can use that account for your msing dd's and pp transfers. Might as well kill 2 birds with 1 stone

Identy theft is certainly a current buzzword and concern. One would assume that it is more likely to occur in difficult economic times than in good times if for no reason other than the fact that more people are trying more desperate measures to make money--whether they are scammers who need to pay their bills or just regular folks who are trying hard to stay afloat.

If you use good judgment in what information you give to whom and how you give it, you should have very little problem. But there are further things you can do to protect yourself. For example, if you are going to give away your old computer or put it on the curb, reformat the hard drive--and reformat it several times--so that there is no data left on it and none of your personal data can be retrieved through 'unformatting' the drive. If you are going to throw away old tax returns, checks, credit card statements or other similar material, either fire up the fireplace or the barbecue grill and burn them or shred them. While we want to trust that businesses on the internet are legitimate, too many of them are not. Stay with outfits you have heard of or that folks you know have used. Take advantage of your once a year free look at your credit reports from the 3 major credit reporting agencies.

I have heard of only a small handful of folks who have had identity theft problems. One was the result of documents taken from their home during a burglary. One is not saying how her information got out. Several were frankly pretty naive about providing information on emails that turned out to be pfishing. Be very careful about the information you put out there on the internet about you or your family and warn your kids about the same. While the social networking sites are really in vogue at the moment, they are also the source for a whole lot of personal information that could and is being used to compromise your privacy and financial safety.

Am with Petunia on concern for using Soc Sec # and birthdate. Had not even thought about that, but of course for tax reporting purposes, must be necessary. Now I'm feeling really sceptical, since I've only recently joined the forum and have not registered with any Companies yet. Very much newbie here. Bfriend

I agree with flash. If you want to be safe, sign up for insurance.

I am not concerned, because if s.o. wants your information, they will get it.
Not even the military database is safe from hacker.....
Think about the old days, when everybody still had the SSN on the checks. Some still do have it.

I have been going to this site for several weeks and have found some useful information about Ms'ing. This may be helpful for the new shoppers as well as the seasoned shoppers. mysteryshopmaven.com

my biggest fear is giving all of my info on line and people steal mu identity do I have to give my social and date of birth on line to be a mystery shopper