Faxing one's personal information for account verification. Is this normal?

[irishScott]

So I've been wanting to get into investing/stocks for a while now, as a Christmas present my grandmother gave me an etrade account and $500 to start off with. However, my account has apparently been frozen due to some discrepancy in my personal information

I called etrade support 3 times, 3 different people, and got the same response: Fax, among other things, a copy of my Driver's License, my SS card, and other personal stuff to etrade. All 3 reps gave me the same fax number, so I don't think it's a scam. Still, I have obvious issues with faxing such sensitive information to a generic machine, where anyone can pick it up.

Am I being too paranoid here?

 

[FoBoT]

yes, you have to provide a tax ID (SS#) so they can report info to the IRS

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
yes, you have to provide a tax ID (SS#) so they can report info to the IRS

I have no problem giving them the number, but they want a scan of the card itself. Easier to make copies from that...

 

[oogabooga]

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: FoBoT
yes, you have to provide a tax ID (SS#) so they can report info to the IRS

I have no problem giving them the number, but they want a scan of the card itself. Easier to make copies from that...

mmm I think that it's legit to worry about someone getting the SS #, but I don't think it's likely someone will make a passable copy of your SS card from a faxed copy....

 

[irishScott]

Originally posted by: oogabooga

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: FoBoT
yes, you have to provide a tax ID (SS#) so they can report info to the IRS

I have no problem giving them the number, but they want a scan of the card itself. Easier to make copies from that...

mmm I think that it's legit to worry about someone getting the SS #, but I don't think it's likely someone will make a passable copy of your SS card from a faxed copy....

Well, the SS # was required to set up the account in the first place, so I don't really have a choice there.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: oogabooga

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: FoBoT
yes, you have to provide a tax ID (SS#) so they can report info to the IRS

I have no problem giving them the number, but they want a scan of the card itself. Easier to make copies from that...

mmm I think that it's legit to worry about someone getting the SS #, but I don't think it's likely someone will make a passable copy of your SS card from a faxed copy....

Well, the SS # was required to set up the account in the first place, so I don't really have a choice there.

hey, did you get my PM?

 

[Injury]

If you're worried about people having your SS# you'll be sad to know that it's probably already out there somewhere.

 

[oogabooga]

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: oogabooga

Originally posted by: irishScott

Originally posted by: FoBoT
yes, you have to provide a tax ID (SS#) so they can report info to the IRS

I have no problem giving them the number, but they want a scan of the card itself. Easier to make copies from that...

mmm I think that it's legit to worry about someone getting the SS #, but I don't think it's likely someone will make a passable copy of your SS card from a faxed copy....

Well, the SS # was required to set up the account in the first place, so I don't really have a choice there.

well I meant faxing it to the wrong place/wrong people getting access to the number by your fax as a concern. I don't imagine though that someone could make a passable SS card from your faxed copy though. But what do I know