A well-known poker site demanded a photo id before they would allow me to play at their site. Their reasons made no sense and faxing photo id is a risky proposition, leaving you open to identity theft. I argued against it and the request was retracted. A search of the internet found a couple of other well-known online companies sometimes make the same request. Be forewarned and do not assume you have to comply. Here's my cautionary tale.
After playing online at a single poker site for years, I decided to try another because they had a proprietary tournament that interested me. The signup at the site took a while, and then the movement of money into one of their banking partners took even longer.
After two days of verifying myself via email and phone to the online bank and paying 9% to deposit money instantly, I was finally ready to move the money into the poker account. Transaction declined. I doublechecked my numbers and tried again. Declined. I tried a smaller amount. Declined. I waited a few hours. Declined. I emailed the online bank. Waited a few hours. Got a response that they saw no attempts to access the money and they were not declining. Back to the poker site.
Now the real fun began. After a few form email responses from the poker site, I learned that the poker site thought I was the same person as some person with the screen name SuitedAK. In order to continue, I had to fax or scan in my photo id.
Whoa. Stop the train. A photo id? Scanned or faxed to persons unknown? I tend to be fairly trusting of the internet and the various financial institutions that have sprung up but my radar was pinging. I am not inclined to increase my exposure to identity theft.
Article comments
1 - Dave Nalle
You had to pay 9% to GIVE them your money to hold? That's outrageous.
Dave
2 - Justene
I could have avoided the fee by waiting 4-5 days for the check to clear. I think it is almost impossible to use credit cards at online gambling sites and that 9% covers bounced checks if they don't wait for clearance. I was on vacation and wanted to play the satellite to the World Championship Of Online Poker so it was an expense that I was willing to pay.
It ended up adding to the frustration when I could not play.
3 - Eugene
"I also played the "lawyer card". I hate doing that..."
I used to do that all the time not really even having a lawyer, until I put myself in the position to say that and have it be true. I can now say "You will be hearing from my lawyer" over a $10 issue and know that they will hear from my lawyer. Look at http://gotlawyer.ejtholdings.net for more info.
4 - Search Guy
Do you think that searchable websites that display 'public records' (like unlisted phone numbers, actual addresses) should be illegal? Don't these types of 'public data' servers help out committers of theft identity?
BEWARE, search engines/portals are listing your private data (it is definitely unethical to post peoples addresses and other personal data), people can attain this data to assist them with IDENTITY THEM (stollen identities).
People do not know that if you even simply register to vote or request to join the army/military in USA, you name/address/telephone are made public information (muti billion dollar industry selling our private info) without you having to sign a consent form or without asking permission! Even where you buy a internet domain name (lease actually, no single person actually owns a domain name, even Bill Gates does not own Microsoft.com), your address, name and telephone number are added to public records that anyone with an internet connection can retrieve this data to harrass you or even SPAM you (don't forget that deranged cyberstalkers can find you now)!
Some Sites Showing Private/Personal Data (many without persons consent or knowledge):
http://zabbasearch.sirseek.com (follow link on page)
http://ussearch.com