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Security Question

December 31, 2014 04:38PM
I'm brand new. I was signing up for a company and they wanted my social security number, for tax reasons. I get that. Then they also wanted to know what kind of car I drive, where I bank, who holds my mortgage... I feel like I am putting myself at risk for identity theft.

Am I the only one who paused before filling out these forms?
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December 31, 2014 04:46PM
Welcome Adeline,
The MSCs need shoppers who have particular a bank, car, health insurance company, mortgage company, type of furnace or flooring or (fill in the blank) to assign certain shop assignments to the right shopper. There is nothing unusual about a legitimate MSC asking such questions.

To be sure that you are dealing with a legitimate MSC, check the list at the blue link (Official List) at the bottom of the page and compare the web address with the one that you were using to sign up.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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December 31, 2014 04:49PM
Depending on the company, I opt out of a lot of those questions. I know my bank is not mystery shopped so unless the company is paying me by direct deposit, they don't need the information. Often there is an option to even defer providing your SSN. When possible, I also hold off until actually completing assignments for the company. Other than that, all we can do is be careful the sites are for legitimate mystery shopping companies and are secure.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
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January 02, 2015 03:25AM
No you are not the only one to question giving up that information.

The good news is that this industry gets it. They don't sell the addresses to spammers, unless you consider some other mystery shopping company that or perhaps a former employee retains an email list. Additionally, they seem to keep the data secure in that I have not heard of one instance of a mystery shopping company being the victim of a hack attack.

This type of information request is normal to help match shoppers to shops.

Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut
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January 03, 2015 10:06PM
I heard Cori was hacked last year. sad smiley
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January 04, 2015 08:57PM
I missed that. Can you point me to the details?

Happily shopping Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut
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