I want to create a shutterstock account, but they want a COMPLETE uncovered/unredacted passport and/or drivers license (meaning you can't blank out any numbers, etc), which I am totally uncomfortable with sending through internet, and giving a copy to someone else - because of the potential for identity theft, etc.. (Especially when you hear about major data breaches, i.e., equifax, who is much, much larger than shutterstock - so if they can be hacked, so can shutterstock).

I have no problem sending my id with certain #'s covered up, but they don't want that - they want the *complete* ID, even though on their webpage they only say they need to verify your name, birthdate, & expiry date.

Does anyone know someone at shutterstock that I could contact, to perhaps either verify my id in person, or some other alternative means? I've tried talking to the support, but I believe it is outsourced because I get a response in broken english, that doesn't really seem to understand/answer my question.

If you want to PM me, that is okay too.

Thanks for your help!

I understand the necessity to verify that you are who you say you are.

But - I think it is wrong to demand a FULL id with all the numbers. Employees could misuse that information to open new bank accounts, credit cards, etc in your name, or sell that information to hackers. So I am very uncomfortable giving them ALL that information.

I have no problem with some 'basic' verification information, but giving them your signature, passport # and/or drivers license #, with other pertinent info is wrong, because that means someone else could use that information to do stuff with your ID... And it would be very easy to make sure someone is who they say they are with a partial ID, as opposed to a full ID...

Easy.

With partial ID - you can still "know" its a drivers license with your name, etc, and then double check that when a new account is created.

But if you give them ALL the ID info - all it takes is one upset employee to give away all that information, or 'accidentally' put in a backdoor for other people to download it and then do whatever they want.

As a matter of fact - I was rather shocked I recently applied to this other company where they accepted partial ID - and "supposedly" it is "100% secure", etc, etc (they made such a big deal to upload it via https, etc) - yet - the employee sends me a copy of my ID through e-mail to ask me something (actually a link that he/she 'uploaded' it onto a website). And I am thinking, what? That's definitely not secure. (While I won't say which one - it is actually one of the popular microstock sites listed on the right side in this side bar).

So... I really don't feel comfortable with that. I still want to sell through them - but am wondering if there is some other way I can verify - even if it is to go their office in person... does anyone know?

BTW - verifying by "id" by sending documents online actually is quite unnecessary.

It is very easy to verify simply by providing banking information, and making a deposit and verifying the amount, without having to have "copies" of all that ID. To create a bank account you need to show proper ID in person. With banking (at least in Canada/the US) - you need to have accurate information, otherwise they won't let you create an account.

100,000 other people have done it.  You'll be ok.

100,000 other people have done it.  You'll be ok.

Not really. Just because other people did it doesn't make it right, nor does it make their system more secure. It just seems really wierd that they 'demand' that - when there are much better (authentic) ways of verifying that don't compromise privacy, i.e., making a random bank deposit between $0.01 and $1.00, which you then have to contact them back and verify what you received.

A bank deposit verifies you have a bank account.  Not who you are.  You'll be ok.  And if not, they'll probably get along ok.

Quote from: sgoodwin4813 on February 12, 2018, 21:49

I understand your concern but I don't think there's any way around it if you want to be a contributor.  With all the major data breaches that have occurred already all your information is probably available somewhere anyway.  The Russians, Chinese, North Koreans and who knows who else seem to have no trouble penetrating major computer systems so your information is probably more secure with SS than anywhere else.   Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith, just like all the rest of us.  No sense complaining about something you can't change.

Again, just because it 'has' happened doesn't make it right, nor is there a reason to make it easier for someone to do. And yes - you can change it people voice a concern. It's when no one does anything about it that things like this can happen.

You seem to know whats best. Please take this up with SS and report back with your results.

A bank deposit verifies you have a bank account.  Not who you are.  You'll be ok.  And if not, they'll probably get along ok.

With a bank account you can only open it up in your own name. If you do a wire transfer, you have to provide *complete* banking information, in your *own* name. If one letter is off, then you can't/won't get paid/etc. That would protect your identity.

If anything - sending documents could be 'more' prone to 'fakeness' - because after all - doesn't everyone that submits photos/etc 'edit' photos, etc? A bank account # with deposit, perhaps with cc card deposit would be more secure, while at the same time protecting privacy/preventing any potential for abuse with a mass storage of private personal documents that makes it an attractive target to hackers.

I am not sure why you keep bringing up the potential hacking concern. I believe it's the third time this month. Why ask us, if it's wrong or not? We have virtually no clout with how agencies operate. I can't just call SS and say, look, stop asking for ID or else... You can start more threads, but the answer is going to be the same. Regardless of what anyone *feels* you either do the business with a particular agency or you don't. It's up to you to decide, it's your own risk vs benefit analysis.

I am not sure why you keep bringing up the potential hacking concern. I believe it's the third time this month. Why ask us, if it's wrong or not? We have virtually no clout with how agencies operate. I can't just call SS and say, look, stop asking for ID or else... You can start more threads, but the answer is going to be the same. Regardless of what anyone *feels* you either do the business with a particular agency or you don't. It's up to you to decide, it's your own risk vs benefit analysis.

I guess probably because I am a bit new to this. You read the newspapers, and they have stories of major corporations that only have 'partial' info hacked (i.e., credit card #'s + customer info) - and then people's cc's being racked up and it taking several years to fix that.

Asking for *complete* id documents stored digitally for anyone to download - especially if you get an annoyed employee, or someone incompetent that accidentally exposes something - doesn't make sense to me. Because then it could take even more years to get that fixed if someone who has your complete ID documents goes and opens more credit cards/loans/etc in your name.

While I "get" that unfortunatey there are some unscrupulous people who will take other people's work and try and pass it off as their own, doing something like a bank deposit verification, credit card verfification, etc makes more sense - because when you open a bank account, cc card - you need to provide that info in person, and very hard to "fake" that kind of thing. But then - you could "verify" someone's id - without compromising their privacy... And then if someone tried passing off others work as their own, it would be easy to ban them.
 
I basically want to protect myself from any potential abuse, but while at the same time verifying to their satisfaction.

Because the IRS and US government requires that Shutterstock verify your identity. If you want to get paid, you need to be verified. This has nothing to do with being a contributor, only sending money. Try buying Bitcoin, it's harder than getting my FBI clearance.

Are you sure? Why is that? I thought it was to prevent against people passing off other's work as their own...

No, nobody has that information, and starting multiple threads about it won't change that.

How long have you had your drivers license/passport? And how many times has a disgruntled employee of the passport office or DVLA released your info? How many times have they been hacked into?

Sure, giving it to SS doubles the odds of that happening... but then you've just go two instances of it being highly unlikely your info will be stolen. And what are they going to do with it if hey did have It? Probably not much.

Bottom line... send in your ID or give up on signing up. We've all done it and we're all fine. The odds of you getting to speak to somebody who is in a position to overrule SS's rules and procedures is probably less likely than your ID being stolen.

While I appreciate your caution @SuperPhoto I really don�t think there is any higher chance of your info being stolen here than from the hundreds of other places you need to show an ID that are analog.

Not sure it�s worth dwelling on this when there is so much to do if you want to start earning...

If you can�t do it - maybe look into Symbiostock or some other form of direct sale.

I guess probably because I am a bit new to this. You read the newspapers, and they have stories of major corporations that only have 'partial' info hacked (i.e., credit card #'s + customer info) - and then people's cc's being racked up and it taking several years to fix that.

Asking for *complete* id documents stored digitally for anyone to download - especially if you get an annoyed employee, or someone incompetent that accidentally exposes something - doesn't make sense to me. Because then it could take even more years to get that fixed if someone who has your complete ID documents goes and opens more credit cards/loans/etc in your name.

While I "get" that unfortunatey there are some unscrupulous people who will take other people's work and try and pass it off as their own, doing something like a bank deposit verification, credit card verfification, etc makes more sense - because when you open a bank account, cc card - you need to provide that info in person, and very hard to "fake" that kind of thing. But then - you could "verify" someone's id - without compromising their privacy... And then if someone tried passing off others work as their own, it would be easy to ban them.
 
I basically want to protect myself from any potential abuse, but while at the same time verifying to their satisfaction.

It's understandable, but you have to consider the odds. First off, I would not rely on what passes for news today to guide me on what to do in everyday life. Remember, a dog biting a man isn't newsworthy, but a man biting a dog is. Second, it's practically impossible to maintain "virginity" when it comes to personal information confidentiality. You are currently using internet, are you using a chain VPN? If not, your transmitted info is potentially exposed already. Antivirus can't really help you 100% either. As SpaceStockFootage already said, there is a gazillion of places that already have your info and they aren't exactly 100% protected from hacking. Do you really believe that government organizations hire better security experts than commercial organizations? I worked for government for a number of years, and let me tell you, they are not concerned with hiring the best as much as with the best optics. I would trust SS with the copy of my passport well before the organization that issued my passport in the first place.

And another thing, true hacking is a highly skilled job, that are not interested in small fish like SS contributors. The majority of contributors aren't making $100 per month, also they live in distant third world countries. That's why protecting yourself from identity theft isn't really protection yourself online as much as offline. Buy yourself a good shredder that turns everything (and I mean everything) with your name on it into dust. Secure your documents in a safe. Don't let your friends, family or neighbors  anywhere near your papers. That kind of stuff, if you are really worried.