Textbroker is asking for a copy of my friend's driver's license.. Help!
By jeeyah
@jeeyah (1092)
Philippines
April 19, 2010 11:07am CST
So, my friend signed up for textbroker as an author (writer), and since they only accept US Citizens, they e-mailed my friend, asking her to send them a copy of her driver's license either through e-mail, fax, or post.
She does have a driver's license and is a US citizen, but the thing is, she's scared of identity theft. She says that they can access all her info just with her driver's number, so yea. The risk of identity theft is high.
Although Textbroker seems legit and is not a scam, do you think it'd be right for her to just scan her driver's license and e-mail it to them? Do you think she could become a victim of identity theft by doing so?
Please help and give us some advice. :|
2 people like this
8 responses
@jorgegreer (3)
• United States
19 Apr 10
Textbroker is completely legitimate and totally fair. They treat their writers quite well. AFAIK, they only ever ask for a completed W-9 form, for tax reasons. They got burned early on by people fibbing about their citizenship.
Anyway, if they really are asking your friend for her DL, it's probably because they have very good reason to believe that she's not really in the U.S. Tell your friend to send them a completed W-9 form with a valid SSN on it.
To the person below who says that Textbroker pays their writers only a fraction of what they make: That is utterly false. Textbroker charges a 30% commission on the price of each article, which they keep. That's ON TOP OF what you receive as a writer - it isn't taken out of your earnings. Of course, the clients who orders these articles could be making much more off of them in the long run. If you'd like to do the same, learn how to do SEO, buy lots of great domains and get into business for yourself.
I can't stand it when people spread misinformation about quality companies like Textbroker. Please get your facts straight.
1 person likes this
@jeeyah (1092)
• Philippines
19 Apr 10
Thanks for the info! I know that Textbroker is legit, but there's still a big risk in sending something with your SSN in it. Identity theft is rampant, and who knows what could happen to that information. Although Textbroker may not use it inappropriately, there are other people out there like hackers. And if the SSN or DL gets into the wrong hands, then i don't know. Do you think it's worth the risk?
1 person likes this
@jorgegreer (3)
• United States
19 Apr 10
I agree. However, Demand Studios also requires your SSN. In both cases, you submit your W-9 in a secure way. With Textbroker, you fax it directly to their office. Think: If the risk is so enormous, wouldn't TB have gone out of business? Same with Demand Studios, who has its writers submit their W-9s - with their SSNs - online.
In my case, it's definitely worth the risk. On a good day, I can make over $200 on Textbroker alone. I am a level 5 writer for them.
1 person likes this
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
19 Apr 10
Seems like a lot to ask for.
I signed up with Textbrokers after reading about them on here. I scored a 5 and thought I could start making some good money. But they wanted too much info from me. Not to mention that they're making a FORTUNE off of their material and paying only a fraction of the price to writers.
They're probably making $30+ for every article they pay out $5 for.
I wouldn't even fool with them. They seem shady to me.
1 person likes this
@jeeyah (1092)
• Philippines
19 Apr 10
So you didn't pursue it?
Well, they didn't even include my friend's rating on their e-mail. They just said that they needed to verify whether my friend really was a US citizen, because they cant verify it with the info my friend submitted.
So, should my friend just disregard it and not send her driver's license?
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
20 Apr 10
Have your friend try signing up again. Maybe he/she typed something in wrong -- maybe a wrong zip code by mistake. It's hard to tell. All I know is that I personally don't trust anyone wanting that much information.
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
19 Apr 10
Personally I would be very cautious, it sounds like they want far too much information and it could easily fall into the wrong hands.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
20 Apr 10
jeeyah that does not sound right to my. I do not drive but if I did I would think twice before I gave a copy of my driver's license to anyone
surely there is some other way. I sure would ask them to try something else as your friend does not way to divulge information that could cause identity theft.
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@TheCatLady (4691)
• Israel
19 Apr 10
I would never send it. They have no reason to want a drivers license. Not everyone drives. You don't have to be a citizen to get a license. I also knew many people with fake licenses when I was younger. For $50 in a barrio and you could get any fake license you want. This was the price back when I was young. Also Mail order ID's are a dime a dozen. The back magazines aimed at younger people had tons of adds for them. And then there are the US citizens living abroad. Most companies that want US citizens won't take me because I don't live in America. I have an American drivers license.
1 person likes this
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
19 Apr 10
I have been with textbroker for awhile now. I don't trust anyone who "needs" a copy of my DL! I haven't had any bad experiences with them so far. I only wright the lower ranked articles so I don't have to worry about the particulars too much! DON"T SEND THE LICENSE!!!
1 person likes this
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
19 Apr 10
They treat me okay I only had one problem with them. There was an order without instructions. I typed it up and then they wanted some change. I made it and they still didn't take it... I wrote and never got a reply. I put that client on my blacklist so I don't take any more orders from them. Other than that I haven't had any trouble though.
1 person likes this
@jeeyah (1092)
• Philippines
20 Apr 10
Ohh, that's really a waste of time and effort. Didn't textbroker help you do anything about it? That really sucks, but at least you haven't had any other problems with them, though, especially with payment. Because that seems to be the common problem of online writers.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
19 Apr 10
i wouldn't want to do it if i were in your friend's position... as she says, her private information is being jeopardised by giving her D/L to the textbroker... and the amount of money that she will earn from there is not worth it compare to the risks involved (according to my opinion)... but again, it is up to your friend to decide... i won't give it if it is me... take care and have a nice day...
@chulce (1537)
• United States
29 May 10
First off, your friend needs to relax. The reason they are asking for a copy of her driver's license is for proof of identity and also proof that she is a US Citizen. She shouldn't send the copy via e-mail but simply fax a copy, it is a safer way to go. I have worked for Textbroker for over 2 years and enjoy working for the company. Good Luck to your friend.
