WAHM Forums

Okay, here goes. Exactly how safe is it to sign up online with any direct sale company? Some require you to fill out personal info such as ss#, bank acct. info,etc... I am extremely concerned about identity theft nowadays. When looking at a sign up page, the header turns yellow and has https:// on it along with a padlock and a Verisign symbol on it, does it mean that your info is encrypted or something? What are the chances that hackers could gain your info by signing up this way? I want to join a direct sales company and this would help me convince my hubby as well. How many still prefer to do it the old fashioned way, by snail mail or fax? I would like to get going asap, but needed some reassurance in this area. I hope no one thinks I am silly or dumb for asking. I just want to make sure all of my info is safe and secure and I will have no worries. Thanks in advance.

If it states https - then it is secure and the padlock enforces this - that means that all info is encrypted and it is a secure sight. For me this is safer than snail mail or fax for a couple of reasons - snail mail can get opened, lost, etc and then you have no idea of who gets your info and fax - who is near the fax machine? How many people have access to the info? With an encrypted sight it is usually directed to one person - or dept - or all handled electronically and does not pass through many many hands.
HTH

Brenda:

I can completely understand your concern about security - you can never be too careful. As Robin states, you can feel confident if the website has the lock at the top of the page. That being said, I will always offerto Fedex an offline agreement if my new consultant prefers it that way (and if they prefer to send a check, rather than use a credit card). I usually send it overnight, so I have a tracking number and proof of receipt. In the end, it is your decision, so you should have the right to choose how you prefer to submit your agreement.

Good luck!

Here is a link to some info. http://www.bbbonline.org/IDTheft/safetyQuiz.asp (http://www.bbbonline.org/IDTheft/safetyQuiz.asp). It may help if you do some searching on the web and see what the studies say. From what I have read most identify theft occurs through people you know or a lost wallet, credit card, checkbook.

You'll have to determine what feels right for you. Maybe you could just mail it in. :)

Thanks ladies for easing my concerns. Loretta, thank you for the link. Robin and Mary, thank you as well for the info about the encryption and pad lock security. I would rather take care of business online because it is quicker in my opinion. I can't begin to count the number of times that I have received mail in my mail box that wasn't even sealed. When you have a spouse that isn't familiar with online stuff, it take some mighty big convincing I tell ya! I believe I will go ahead with the online sign up. And thank you for not making me feel like an idiot for asking about this.

It is just as safe as anywhere else. But whenever there are concerns I always offer to fill in the info for them via a telephone call. Or send them the forms and they can fax/phone the head office themselves. Everyone has a different comfort level when it comes to the computer.

Good luck with your new business!! You will have to tell us about it!

I do the majority of my sign ups online via our secure online sign up form. With that being said, Tupperware also allows the new consultant who wants to join to call Corporate to give them their information directly along with the name of the referring consultant. So, it doesn't matter to me. They can do it online, call me with it or call corporate themself with it.

I agree with everyone else, too but I wanted to share a funny thing. The other day someone called me wanting to talk about the biz opp and once we got to signing her up she said she wasn't comfortable giving information over the phone and wanted to do it online instead! LOL I did a silent "huh????" and told her how to do that, scratching my head. Either way, a human being (or more) will have access to your information so there's always a risk no matter what method you use.

If it is direct to the company, it's probably safer then signing up through a person.

Just make sure you have a legit company. :-)

Best of luck!

Debbie

Thank you for all of your replies. I am positive the company is very safe. It is At Home America!! I appreciate all of the help you have given, the lady who I am signing under is another homeschool mom like myself and her hubby is in law enforcement. Thanks again.