Asking customers to snailmail photos or copies of driving licenses is a growing trend. The idea is to reduce fraud but it also effectively kills part of the point of ecommerce. The referral system would work well except that most companies do not want to pool valuable customer info. In Europe this would also be contrary to the EU data directive. The question of how much information is vital. The companies asking for too much might reduce fraud but they will also loose potential clients. As for refusing information the company is free not to trade with you, so it depends upon how much of a risk they are willing to take.
Slashdot Mirror
Asking customers to snailmail photos or copies of driving licenses is a growing trend. The idea is to reduce fraud but it also effectively kills part of the point of ecommerce. The referral system would work well except that most companies do not want to pool valuable customer info. In Europe this would also be contrary to the EU data directive. The question of how much information is vital. The companies asking for too much might reduce fraud but they will also loose potential clients. As for refusing information the company is free not to trade with you, so it depends upon how much of a risk they are willing to take.