Why does Blizzard support need my photo ID?
It's asking for that before I've even specified my problem. The only photo ID listed as suitable is my passport and I'm not sending a copy of that online.
I don't get why they need it. Blizzard have no idea what I look like, so what does Photo ID prove?
Is there another way or am I not able to get help?
15/08/2018 13:00Posted by VerapikeI don't get why they need it. Blizzard have no idea what I look like, so what does Photo ID prove?
Because the government issued it to you, it's not as easy to fake a driving license so it proves your not a hacker.
It's a secure connection and they don't keep the copy on file.
I don't think it's required for most support tickets, I've been able to open a few web tickets lately without the need for it.
If your query relates to account security then I can see why ID might be required to prove you are the owner.
If your query relates to account security then I can see why ID might be required to prove you are the owner.
This sounds fishy. Never send a photocopy of your ID online.
And in no way is there any need for Blizzard to request it as they're very well capable of proving account ownership otherwise.
And in no way is there any need for Blizzard to request it as they're very well capable of proving account ownership otherwise.
for any high level account services like account deletion you need to provide a valid id to prove your actually the account holder
Account deletion is basically the only thing which actually has a legit reason to require ID proof.
If it's anything else, then it's sure as hell not required.
If it's anything else, then it's sure as hell not required.
15/08/2018 13:19Posted by NiayraAccount deletion is basically the only thing which actually has a legit reason to require ID proof.
If it's anything else, then it's sure as hell not required.
Account recovery it's also needed
I needed to do that once because I had to remove my authenticator after having lost it (this is before everyone had a smartphone filled with apps).
Had no problem with that, it's just for them to see whether you are an actual person, to compare with the name provided on the account.
I remember not being too happy about having to do it either, but I did it anyway.
Had no problem with that, it's just for them to see whether you are an actual person, to compare with the name provided on the account.
I remember not being too happy about having to do it either, but I did it anyway.
I needed it when I changed my country of residence, along with the registration in my new city and I wanted my account to reflect that (it was important for things like RaF).
For some account restoration services they needed my driver's license as well at some point. Just make a photo, cross out any 'really' important info (aka social security number for example) and you should be oké. And the picture can't be used in any malicious way.
hey I'd be proud to have a new race resemble me :D
If you have not even told them your problem yet, then i don't see any reason that you need to give them that.
I do know that for some stuff they ask for it, like above posters have said.
I do know that for some stuff they ask for it, like above posters have said.
15/08/2018 17:58Posted by NorukayFor some account restoration services they needed my driver's license as well at some point. Just make a photo, cross out any 'really' important info (aka social security number for example) and you should be oké. And the picture can't be used in any malicious way.
I crossed out my important info and they just denied my support ticket... Could try again another time but not every GM will accept it :(
I once ( long time ago ) had to change some info on my account and the support i talked to asked for something that could confirm i was the owner, i simple put a piece of paper over the important information ( social security number and stuff like it ) and took a picture of it with my mobile.16/08/2018 02:42Posted by Áshley15/08/2018 17:58Posted by NorukayFor some account restoration services they needed my driver's license as well at some point. Just make a photo, cross out any 'really' important info (aka social security number for example) and you should be oké. And the picture can't be used in any malicious way.
I crossed out my important info and they just denied my support ticket... Could try again another time but not every GM will accept it :(
And told them why i put it there and that was it.
15/08/2018 13:03Posted by RhovanorBecause the government issued it to you, it's not as easy to fake a driving license so it proves your not a hacker.
OP means Blizzard have no way actual way of proving the picture on the ID is him; and to be fair, it's not very secure at any rate since they cannot know the person in real (in addition are only viewing a photo of it).
It's different in real life when you go somewhere and they ask you for ID because they can visually see you and check the ID's physical form (IE, make sure it's a legitimate ID and not forged).
Not that I'm against this "security step", I simply see it as fundamentally flawed given the online world today.
It essentially proves...... nothing. I guess it's a step to make it a little more hassle than most people want to be bothered with.
16/08/2018 03:32Posted by TymaarOP means Blizzard have no way actual way of proving the picture on the ID is him
It's not really about the picture for verification purposes. When you set up an account you give personal information to Blizzard, they make sure the ID presented to them matches that retained on their database.
Again, they ask for government photo ID because it's more difficult to falsify, any clown can get a library card or bus pass which is why they refuse those forms.
It's a last line if you take advantage of authenticators and SMS protect services but it's good to know it's there.
My account was stolen in Wrath, once ID was confirmed they released it back to me along with a bank full of gold and arctic furs.
My phone crashed and I hadn't stored recovery info for the authenticator, confirming matching data allowed them to remove the log in restriction.
16/08/2018 03:32Posted by TymaarI simply see it as fundamentally flawed given the online world today.
I've been subjected to worse security than that.
Have you ever been cold called by an ISP or comms provider who have then asked for your security info before they can continue with the call? I have, refusing to give my details they threatened account suspension, it could have been the N!gerian Lottery Commission on the end of the phone for all I knew...
Actually, Blizzard shouldn't and wouldn't need any of this at all, not even for account deletion. There's other ways to prove that you're the owner of the account. Asking for a photocopy of your ID is just a cheap way out, although depending on you having filled out the account-registry with actual proper data and not just some random made-up crap.
In our modern world there are way more precise ways to determine if a person is the owner of an account, given that you're still using the same computer to try accessing said account.
Working with photocopies of IDs should be the very last resort when a person claims they've lost access to their regular computer and try to access their account now from a completely different machine.
For all those that claim a government issued ID is harder to falsify: that may be true out in the real world (if you're having the technological means at hand to check its authenticity), but we're talking about a photocopy here, send over an online platform.
And I sincerely doubt Blizzard checks every imagine of those handed in to them thoroughly enough to validate an original from a copy.
In our modern world there are way more precise ways to determine if a person is the owner of an account, given that you're still using the same computer to try accessing said account.
Working with photocopies of IDs should be the very last resort when a person claims they've lost access to their regular computer and try to access their account now from a completely different machine.
For all those that claim a government issued ID is harder to falsify: that may be true out in the real world (if you're having the technological means at hand to check its authenticity), but we're talking about a photocopy here, send over an online platform.
And I sincerely doubt Blizzard checks every imagine of those handed in to them thoroughly enough to validate an original from a copy.
Blizzard has no way of proving you are the account owner from a photo of your ID, especially since you'd black out the important information anyway.
If by some chance they do know how you look like and that is why they ask for a photo of your ID, they have a MUCH bigger problem on their hands.
If by some chance they do know how you look like and that is why they ask for a photo of your ID, they have a MUCH bigger problem on their hands.
16/08/2018 07:20Posted by RhovanorI've been subjected to worse security than that.
It's not about being subjected or asked for it like I said it might hinder some phising attempts but for more sophisticated attempts it's basically useless given the number of highly forged identies in today's mordern world. Of which, some are that realistic they even fool real authorities in some cases.
Asking for a photocopy/photograph of an "ID" to which you have no clue if the person in the picture IS the person you're talking to is flawed. Regardless of the details presented or whether they match their database, it means nothing at that point.
Granted I like how Blizzard tries to keep accounts secure but I find the authenticator, SMS protection a much better way. I would never be without them. Also a strong password, and keeping your computer regularly in check with malware and virus scans. Using common sense and keeping up to date with the latest phising or spyware attempts is much much safer in keeping your account secure.
16/08/2018 07:20Posted by RhovanorHave you ever been cold called by an ISP or comms provider who have then asked for your security info before they can continue with the call? I have, refusing to give my details they threatened account suspension
I had that with a cold call from Virgin Media, and yes they did suspend my account. They very quickly unsuspended it and gave me 6 months credit when the Data Commissioner, and my lawyer contacted them over it.
They never pulled that stunt again.