Bitmain now wants your social security number to purchase?

[Johnnydanger]

I tried to make a purchase from bitmain and received this new error message " One or more of the following are missing from your account settings. Go to User Settings, Settings, My Address, edit address and update one or more of the following: EIN, import number, VAT, SSN. Please update your account settings and then re-attempt the purchase."

I don't know what these numbers are, I think VAT is something in England( not in the USA). The only thing I recognize is social security number which is something the IRS uses and government agencies, otherwise its suppose to be kept private for identify thief and security reasons. SSN is the primary target of Chinese and other hackers of the ultimate goal to steal your identify, get loans/credit cards in your name, etc...  That information can really screw you up in the black market and suppose to be kept very secure.

Is this for real? Why now when they have been selling this product for a long time and never before.

Does a foreign Chinese company really need  your social security number?

Thanks.

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[BitMaxz]

You have a point but you should provide SSN and Tax ID so it can put on the waybill you can't purchase without it its for shipment purposes
And i think there are lots of US customers bought from bitmain without any problem.

This is just base on what other post here https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1493601.msg17123086#msg17123086
So it means its not for Bitmain and its for Fedex request that is why they are asking for SSN...

How many hardware honestly you bought from bitmain?

Update: just added if ever you don't know where you could put your SSN or Tax ID you  found it in Account --> Address --> Edit --> TAX iD/SSN

[esconceptsz]

I don't like the idea of providing it. But in the USA each time I receive a shipment via UPS I have to provide my SSN before it'll clear customs. I'd much rather provide a business tax ID, shield my SSN. Bitmain could be requiring this so what they ship doesn't get held up.

[Johnnydanger]

I don't like the idea of providing it. But in the USA each time I receive a shipment via UPS I have to provide my SSN before it'll clear customs. I'd much rather provide a business tax ID, shield my SSN. Bitmain could be requiring this so what they ship doesn't get held up.

Why do customs care about a computer box which is only made in China? Its not like a plant, disease, or counterfeit issue.

I order hundreds of dollars worth of small Chinese stuff on ebay. Little wires, testers, etc... Never had to provide such evasive information.

Only time I had problems with customs is when I ordered from Bamboo seeds from India. I would not think they would have a problem with electronics considered how much volume moves via Ebay alone.

[lunobird]

hopefully the IRS is not trying to spy on little brother.

[philipma1957]

if you use fedex it is an issue try using ups to ship.

[BlueLight22]

I purchased 2 of them 10 days ago but they didn't want from me. Like others told, it may be related to shipping company you have selected.

[Alns]

I am not from the USA, but i went to there last year and i bought an antminer, but they didn't asked me about the security number because i dont have one, becuase i am not from there.
but yes, it is a mess that they are now requesting it, but i dont see nothing wrong with this because it is not a real "private" thing, and it is not compromising your security.
It is nice because a lot of people are using cryptos to launder money, and with this security layer, they know everybody who is buying those machines..

[nicendrine]

This is usually needed when you are from the US just like what other posts mention. Perhaps try using a forwarder address. It will have your name as the addressee anyway.

[Gabrics]

This is not Bitmain's fault. This is US customs regulation over a certain amount you import.

From the CBP website:
"A formal entry is usually required for commercial importations valued over $2,500. If the goods are cleared informally, the Entry Summary CBP Form 7501, bond and identification number are not required. Goods are usually cleared informally when they are for personal use, under $2500 in value, and are not in commercial quantities."
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/314/~/importers---social-security-number-%2F-tax-identification-number-%2F-irs-number-%2F

[ScrumbleGames]

Yeah i do not like the idea of having to provide al of that information, especially when all of this is saposed to be a crypto type thing, but if its not illegal yet im sure youll be fine, but still giving the SSN to anybody is a little worrying.

[Snub]

just choose any other shipping method accept Fedex and don't worry about that

[AgentB]

Use Fedex and all is good.

[BitWolf~]

UPS sent me an invoice for import costs to the US. The last shipment I got they did not do this. So they are starting to crack down now too