Identity Theft and Affiliate Marketing - Protect Yourself

 Affiliate marketing is a great way to make a little extra money online by promoting other people's businesses and products. However, if you've ever signed up for one of these programs, you know that the application requires a great deal of your personal information.

 For example, you may need to give out your home address, birth date and even your social security number to participate in the program.

 For the most part, requesting this information is a legitimate practice - since the affiliate provider is essentially hiring you as an employee, they need this information to pay you for your work.

  Unfortunately, it's easy for a scam artist to setup a fake affiliate website for the sole purpose of collecting your personal information - which can then be used to take out credit cards in your name or drain funds from your bank account. This isn't to say that you shouldn't take part in affiliate marketing - just that you need to be careful when you do.

Never Give Out Your Social Security Number

 If you're going to engage in affiliate marketing, think about setting up your activities as a legitimate business. If you're just starting out, you'll probably want to sign up as a sole proprietorship - the quickest and easiest business organization for most people.

 You'll be able to file for an employer identification number, which most affiliate programs will accept in lieu of your social security number. As you get more involved, consult a tax advisor to determine the best legal structure for your business.

Only Sign Up For Well Established or Trusted Programs

 If you study any given industry, you'll be able to determine which companies are the most reliable and trustworthy - and which ones are fly-by-night operations. For example, if you're interested in bookstores, you know you can trust Amazon.com or Barnes and Nobles.

On the other hand, if you find a small bookstore program from Arizona that promises a 50% commission - it would be better to steer clear of it. While this could be an excellent opportunity, it could also be someone looking to steal your private information - better safe than sorry!

Do Not Release a Photo of Yourself

 Aside from stealing people's identity, thieves will also seek to forge everything from passports to drivers licenses. If someone has your picture - plus your social security number - they can easily create other documents that can be used for everything from securing bank loans to purchasing cars and other property.

 Most people don't think about the risks of sharing images of themselves, but it's something that thieves are capable of using to their advantage.

 Unfortunately, there are many places online where criminals can get a hold of your personal information. As the rates of identity theft continue to skyrocket, privacy issues and the means of conducting business on the internet are bound to be adversely affected.

  So if you're planning to enroll in affiliate marketing programs, make sure you take these important precautionary measures to limit the damage that may occur if you encounter a scammer.