Joining SiteHost as a new customer? Been asked to show some ID, or answer a couple of extra questions on your way in? This article explains why we're so vigilant. We'd rather not treat you with suspicion or slow down your day - and we're sorry for doing those things - but it's all part of a never-ending fight against fraud.
Every new sign-up gets checked
Because we need to know that every new SiteHost account is 100% genuine, they all go through automated checks. We can't say exactly how these checks work - that info would be incredibly helpful to the exact people we're trying to keep out - but in general we need to be sure that we only open accounts when people or companies are:
Using their real names and contact details.
Truthful about which country they’re in.
Funding their own purchases, not using stolen credit cards.
Running legal websites free of scams or other prohibited content and conduct.
These automatic checks are tuned quite cautiously. It's like buying wine - anyone who looks under 25 gets asked for ID, even though the actual age limit is lower. In another similarity, a quick look at a drivers license is usually enough.
If we need to go through an extra round of checks with you, we'll send an email. You can just reply with a photo of your drivers license or similar ID. This quick step is usually enough to finish opening your account.
The sad fact: Fraud is everywhere
The reason we're so cautious is that we often receive more fake or fraudulent sign-ups than genuine ones. These are usually automated, persistent attempts to break through our defences. If you have a spam folder that fills up faster than your inbox, you can imagine what we're talking about.
We always want to help legitimate customers join SiteHost as quickly as possible. If you're caught up in an extra ID check, we're sorry but we hope you understand.
Some of this is motivated by everyday theft, like shady cryptocurrency miners who just want to get their hands on computing power, even for a only a few hours, without paying. Others hide their identities because they're running websites that go against our terms and conditions, or even break the law. More inventive activity that we've shut down has included fraudsters trying to turn our checkout into a validation machine for stolen credit card details.
Without strong defences our servers - which you expect to run your websites quickly and securely - would get hit by greedy users grabbing as many resources as they can before they get caught. Unpaid bills would pile up, which could push up prices for everyone who follows the rules. And we could face the consequences of hosting illegal websites.
It's our version of host responsibility
We always want to help legitimate customers join SiteHost as quickly as possible. If you're caught up in an extra ID check, we're sorry but we hope you understand.
Once you are fully through the doors, it's good to know that you're with a host who's working hard to keep scammers and thieves out. Thanks for playing your part in that effort.