How to Verify Your SSN on PayPal
By Chris Miksen
PayPal may limit your account and ask you to confirm your identification if you've made an unusually large purchase, have had your account hacked or if you apply for a PayPal debit or credit card. You must confirm your identity in three separate steps. The last step always asks you to confirm your Social Security number, which you can do by scanning your Social Security Card and uploading it to PayPal. PayPal will restore your account after your information is confirmed.
Scan your Social Security card. Lift the scanner lid up and place your Social Security Card face-down on the scanning glass. Close the scanning lid and press the "Scan" button on your scanner. The scanned image should appear on your computer.
Rotate the image of the Social Security Card if it is not horizontal or if reads backward. Most scanners come equipped with photo editing software that automatically opens your scanned documents. You can either use the "Rotate" tool that comes with the software, or open your favorite picture editor. Save the image as "SSN" or something that you will remember.
Visit PayPal.com and sign into your PayPal account. Click the "Resolution Center" button.
Scroll down until you see "Step 3: Confirm your Social Security Card." Click "Continue." A new page will open.
Click "Browse." Select the location on your computer that your Social Security card is located in from the "Look in" drop-down box. Select the scanned Social Security Card image and click "Open."
Click "Submit." Call PayPal's customer service number (see Resources). Tell the customer service representative that your account is limited, but you just completed the necessary steps to restore the account to good standing. The customer service representative will look at the information you entered, including the copy of your Social Security card. If all the information matches the information on your PayPal account, the customer service representative will restore your account.
References
Tips
- You must enter the web PIN on the customer service phone number page when you call customer service.
- If you do not have a scanner, you can visit a store that will scan your documents for you and put them on a USB. You can then upload the scanned image from the USB onto PayPal's website. If at all possible, use your scanner or a friend's scanner, since your Social Security Card is a delicate document.
Writer Bio
Located in Pittsburgh, Chris Miksen has been writing instructional articles on a wide range of topics for online publications since 2007. He currently owns and operates a vending business. Miksen has written a variety of technical and business articles throughout his writing career. He studied journalism at the Community College of Allegheny County.