Is vpn use a no no?

[aussiej]

i signed up with godaddy, from australia, about two months ago, and have had no problems with them at all, however the other day i began using a vpn, for the purposes of my security/privacy online ...

i made a couple of purchases on godaddy then, and, again, no dramas, until ...

i open my email this morning and receive this, which really caught me by surprise, is this a routine thing, do domainers have to avoid using pvns, or is just godaddy being awkward re vpns? thanks:

GoDaddy Order Verification Request Status - Please Read

Dear xxx

Thank you for being our valued customer. Your account has been selected by our verification office as a precautionary measure to defend you from possible misuse of either your payment method or products in shopper account xxx

During the login process, our secure site will prompt you to upload a viewable, scanned copy of the payment method account holder's government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license or passport. In the comments box, we ask that you also provide a brief explanation of how you intend to use the product(s) purchased. If we do not receive the requested documentation within the next 48 hours, your order(s) may be cancelled for your protection.

Upon receipt and verification, we will notate your account that the necessary documentation to substantiate your account has been received. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Sincerely,
GoDaddy Verification Office

 

[Rick Ace]

Have you experienced anything similar with Google, Facebook, and other popular sites? Perhaps, a captcha?

 

[DU]

VPNs cause all issues because for the most part you are hiding your identity.

Even Namepros has a rule:

You agree not to use Tor, a VPN, SOCKS, or any other proxying mechanism ("proxy") that masks your computer's identity on the Internet ("IP address") unless such a proxy is necessary to access the Service

The problem is that they can't verify you are who you are or where you are. Likely the service you use won't either if you chose well I occasionally forget to turn mine off and only notice when all my searches come back with Canadian / Miami focused results rather than my actual location.

I don't know the circumstances specifically (or GD's procedures) but if your IP doesn't match your CC address and is changing when you access the GD portal it's an obvious red flag in a lot of automated fraud checks. VPNs have their purpose but can also be a pita ..... have you looked into a permanent /dedicated IP VPN? That would resolve some of the issues.

 

[aramyus]

It smells scam (Identity thief)

Are you sure this email comes from godaddy ?

If they are serious they should give you confirmation and the email should be available somewhere in the private area of their site.

 

[aussiej]

Have you experienced anything similar with Google, Facebook, and other popular sites? Perhaps, a captcha?

i have with facebook, it wants a captcha, but i seem to be able to log in without it

 

[aussiej]

VPNs cause all issues because for the most part you are hiding your identity.

Even Namepros has a rule:

You agree not to use Tor, a VPN, SOCKS, or any other proxying mechanism ("proxy") that masks your computer's identity on the Internet ("IP address") unless such a proxy is necessary to access the Service

The problem is that they can't verify you are who you are or where you are. Likely the service you use won't either if you chose well I occasionally forget to turn mine off and only notice when all my searches come back with Canadian / Miami focused results rather than my actual location.

I don't know the circumstances specifically (or GD's procedures) but if your IP doesn't match your CC address and is changing when you access the GD portal it's an obvious red flag in a lot of automated fraud checks. VPNs have their purpose but can also be a pita ..... have you looked into a permanent /dedicated IP VPN? That would resolve some of the issues.

thanks, im only on my first vpn service so havent realised there are numerous issues/scenarios i ought ot check out before deciding on an ideal provider for me, i can see gd's point, as you point out, it's just that theyve caught me on the hop as i cant recall seeing anything about vpn problems when i signed up

 

[aussiej]

It smells scam (Identity thief)

Are you sure this email comes from godaddy ?

If they are serious they should give you confirmation and the email should be available somewhere in the private area of their site.

hey, great point, funny thing about it is the email gives me 48 hours to provide them with a scan of my drivers licence or passport, and yet when i replied to "complain" i received an email from gd saying they will look into my concern - and reply within 72 hours !!!

i will have a closer look inside my private message area, within gd, thanks

 

[james haw]

How annoying. Sure some people "hide" themselves because they're up to no good, but some just want to remain private or not end up on some dodgy site and give them their IP etc.

I mean, should people not lock their front door because they could be "hiding something dodgy in their house"?

Besides all that, IP addresses are not in any way an accurate identification metric. I could wonder around the internet showing myself as any IP I want. Sites should only use IPs as a secondary and basic test, logins (and email addresses with additional questions/requirements) are primary.


Anyway, rant over. Sorry.


You should contact Godaddy directly, ie not through the email you received or any details on it. Go to the Godaddy website and use their contact details from there, ask if they sent the email, and what they need from you. I'm sure they'll be equipped to handle VPNs.

Alternatively you could access Godaddy and any other well known and large sites without the VPN (FB, YouTube etc). You know they're trustable (well, mostly).

 

[aussiej]

i just went to login to my godaddy account, and ive been locked out ....

they didnt even give me the 36 hours ...

so i cant even check for myself if ive got an email within my account dashboard

i have a dozen or so domains in there

 

[aussiej]

ps im locked out even with my vpn not on now .... this sucks