Recurrent Identity Verification

[Apocryphal]

After years of using PayPal without difficulty, I have had two major "Resolution" requests in the past two weeks for identity verification.  The first -- two weeks ago -- I was able to dispatch quickly by aswering a few personal identity questions.  Then the second, tonight, asked a series of similar questions.  Apparently not satisfied with my answers, the "Case Resolution" proceeded to ask me to provide a variety of identity documents, the most intrusive of which was at least two documents verifying my Social Security Number.

Any ideas as to why I am being hit with this after all these years of smooth sailing?  Has PayPal had an identity verification procedural restructuring?  Are these examples of new mandates being dictated by the U.S. Federal Government?

Thank you in advance for your insight.

[snowshoe]

Policies have changed:

All US financial institutions such as banks, credit card issues and 3rd party transaction processors such as PayPal are required by law to verify the identity of the person behind any and all Accounts into which money is collected.  If the transaction processor does not feel they have enough info on you they can request additional info.  Note, this info is driven more by government tax requirements more than anything else.  For years, people have made money using transaction processing services such as PayPal and have not reported any income from these sales on their tax records. Things have changed and PayPal is now required to provide info to the government concerning your account activity.

For example, individuals can be asked for SS Numbers or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) and Businesses are required to provide their EIN Numbers.

(As online Business owners we now have to deal with more paperwork, i.e., 1099's, etc.)  See this info:

https://cms.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/marketingweb?cmd=_render-content&content_ID=marketing_us/IRS6050W

[YonuhAdisi]

I have received two e-mails so far claiming to be from paypal saying my account has been suspended and I must click on a link in the e-mail to correct it. I clicked on the link and it appeared to go to paypal but when it began asking for my card number I closed the window. I just want to know if this was a legit e-mail from paypal and I really need to do this stuff or did I just avoid being scammed by the skin of my teeth.