Biometric Encyclopedia

Biometric Verification

Biometric verification is the act of matching a unique biometric characteristic (i.e. a physical face) against a trusted government-issued identity document (such as a driver’s license). Biometric verification is typically done only once – when an individual is onboarding or enrolling for a service online for the first time, in order to assert their identity.

Often, biometric verification forms part of the regulatory processes that some organizations need to follow, such as Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance. These regulations require that organizations must take steps to verify the identity of people they are doing business with, while also assessing the risks involved in engaging with them.

Without the security that biometric verification provides during onboarding, organizations leave the door open for imposters and criminals to commit identity fraud and carry out financial malpractice or malicious attacks. One 2021 report found that 1 in 7 new account creations are fraudulent, while another found that identity theft in the US rose by 79 percent in 2021 versus 2020. A total of $24 billion was stolen that year.

Biometric verification is best done with face biometrics. This is because government-issued ID usually contains a photograph of the holder. An individual can therefore remotely scan their ID using a device that has a camera and then scan their face to verify that they are the holder of the ID. This enables them to remotely verify their identity without the hassle of going into a building for an in-person check or completing a video interview.

iProov’s Dynamic Liveness technology is unique in assuring that the individual is the right person (and not an imposter), a real person (and not a photograph or video), and that they are verifying right now (and not a digitally injected attack).

Examples of When You Need Biometric Verification

  • Opening an online bank account
  • Onboarding customers or citizens remotely 
  • Onboarding or registering for any digital service, such as age screening
  • Applying for government aid and services
  • Applying for a visa or traveling

Learn More About Biometric Verification

Article: Biometric Authentication vs Biometric Verification – What’s the Difference?