How AI is Reinventing and Streamlining Identity Document Verification 

As photo-editing and creation tools become more advanced and easier to use, it’s more and more difficult to identify fraudulent documents, like identity document (ID) cards. And with the latest deepfake technology, it’s easier than ever to fool traditional fraud detection systems.

Stopping savvy fraudsters requires taking a smarter approach to identity document verification. Enter artificial intelligence (AI).

Like many other processes and industries, AI has the power to reinvent and improve the way we verify identity documents in today’s digital-first world. Using AI technology to detect fraud eliminates pressure from team members, improves productivity by automating time-consuming tasks, and mitigates risks.

The Risks of Poor Identity Verification Methods

A few years ago, getting a fake ID document required finding a Photoshop-savvy criminal who could produce, print and mail a realistic-looking identification card. It was a time-consuming and expensive process, and the fakes were easily identified as fraudulent.

But today, hyperrealistic fake IDs and fraudulent driver’s licenses are easy to come by online and can be cheap to generate using advanced technology. Suddenly, just about anyone can purchase a fraudulent ID card as an instant download.

These digital fake identities can be used to impersonate legitimate users to attempt to gain access to accounts and critical information or may allow prohibited individuals to access information they shouldn’t. For example, teens can use these fraudulent documents to create accounts on adult-only sites.

Preventing account takeover fraud and identity theft requires robust digital verification methods. Better fraud detection ensures regulator compliance and protects customers and their sensitive data.

Technological Advancements in AI for Identity Document Verification

Advancements in AI are improving the accuracy, efficiency and security of the identity document verification process. Here are some of the leading technologies revolutionizing the space:

• Computer vision: Computer vision technology analyzes and verifies different visual elements featured on a document, such as watermarks, logos or security features. Advanced image processing algorithms can detect tampering, alterations and other inconsistencies that may point to a doctored image.

• Optical Character Recognition (OCR): OCR technology identifies text within documents, even when an image or scan is low-quality. It automatically extracts and compares the text-based data, improving validation speed and accuracy.

• Biometric verification: Facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, iris scanning and other biometric verification techniques provide a difficult-to-replicate security measure to supplement identity document verification with the simplicity of taking a selfie.

• Cross-document verification: Cross-document verification systems use AI to quickly and accurately compare data provided from multiple types of documents and sources to detect inconsistencies or discrepancies.

• Machine learning and adaptive feedback loops: AI-powered tools can use data and user feedback to analyze outcomes and improve their accuracy. This type of self-training ensures systems stay up-to-date without manual intervention, reduces false positives, and enhances performance.

Use Cases for AI-Based Identity Document Verification

AI-based ID document verification systems can be beneficial to any industry or vertical that requires end users and customers to prove their identity, including:

• Age-restricted content and activities: AI-based document verification prevents underage and unauthorized individuals from accessing age-restricted and adult-only content and materials both in person and online. Age verification technology can protect minors from accessing potentially harmful substances and ensures compliance with laws and regulations.

• Banks and financial institutions: Banks and financial institutions are some of the biggest targets for fraudsters. In addition to helping them comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations, AI-based identity document verification can stop account takeovers, prevent fraudulent account openings and provide more accurate verification for issuing loans or credit.

• Travel: AI-based tools make traveling smoother and safer for customers. Using AI verification tools to verify passports can automate check-ins at airports and hotels and streamline processes related to getting visa or entry approvals. AI tools can also accurately detect fake IDs and documents, ensuring authenticity and preventing criminals from traveling illegally.

• Insurance: AI in the insurance industry can streamline claims processing and minimize fraud. Faster identity document verification enables policyholders to get faster payouts for their legitimate claims while also quickly detecting claim errors or anomalies that might indicate fraud or identity theft.

Benefits of AI and Machine Learning in Identity Document Verification

When it comes to identity document verification, here are some of the top benefits of AI and machine learning tools:

Helps Drive Efficiency and Accuracy

It’s difficult to spot tampered documents and fake IDs without extensive practice and training. And with fraudsters getting better at creating falsified documents, even proper training may not be enough to stop them. Trying to manually verify documents is risky, time-consuming and expensive.

AI can pick out anomalies and inconsistencies that the human eye might miss, in just a few seconds. AI document authentication enables near-immediate approvals, streamlining internal workflows and providing a better end-user experience. Informed AI uses large data sets to make the verification process faster, more accurate and less biased.

And as an organization scales, AI helps maintain consistency and ensures compliance. Companies can process higher volumes of ID documents without sacrificing quality standards or compromising brand integrity.

Helps Drive More Accessible and Seamless Customer Experiences

For customers, the biggest benefit of AI-based identity document verification is faster processing and approval times. AI-powered systems are dramatically faster than manual methods, meaning customers and users spend less time waiting for access. Customers also can avoid the need to visit physical locations to undergo manual verification processes.

More robust and accurate identity document verification systems can also reduce document requirements and create an easier onboarding experience. AI can get a more accurate read on a customer’s identity with fewer documents, reducing the burden of proof and improving accessibility.

AI provides more opportunities for real-time feedback and personalization. Because AI can analyze documents and customer data in just a few seconds, it can quickly detect any errors or missing information, immediately prompting users to make necessary changes to prevent delays and frustrations.

Helps Maintain Compliance

For organizations that need to comply with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML), AI can provide enhanced verifications, screenings and reporting. AI-driven systems match identification documents against reliable databases, helping to perform customer due diligence according to KYC compliance standards.

Ongoing monitoring and watchlist screening can automatically match customer information with growing watchlists and databases as part of AML compliance procedures. Not only does this flag new accounts or high-risk users, it can also proactively check existing customer information for changes to risk status.

AI-powered identity document verification tools can also ensure any sensitive information collected from customers is kept securely and per privacy regulations, as well as properly documented and organized in case of an audit. And as regulations change, AI algorithms can continuously learn and adapt to new or updated standards.

Envisioning the Future: The Transformative Role of AI in Identity Document Verification Solutions

There is no denying that AI is impacting just about every industry — even crime. As fraudsters start to discover new ways to apply advanced technology to get around security measures, organizations need to be prepared to stay one step ahead. The only way to fight AI is with AI.

Jumio offers a suite of AI-powered, industry-leading verification technology to improve document verification processes. Jumio can perform a variety of fraud checks on IDs and other verification documents to ensure each submission is authentic and accurate.

To learn more, contact us today, and a product specialist will reach out to start a conversation about how Jumio can help you fight AI-driven fraud.