Biometric Verification
Protect your business from stolen IDs and impersonation fraud with facial biometric verification that doesn’t compromise on experience.
See the person behind the screen
Verify that an identity document belongs to the person presenting it.
User takes a selfie or video
After capturing a photo of their ID for document verification, a user takes a photo or video of their face using their smartphone.
Onfido checks for fraud
Atlas™ AI generates a score based on the similarity of the face and the photo ID, and runs liveness checks to identify photos of screens, 2D and 3D masks, and image upload manipulation.
Make decisions based on results
View the results in the Onfido dashboard or API. Make decisions based on topline results of clear or consider, and access detailed breakdowns for further insights.
Enhance fraud protection
Biometric verification adds a layer of protection against stolen IDs and impersonation attacks to prevent fraud. Protect your business from edited photos, submissions of screens, printed images, or masks with AI-powered verification that returns results fast and is trained on a range of attack vectors.
Integrate a best-in-class capture experience
Whether customers are using a phone or a computer, we’ve got an experience to match. Maximize customer acquisition with Smart Capture that guides users through the capture process with real-time feedback. Onboarding on web? Reduce drop off with cross-device workflows that let customers complete checks on their mobile device, before directing them back to the original page to complete their journey.
Orchestrate workflows for global compliance
Navigate compliance and risk by using verifications that suit your regulatory requirements in any market. Easily configure biometric verification and layer additional checks, signals and trusted data sources in Onfido Studio.
Configure the biometric verification that’s right for you
Low-friction biometric verification
Users take a simple selfie. We guide them through the process with real-time feedback.
We analyze if the selfie matches their photo ID and run passive liveness checks to protect against digital spoofs like photos of photos, screens, or photocopies.
High security with a head turn
Users take a video selfie and turn their head. We guide them through the capture process in seconds.
Analysis is 100% automated with 95% of verifications returned in seconds. Motion is iBeta PAD Level 2 compliant and offers greater protection from sophisticated attack methods like display attacks and 2D/3D masks.
Spot previously seen applicants
Check if the same face has been used to create an account before, with no lift from you or your customers.
Known Faces checks for repeat faces within the past year — identifying bad actors trying to fraudulently create an account as well as users trying to create multiple accounts.
Using Onfido Motion, it’s very clear to our customers what is being asked of them when being verified. It enables them to set up an account in seconds and be on their way on one of our mopeds, while enabling us to keep operating costs low and run efficiently as an agile and high-growth business.
Rick van’t Hof, Product Owner, Check
Read Check case study
Known Faces enables our team to work smarter when it comes to fraud. Because Onfido provides a simple output without creating any more work for the customer, it’s now easier for our in-house teams to do their job at scale.
Ken Tabuki, Director of Product, Zipmex
Read Zipmex case studyExplore the Real Identity Platform
Biometric verification explained
Biometric verification is the process of identifying a person via their unique physiological characteristics, including fingerprints, face and voice. Biometric technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) to recognize and classify a person’s features, and ensure no one else is trying to bypass a system and gain access to online accounts.
The use of biometric technology has rapidly increased in the past years to verify identities for online access and detect illicit activity.
Three examples of biometrics include fingerprint recognition, facial verification and voice recognition.
- Fingerprints: We’re all familiar with unlocking our phones or logging into a bank account using our fingerprints. India’s biometrically-verifiable identification number system, known as Aadhaar, is an example of the power biometrics can have beyond just logins. The system — which ties a person’s biometrics to their Aadhaar number — was introduced in 2009. The ability to identify oneself with fingerprints now powers payment solutions such as Micro ATMs.
- Facial verification: Face scans are an even newer technology to unlock phones and gain access to digital services. Beyond unlocking devices, many businesses have adopted facial recognition technology like Onfido’s identity verification solutions to onboard new users or re-verify them when they return in high-risk moments. Facial recognition uses AI to scan features and determine if a real user is present (versus a mask or a digital attack by a fraudster), and can match a user’s biometrics to an identity document.
Voice recognition: Voice recognition technology uses unique markers in a person’s voice sample to check against a stored voice print and determine a match for verification.
Three main uses of biometrics include mobile access and authentication, airport security and online banking. The application of biometrics in banking and payments is something we’ll dive into more below.
- Mobile access and authentication: Until recently, a user would unlock their personal mobile device with a passcode. As technology evolved, devices started to store and recognize their owner’s fingerprint, and now, they can be unlocked with facial biometrics. The device initially takes and stores the user’s biometric sample, and the user is asked to present their fingerprint or face to authenticate or gain access each subsequent time.
- Airport security: Biometrics are also used to check and clear travelers at airport security checkpoints. This contactless method can automate identity verification for everything from fast-track trusted-traveler lanes to using facial recognition as a boarding pass.
Online banking: Biometrics also offer a fast and secure way to gain access to online banking. A banking app on a mobile device might be locked behind the same biometric technology used to lock and unlock the device itself. A user may have to scan their fingerprint or face again on an unlocked device, to open the online banking app. Banks are increasingly using biometrics to allow new customers to open an account, which is where they are used as an identity verification method for onboarding.
Ready to get started?
Our identity experts are available to talk through your requirements, answer questions, and set up a demo.
