Identity Verification Done Your Way

Identity verification is the process by which a company or institution ensures a person is who they say they are. This is important for tasks like onboarding (e.g., opening a bank account, applying for a loan or starting with a new healthcare provider). Identity verification is also critical for online sellers, particularly those with age-restricted products or high-value goods.

Online identity verification allows companies or institutions to check user identity using digital tools. These include data from credit bureaus and motor vehicle departments, identity documents (e.g., driver’s licenses), facial biometrics, out-of-wallet challenge questions (aka KBA), and two-factor or multifactor authentication. ID verification providers like Veratad automate these workflows, ensuring users can prove their identity with minimal hassle.

There is no single best way to verify identity. Every situation is different. When stakes are relatively low, simple checks can suffice. In business- or mission-critical situations, however, multiple layers of surety and security are required, leading to more robust ID assurance processes. Ultimately, the “best way to verify identity” is the way that fits with the need at hand.

Identity verification platforms, like Veratad, allow a company or institution’s systems to interface with identity data and service providers. This saves the organization the cost and hassle of building ID workflows and integrations from scratch, as well as having to manage multiple vendor relationships.

More and more identity verification vendors hit the market every year. Typically, however, established solutions like Veratad, Trulioo, Jumio and IDology are listed among the top identity verification software companies. Of these, Veratad, a privately held company, has the most experience in the space.

Every app, store or company makes its own identity verification processes. This is typically built in to an onboarding or purchase process. There is no single place to call to “verify your identity online.”

If you run into identity verification problems online, we recommend you contact the customer service line of the business or organization you’re dealing with.

In some cases, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires an individual’s identity be verified. This is sometimes indicated by a 5071c letter. IRS identity verification is not a service Veratad provides, and we cannot return messages requesting it. The IRS Identity and Tax Return Verification Service can be found here.

Unemployment identity verification is handled through each state’s unemployment office. The Department of Labor provides a list of services here.

Businesses can request a demo of Veratad’s identity verification platforms here. If you’re an individual who needs help verifying your identity, please contact the company you are or wish to be doing business with.