The Top 10  Most Difficult Countries for Identity Verification

The Top 10  Most Difficult Countries for Identity Verification

Download Report

    n-img-roi-cross

    Before You Go, Schedule Your Free Demo Today

    Valid Invalid number


    Note: Fields marked with an asterisk(*) are mandatory.

    n-exit-img-roi-cross

    Thank you for your demo request

    We appreciate your interest and look forward to discussing how our solution can meet your needs. Expect to hear from us shortly with scheduling details.

    Close

    us

    107.172.156.35

    KYC/AML Compliance – An Anti-fraud Mechanism for E-wallets

    kyc-aml

    As more and more countries had to enforce lockdowns because of the pandemic, remote working and dependence on online platforms became the new norm. This new manner of working, however, also led to a heightened risk of fraud in the financial services sector. Such frauds took multiple forms – identity thefts, account takeovers, money laundering, and more.

    With criminals becoming empowered through the remote setting, the monetary nature of e-wallets made them highly susceptible to cybercrimes. While the USD 6.6 trillion industry is set to revolutionize how we make payments in the future, its regulation became necessary for the prevention of fraudulent activities. Therefore, in the same way as other industries, e-wallet firms are also required to comply with the KYC and AML framework as stated by global regulatory authorities.

    The Emergence of E-Wallets 

    The growing customer acceptance of online platforms, development in the field of artificial intelligence, increasing demand for smartphones, the emergence of advanced technologies like 5G, and the growth of the digital payment industry are a few of the key factors behind the rapid emergence of e-wallets. 

    The COVID-19 pandemic also impacted the payment industry, accelerating the adoption of cashless transactions to avoid physical contact. 

    The following statistics represent the growth in the e-wallet sector:

    e-wallet

    Digital Wallets and Fraud Prevention

    The increased ease with which funds circulate through online channels is a double-edged sword. It has paved the way for bad actors – hackers, identity thieves, drug cartels, and even money launderers – to hide the source of their illegally obtained funds in plain sight. The United Nations revealed that the global amount of money laundered accounts for 2-5% of the GDP in a single year. According to the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), approximately £100 billion is laundered each year through the UK alone. Considering this, robust and constructive anti-money laundering measures are imperative for businesses worldwide.

    In the context of e-wallets, regulations regarding fraud prevention can be divided into two main groups:

    1. E-KYC

    Electronic KYC, abbreviated as e-KYC, refers to the remote verification of customer identities during the initial sign-up process. The process is implemented on an ongoing basis, triggered by events such as a customer performing large transactions or opening a new account.

    2. AML Screening

    AML compliance requires the background screening of customers against criminal watch-lists, Politically Exposed Person (PEP) lists, adverse media stories, and global sanctions. 

    Understanding E-KYC For E-wallets 

    The goal of an e-KYC process is to verify the true identity of customers using an e-wallet application. As a result, customer-related risks are evaluated and analyzed. This process not only ensures maximum security but also allows an e-wallet firm to avoid hefty fines and penalties due to KYC/AML non-compliance.

    The basic e-KYC process covers the following:

    • Identity Verification – to verify a customer’s Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
    • Identity document scanning – to verify and authenticate the information provided in the registration form
    • Liveness check of the customer – to weed out imposters

    During this process, an official identity document is verified to rule out the following:

    • Expired ID documents
    • Modified ID documents 
    • False or stolen documents
    • Invalid ID card formats

    E-wallet service providers also use biometric facial recognition to their advantage, adding an extra layer of security to the e-KYC process. With the help of liveness detection, the customer using an e-wallet is verified by analyzing their live presence. This involves the detection of facial expressions, eye movements, etc. to identify potential spoof attacks by criminals. 

    Risk-based Approach to AML for E-Wallets

    The FATF has laid out a risk-based AML/CFT framework which all the member states are required to implement. Under this regulation, e-wallet service providers are obligated to conduct a risk analysis of every customer to rule out potential criminal threats. In practice, AML compliance procedures of e-wallets should include the following measures: 

    1. Customer Due Diligence

    CDD checks are carried out to verify the identity details of the customers. This involves the verification and authentication of the customer’s full name, address, date of birth, etc. For customers assigned with a high-risk rating, EDD (Enhanced Due Diligence) measures need to be implemented. 

    2. Transaction Monitoring

    To identify suspicious activities that may be indicative of money laundering, e-wallet service providers should monitor customer transactions. In the case a suspicious transaction has been detected, the firm has to file a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) to notify the authorities. 

    3. Ongoing Screening

    E-wallet firms need to eliminate the risks of reputational and financial damage by performing ongoing customer screening. During this process, the e-wallet users are verified against global sanctions and criminal watch-lists. This process is necessary for the identification of red flags, such as:

    • Discrepancies in the customer identity verification process
    • Unusual transaction patterns 
    • Suspicious transactions by PEPs
    • Frequent international transfers following deposits being made into e-wallets
    • Multiple account registrations  

    The Value Proposition of KYC/AML for an E-wallet

    The replacement of hard cash as the preferred method of payment is not a regional phenomenon – it is a trend emerging on a global scale. More and more consumers are foregoing the use of paper-based cash and opting to pay through their smartwatches, contactless cards, or e-wallets. Here’s what the global picture looks like:

    m-wallet

    With e-wallets processing billions of payments worldwide, securing online transactions has become more critical than ever. With the help of KYC and AML monitoring solutions, all the involved parties can avoid becoming the victim of criminal players. Additionally, biometric facial recognition should be employed by e-wallet providers for real-time identity verification, fraud detection, and conformity to global KYC/AML compliance standards. 

    Want to learn more about how e-KYC works? Get in touch with our experts right away!

    Related Posts

    Blog

    KYC/AML Compliance for Startups in the Financial Sector – How Shufti Can Help

    As technology continues to transform the financial industry, the need for identity verification h...

    KYC/AML Compliance for Startups in the Financial Sector – How Shufti Can Help Explore More

    Blog

    5 Key Questions about Facial Recognition Answered by Experts

    Technology has definitely made life convenient but comes with a gazillion concerns from anyone wh...

    5 Key Questions about Facial Recognition Answered by Experts Explore More

    Blog

    Debunking the Top 7 Myths about Video KYC with CEO of Shufti

    Businesses were looking for more robust and remote ways of verifying the identities of customers ...

    Debunking the Top 7 Myths about Video KYC with CEO of Shufti Explore More

    Blog

    Regulatory Compliance | The Importance of Age Verification on Betting Sites

    Online betting sites and gambling platforms frequently face significant challenges in adhering to...

    Regulatory Compliance | The Importance of Age Verification on Betting Sites Explore More

    Blog

    Brazil to Launch CBDC: Its Impact on Financial Firms and How KYC/AML Can Help

    Where does the cash come from? The country’s central bank authorises the printing of paper ...

    Brazil to Launch CBDC: Its Impact on Financial Firms and How KYC/AML Can Help Explore More

    Blog

    5 reasons why passwords are no more safe – What’s next?

    Online platforms are using passwords to secure the privacy and data of their users – but ar...

    5 reasons why passwords are no more safe – What’s next? Explore More

    Blog

    Building Better Customer Experiences from the Inside Out

    ”I don’t really think that it’s possible to deliver an excellent customer experience without havi...

    Building Better Customer Experiences from the Inside Out Explore More

    Blog

    Integrated Compliance Management – Mitigating the Regulatory Risks

    Businesses operating in the financial sector often face organizational and compliance challenges....

    Integrated Compliance Management – Mitigating the Regulatory Risks Explore More

    Blog

    Video KYC Onboarding: Fintechs meeting KYC compliance with video identifications

    The Financial industry is introducing a digital revolution globally. The term Fintech corresponds...

    Video KYC Onboarding: Fintechs meeting KYC compliance with video identifications Explore More

    Blog

    Ensuring KYC/AML Compliance In Cryptocurrency Firms – The Role of Shufti

    With emerging technologies in the financial industry, cryptocurrency is picking up the pace, and ...

    Ensuring KYC/AML Compliance In Cryptocurrency Firms – The Role of Shufti Explore More

    Blog

    How Shufti Identity Verification User Experience Impacts Business Outcomes

    User experience (UX) isn’t only about design or even metric-driven decision making. It’s a busine...

    How Shufti Identity Verification User Experience Impacts Business Outcomes Explore More

    Blog, Identity & KYC

    Online Identity Verification – Why Shufti is Perfect for Digital Authentication

    In a short period of time, Shufti has managed to make a significant mark upon the end-to-end ...

    Online Identity Verification – Why Shufti is Perfect for Digital Authentication Explore More

    Blog

    January 2023 Recap: Major Events Worldwide and How AML Verification Solution Can Help

    Noncompliance with Know your Customer and Anti Money Laundering (KYC) regulations continue to pla...

    January 2023 Recap: Major Events Worldwide and How AML Verification Solution Can Help Explore More

    Blog, Online Marketplace

    KYC for customer on-boarding in Telecommunications Industry

    Identity Verification is quite necessary for Telecommunications Industry in today’s digital...

    KYC for customer on-boarding in Telecommunications Industry Explore More

    Blog

    12 Money Laundering Red Flags Finance Teams Must Watch in 2025

    The 2025 Threat Landscape Regulators levied US $4.6 billion in AML fines across 52 enforcement ac...

    12 Money Laundering Red Flags Finance Teams Must Watch in 2025 Explore More

    Blog

    e-IDV: Improving Client Onboarding for Banks and FinTech

    Individuals and business owners often face significant time constraints when visiting banks physi...

    e-IDV: Improving Client Onboarding for Banks and FinTech Explore More

    Artificial Intelligence, Blog

    How Augmented Intelligence is next stop in ID Verification Services?

    Augmented intelligence (AI), also referred to as intelligence augmentation (IA) and cognitive aug...

    How Augmented Intelligence is next stop in ID Verification Services? Explore More

    Blog

    Video KYC – Ultimate Solution for Financial Institutions

    With social distancing becoming the necessity during the pandemic, more and more companies began ...

    Video KYC – Ultimate Solution for Financial Institutions Explore More

    Blog

    Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Solution- Eradicating Money laundering and Securing Ride-Hailing Services

    Due to the coronavirus global pandemic, the ride-hailing sector continue to grapple. As per new e...

    Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Solution- Eradicating Money laundering and Securing Ride-Hailing Services Explore More

    Blog

    7 Ways to Protect Business and Remote Staff from Cybercriminals

    Businesses are facing ‘new normal’ as the workplace has shifted from offices to homes amid corona...

    7 Ways to Protect  Business and Remote Staff from Cybercriminals Explore More

    Blog

    Biometrics Bucking the Trend of KYP in Healthcare

    Over the last few years, biometric technology is deeply entrenched in various commercial marketpl...

    Biometrics Bucking the Trend of KYP in Healthcare Explore More

    Blog

    All You Need to Know About Facial Recognition

    Rapid digitisation over the past few years has led to the adoption of facial recognition for many...

    All You Need to Know About Facial Recognition Explore More

    Blog

    Enhancing Trust in eCommerce with AI-powered Identity Verification

    eCommerce in today’s world involves utilizing evolving technologies to ensure convenience for cus...

    Enhancing Trust in eCommerce with AI-powered Identity Verification Explore More

    Blog

    Augmented Intelligence – What 2019 have for AI systems?

    Admittedly, Artificial Intelligence or AI has gained a considerable amount of ill reputation from...

    Augmented Intelligence – What 2019 have for AI systems? Explore More

    Blog

    Document Authentication | Streamlining Onboarding, Compliance & Fraud Prevention

    Before the world experienced digitisation due to the advent of smartphones, fast-speed internet, ...

    Document Authentication | Streamlining Onboarding, Compliance & Fraud Prevention Explore More

    Blog, Identity & KYC

    Age Verification – Ultimate Online Protection for Minors

    The rapid increase in the use of the internet is raising some major concerns for parents regardin...

    Age Verification – Ultimate Online Protection for Minors Explore More

    Blog

    Establishing a KYC/AML Compliance Regime for the FinTech Sector

    Today, more than 60% of the financial institutions in the market consider Fintech startups to be ...

    Establishing a KYC/AML Compliance Regime for the FinTech Sector Explore More

    Blog

    Detecting & Preventing KYI Fraud | A Deep-Dive into 2023 Investment Scams

    Businesses need to bring on reliable partners and investors who can contribute to growth, provide...

    Detecting & Preventing KYI Fraud | A Deep-Dive into 2023 Investment Scams Explore More

    Blog

    Six Ways to Protect Your Business from Christmas Scams

    Christmas is around the corner and all of you must be very excited to decorate christmas trees, e...

    Six Ways to Protect Your Business from Christmas Scams Explore More

    Blog

    Fighting Deepfakes with Fool-Proofed Identity Verification Systems: How Shufti Can Help

    Undoubtedly, 21st century is the most innovative time period in human history. With every passing...

    Fighting Deepfakes with Fool-Proofed Identity Verification Systems: How Shufti Can Help Explore More

    Blog

    Mounting Cases of Money Laundering through Digital Currencies in 2021

    Even though cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin are increasing rapidly, yet the...

    Mounting Cases of Money Laundering through Digital Currencies in 2021 Explore More

    Blog

    Identity verification in social media – Lighting up the dark side

    Social media is a word every one of us can relate to. With every passing day, it is penetrating i...

    Identity verification in social media – Lighting up the dark side Explore More

    Blog

    AML Compliance – Addressing Financial Crime Challenges in the UAE’s Banking Sector

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is fast becoming the world’s most reputable financial hub, but the...

    AML Compliance – Addressing Financial Crime Challenges in the UAE’s Banking Sector Explore More

    Blog

    Understanding False Positives in AML Transaction Monitoring

    Financial institutions such as banks, neo-banks, insurance companies, investment companies, finte...

    Understanding False Positives in AML Transaction Monitoring Explore More

    Blog

    Surging Crimes in NFT Marketplaces – Setting New Security Standards Using Shufti’s AML Solution

    The emergence of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) has created new investment opportunities for business...

    Surging Crimes in NFT Marketplaces – Setting New Security Standards Using Shufti’s AML Solution Explore More

    Blog

    Top 5 Cryptocurrency Trends to Look Out for in 2023

    2022 has been one of the most turbulent years for the cryptocurrency sector. For starters, Bitcoi...

    Top 5 Cryptocurrency Trends to Look Out for in 2023 Explore More

    Blog

    Brazil’s Updated Regulatory AML Guidelines for 2023

    Money laundering, corruption, and drug trafficking are prevalent issues in Brazil, the world’s se...

    Brazil’s Updated Regulatory AML Guidelines for 2023 Explore More

    Blog

    AI-Powered OCR to replace data entry in 2020 – A detailed insight

    Living in the data-driven world, there is a huge demand for storing data from printed or handwrit...

    AI-Powered OCR to replace data entry in 2020 – A detailed insight Explore More

    Blog, Fraud Prevention

    8 Fraud Prevention Tips for a smooth business uptake in 2018

    The Need for Fraud Prevention As technology has evolved over the years, the way we do business ha...

    8 Fraud Prevention Tips for a smooth business uptake in 2018 Explore More

    Blog

    Securing Digital Landscape with Electronic Identity Verification Services in 2023

    With a surge in identity document forgery, the likelihood of onboarding a criminal has grown subs...

    Securing Digital Landscape with Electronic Identity Verification Services in 2023 Explore More

    Blog

    Healthcare is the New Target of Criminals – What’s the Solution?

    The healthcare sector has been facing many challenges due to coronavirus pandemic. Cybercrimes ha...

    Healthcare is the New Target of Criminals – What’s the Solution? Explore More

    Blog

    Liveness Detection | An Extra Layer of Protection Against Spoofing and Fraud

    The consumer demand for biometric and facial authentication technologies is rising, with the mark...

    Liveness Detection | An Extra Layer of Protection Against Spoofing and Fraud Explore More

    Blog

    Know Your Patient (KYP) – the next big thing in health care

    Its high time the hospital industry must think beyond providing just giving medical assistance to...

    Know Your Patient (KYP) – the next big thing in health care Explore More

    Blog

    Designing a Risk-free Customer Onboarding Flow for the Freelancing Industry

    Freelancing websites saw an increased demand during the pandemic, and the trends continued to ris...

    Designing a Risk-free Customer Onboarding Flow for the Freelancing Industry Explore More

    Blog, Fraud Prevention

    Face Verification Technology Grooving in the Education Sector

    We are now in a golden age of face recognition. The main reason for rapid adoption is recognition...

    Face Verification Technology Grooving in the Education Sector Explore More

    Blog, Online Marketplace

    Demand for KYC & ID Verification in Higher Education

    I remember a friend of mine, Jack, from high school he was one of the most non-serious people I k...

    Demand for KYC & ID Verification in Higher Education Explore More

    Blog

    Facial recognition technology grooving into cruise ships for ID verification

    No more boarding frustration, no more standing in the queues for hours… The travel industry is re...

    Facial recognition technology grooving into cruise ships for ID verification Explore More

    Blog

    FATF’s Travel Rule: A New Dawn of Regulations for Virtual Asset Services

    Here at the start of 2021, there is much uncertainty regarding the coronavirus situation, whether...

    FATF’s Travel Rule: A New Dawn of Regulations for Virtual Asset Services Explore More

    Blog, Online Marketplace

    Demand for KYC & ID Verification in Higher Education

    I remember a friend of mine, Jack, from high school he was one of the most non-serious people I k...

    Demand for KYC & ID Verification in Higher Education Explore More

    Blog

    A Basic Guide to Smurfing and the Role of AML in Combating It

    Scammers employ various strategies to conceal illegally acquired funds, and one increasingly prev...

    A Basic Guide to Smurfing and the Role of AML in Combating It Explore More

    Blog

    Blockchain and NFTs – Setting New Standards for Cybersecurity and Identity Management

    Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are an evolution over the emerging concept of cryptocurrencies. As fin...

    Blockchain and NFTs – Setting  New Standards for Cybersecurity and Identity Management Explore More

    Blog

    Facial Biometric Authentication for Online Dating Platforms – Building Trustworthy Relationships

    Online dating apps have altogether transformed the concept of socializing, and people are now int...

    Facial Biometric Authentication for Online Dating Platforms – Building Trustworthy Relationships Explore More

    Blog

    Assessing the Importance of Digital Identity Verification in On-Demand Services

    Dealing with the after-effects of the coronavirus pandemic, digital business platforms and e-comm...

    Assessing the Importance of Digital Identity Verification in On-Demand Services Explore More

    Blog

    The Role of Digital Identity in Business-Customer Relationship

    Dealing with any business online have you ever wondered where this relationship would go? We all ...

    The Role of Digital Identity in Business-Customer Relationship Explore More

    Blog

    5 AML Compliance Trends for 2023 – New Regulations and Technological Advancements

    From digital payments to new regulations on preventing fraud and FINRA’s guidelines on penalising...

    5 AML Compliance Trends for 2023 – New Regulations and Technological Advancements Explore More

    Blog

    Online Document Verification – The Role of Shufti’s Optical Character Recognition (OCR) in Eliminating Fraud

    Document verification is the most important stage when it comes to doing online business, getting...

    Online Document Verification – The Role of Shufti’s Optical Character Recognition (OCR) in Eliminating Fraud Explore More

    Blog

    De-Risking and Anti-Money Laundering Screening – How Shufti Can Help FIs

    Every firm providing financial services must stay put with the existing compliance and follow new...

    De-Risking and Anti-Money Laundering Screening – How Shufti Can Help FIs Explore More

    Blog

    Combatting Identity Theft with KYC Verification – A Risk-Based Approach in Online Shopping

    The proliferation of online stores has radically transformed how people shop and greatly affected...

    Combatting Identity Theft with KYC Verification – A Risk-Based Approach in Online Shopping Explore More

    Blog

    A Brief Overview of 2021 AML Trends

    Over the last decade, regulatory scrutiny on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance has remained ...

    A Brief Overview of 2021 AML Trends Explore More

    Blog

    Beyond the Blue Checkmark – Online Age Verification Solution to Secure Minors’ Identity

    As minors are going online and utilizing digital services as well as smart gadgets more frequentl...

    Beyond the Blue Checkmark – Online Age Verification Solution to Secure Minors’ Identity Explore More

    Blog, Financial Crime / AML

    South Korea want Crypto Exchanges to adopt Digital KYC and AML Compliance

    South Korea is soon going to adopt regulatory measures to bring in crypto exchanges under regulat...

    South Korea want Crypto Exchanges to adopt Digital KYC and AML Compliance Explore More

    Blog

    Fintech 2021: KYC/AML Bringing New Innovation to the Table

    2020 was all about surviving the pandemic, but it has also kickstarted a new wave of innovation. ...

    Fintech 2021: KYC/AML Bringing New Innovation to the Table Explore More

    Blog

    Deepfakes: AI Fraud Attacks Require Even Smarter AI Countermeasures. Now.

    Verifying identities with advanced biometrics was already a challenge—then along came AI-generate...

    Deepfakes: AI Fraud Attacks Require Even Smarter AI Countermeasures. Now. Explore More

    Blog

    Blockchain and cryptocurrency security Guide

    Online bitcoin business might have experienced a slump in recent months but still, it remains to ...

    Blockchain and cryptocurrency security Guide Explore More

    Blog

    Role of Enhanced Due Diligence in Combating Money Laundering

    Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) is an advanced and refined version of KYC due diligence process that...

    Role of Enhanced Due Diligence in Combating Money Laundering Explore More

    Blog

    Identity Proofing – 7 Reasons Why Businesses Need it Now!

    Modern-day cyberspace has effortlessly diminished the boundary between the real-life and digital ...

    Identity Proofing – 7 Reasons Why Businesses Need it Now! Explore More

    Blog

    AML Screening – Identifying and Overcoming Challenger Banks’ Weaknesses

    There are approximately 77 challenger banks in Europe alone, the best range amongst the other reg...

    AML Screening – Identifying and Overcoming Challenger Banks’ Weaknesses Explore More

    Blog

    Biometric Authentication – How Do Fraudsters Try to Bypass These Checks?

    Biometric authentication is one of the ideal ways of dealing with fraudsters. Unfortunately, crim...

    Biometric Authentication – How Do Fraudsters Try to Bypass These Checks? Explore More

    Blog

    AUSTRAC’s ML/TF Risk Assessment 2021 – Other Domestic Banks Report [Part 2]

    Australia is an important member of the Financial Action Task Force and plays a substantial role ...

    AUSTRAC’s ML/TF Risk Assessment 2021 – Other Domestic Banks Report [Part 2] Explore More

    Blog, Identity & KYC

    KYC/AML Compliance in light of FinTRAC

    Witnessing the updated AML/CTF regime; the guidelines by FinTRAC regarding ID verification have b...

    KYC/AML Compliance in light of FinTRAC Explore More

    Blog

    AML Compliance – Global Watchlists that Businesses Need to Consider

    Coordinated sanctions after the Russian invasion of Ukraine have made the headlines due to their ...

    AML Compliance – Global Watchlists that Businesses Need to Consider Explore More

    Blog

    The Expected No-Deal Brexit and AML/CFT Laws in the UK

    The current prime minister of the UK Mr. Boris Johnson made a statement that the UK should be rea...

    The Expected No-Deal Brexit and AML/CFT Laws in the UK Explore More

    Take the next steps to better security.

    Contact us

    Get in touch with our experts. We'll help you find the perfect solution for your compliance and security needs.

    Contact us

    Request demo

    Get free access to our platform and try our products today.

    Get started