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

    34.225.138.57

    Identity Theft – One Fraud Multiple Facets

    Identity theft

    Identity theft is a global crime. All types of identities, including the financial, medical and business identities of common people and business executives are stolen and exploited to defraud businesses and institutions. 

    As per the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) 2019 report, 1.4 million identity theft fraud reports were processed. A total of $1.48 billion were lost in those frauds. The most common frauds that surfaced were imposter scams, credit card fraud and debt collection through stolen identity scams.  

    Symantec’s internet security threat report stated that account takeover fraud rose by 79% and new account fraud rose by 13% in 2018 as compared to 2017. 

    These fraud reports are raising unease among the business circles and they are very keen to find an ultimate solution to eliminate these frauds. One of the most common counter fraud techniques employed by businesses globally is real-time identity verification of the stakeholders of an entity. It provides a risk cover while enhancing the compliance and customer onboarding procedures of the company. 

    A 2018 survey of identity-theft-related crimes in the UK based banks revealed that banks are using enhanced due diligence tools (online identity verification, and AML compliance tools) to mitigate the risk of identity fraud with them.

    Industries targeted by identity thieves 

    Contrary to the common notion, all types of businesses are targeted by identity thieves. Whether it is a financial institution or a non-profit organization, all industries are the targets of identity-theft-related fraud. 

    Every business has a unique business model, but fraudsters do find a way to invade the protocols using a stolen identity. The following discussion will provide an insight into how a stolen or fake identity can take different facets to defraud several businesses. 

    Financial industry

    Key motive behind fraud is monetary gain. So, fraudsters commonly target financial institutions. And most common frauds conducted with a stolen identity are credit card fraud, account takeover fraud, money laundering, mortgage fraud, and wire transfer fraud, etc. 

    Insurance institutions, mortgage houses, banks, stock exchanges, investment companies, etc. are the common victims of these frauds. 

    A 2018 survey of Insurance Information Institute(III) of the USA revealed in its 2018 survey that 3 million identities were stolen in the USA alone and more than 50% of those identities were used to defraud businesses. 

    Fintech

    Fintech is growing at a rapid pace. Fintech startups raised more than $16.4 billion in VC/PE investments. The growth potential of fintech is huge, so is the risk involved in this industry. Technological solutions used to transform the traditional financial processes have left some loopholes for cybercriminals. 

    Common frauds in fintech using stolen identities are money laundering, payment frauds, illegal funds transfer, etc. 

    Online payment solutions, cryptocurrency exchanges, online mortgage, and rental service providers, etc are common victims of these frauds. 

    One instance of fraud in fintech using the fake identity is when inmates in Florida county jail laundered $8000 through bitcoin. The inmates bought fake identities and credit card credentials through the dark web and used them to buy bitcoins. Once the bitcoin was purchased they converted it into fiat and transferred it into mysterious accounts outside the jail. The jail authorities found about this crime when they investigated a certain pattern of fund transfer, from the accounts of inmates. 

    If the cryptocurrency exchange would have conducted identity verification before selling the bitcoin, the fraud could have been traced at the very first stage, because the criminals were using stolen identities and credit card credentials to make transactions. 

    Healthcare

    The healthcare industry is considered a pure industry, free of any fraud. Contrary to the common belief, cybercriminals are posing a threat towards the healthcare sector as well. They target patients, hospitals and other healthcare institutions, equally.

    Common fraud in the healthcare sector are getting free medical services and buying prescription drugs using a patient’s identity. These frauds affect the credibility of the healthcare institutions and their doctors. 

    1.3 million child identities are stolen every year and these identities are often used to defraud the hospitals. For example, a teenager in the USA was not allowed to donate blood on the basis that she was treated for HIV in the past. When investigated it was found that the identity of that girl was used to defraud a hospital in some other state to get an HIV treatment. The hospital did not verify it’s patient’s identity and gave a clean chit to a person with HIV. 

    In another instance, the woman’s identity was used to get free treatment and her medical credentials were manipulated. When the real patient went for heart surgery, doctors cross-checked her medical credentials and found that the data was manipulated. In case the medical credentials would not have been checked the woman might have lost her life. Because the major credentials of her height and age were changed, that is used by doctors to decide medication dose for a patient. 

    Such frauds are often conducted with the intention to get free services or prescription drugs but it can affect the credibility of a hospital.  

    Education sector

    Education is no more limited to brick and mortar schools and universities. Educational institutions are onboarding students online and are providing online courses. Other than the institutions, many online platforms are offering free as well as paid courses and material to the students. 

    Commonly the stolen identities are used to imitate a credible students to get free education services. Also, online educational institutions are defrauded to get access to free study material for selling it to other websites.

    In case a website is exploited to get a copy of content protected with copyrights, that website will be deemed responsible for the loss of the original owner of the content (books, research papers, etc). Because only a few credible sites are allowed to give access to the books and notes that have copyrights. 

    The website loses its credibility if the identity of a student enrolled in an online course is used by an identity thief to attend online courses. Educational institutions and online educational platforms also need to perform due diligence on their participants to mitigate the risk of serving an identity thief. 

    Travel/hospitality industry

    The travel and hospitality industry caters to a wide range of clientele, so their risk is high. The common frauds that occur in the travel and hospitality industry are, imitating a guest to get free services or travel free of cost. Also, the criminals at large use stolen identities to use the hotel as their hideout. 

    The travel industry is exploited by criminals for human trafficking, drug and money laundering. For instance, human traffickers use fake identities to fool the airport authorities to deliver underage children to other states for child labor. 

    The above-discussed industries are just a few examples of the risk that stolen identities pose towards several industries. Other common victims that have been highlighted in the news are the e-commerce industry, real estate industry, government institutions, etc. 

    How Identity verification is the savior of multiple industries?

    Frauds related to identity theft are the risk for several industries. One stolen identity can be used in multiple ways to defraud businesses. Real-time identity verification can identify an individual within a minute.

    Identity verification is a feasible and cost-effective solution to mitigate the risk that identity thieves pose towards a business. 

    Real-time identity verification not only provide businesses with a risk cover but also helps them in seamless KYC and AML compliance and improves their customer trust. Customers feel more comfortable and secure with companies that run due diligence on their clients without any long delays. Also, it increases the credibility of an organization and prevents any penalties due to non-compliance.

    Related Posts

    Blog

    The Top 6 Holiday Season Scams to Avoid in 2023

    As we move further into digitisation, our methods of giving gifts have changed drastically. In to...

    The Top 6 Holiday Season Scams to Avoid in 2023 Explore More

    Blog, Financial Crime / AML

    “Brexit” Greasing the Wheel of Money Laundering

    Brexit is in the global news for many years. The reason is that several countries have their stak...

    “Brexit” Greasing the Wheel of Money Laundering Explore More

    Blog, Online Marketplace

    What do NGOs have to gain from Identity Verification Services?

    Identity Verification services are quickly becoming the cornerstone of NGO-related activities acr...

    What do NGOs have to gain from Identity Verification Services? Explore More

    Blog

    Designing for the World: UX, Automation & Inclusivity with Lisa Kleinman

    About Lisa Kleinman Dr. Lisa Kleinman, Ph.D. is a UX leader, researcher and design strategist who...

    Designing for the World: UX, Automation & Inclusivity with Lisa Kleinman Explore More

    Blog

    How AI is Transforming the Banking Sector

    Artificial Intelligence has extensive applications across several domains: from banking to health...

    How AI is Transforming the Banking Sector Explore More

    Blog

    40 Surprising Facts and Statistics About Money Laundering [2021 Update]

    Combatting money laundering is one of the top-tier challenges when it comes to the regulatory reg...

    40 Surprising Facts and Statistics About Money Laundering [2021 Update] Explore More

    Blog

    NFTs, Art Market – What Investors Need to Know About ID Verification

    In recent years, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have gained global attraction from individuals as wel...

    NFTs, Art Market – What Investors Need to Know About ID Verification Explore More

    Blog

    Preventing Criminal Abuse of the Australian Crypto Market with Shufti’s AML Screening Services

    Cryptocurrencies have been around for a decade and investors have found a feasible option for inv...

    Preventing Criminal Abuse of the Australian Crypto Market with Shufti’s AML Screening Services Explore More

    Blog

    Anti-Money Laundering Compliance for Crypto Exchanges [2021 Update]

    Anti-Money Laundering compliance solutions are gaining popularity in all corners of the world. Un...

    Anti-Money Laundering Compliance for Crypto Exchanges [2021 Update] Explore More

    Blog

    Top 5 Reasons to Incorporate Identity Verification into Your Hiring Process

    From widespread layoffs to the urgency of hiring as soon as possible, the job market has drastica...

    Top 5 Reasons to Incorporate Identity Verification into Your Hiring Process Explore More

    Blog

    Address Verification: Types, Benefits, and Best Practices

    Improving customer service and combating fraud frequently requires swiftly gathering and confirmi...

    Address Verification: Types, Benefits, and Best Practices Explore More

    Blog

    Know Your Patient – Balancing Security, Customer Experience and Compliance in the Healthcare Sector

    As the healthcare industry continues to offer life-critical services while making efforts to impr...

    Know Your Patient – Balancing Security, Customer Experience and Compliance  in the Healthcare Sector Explore More

    Blog

    What is an OCR Screening and How Does it Work?

    In our digital environment, where automated technology has already taken over corporate processes...

    What is an OCR Screening and How Does it Work? Explore More

    Blog, Business Technology

    Business Verification – Foolproof Ways to Secure Happy Customers

    Creating a winning customer experience can make for a significant competitive advantage for busin...

    Business Verification – Foolproof Ways to Secure Happy Customers Explore More

    Blog

    Top 5 Industries that AI will Transform in 2021

    Artificial intelligence is becoming a comprehensive and encyclopedic term to describe any innovat...

    Top 5 Industries that AI will Transform in 2021 Explore More

    Blog

    Identity Verification Forecast: How Will KYC Evolve in 2023?

    As the world becomes more digital, scammers are honing their craft and employing trickier techniq...

    Identity Verification Forecast: How Will KYC Evolve in 2023? Explore More

    Blog, Identity & KYC

    User as Owner: Why KYC Software Needs to Respect Privacy Laws?

    User as Owner is a simplistic concept that stipulates that all the data of any user collected by ...

    User as Owner: Why KYC Software Needs to Respect Privacy Laws? Explore More

    Blog

    Warning Signs of ICO Scams and the Role of Identity Verification Service

    If you have heard of Bitcoins and cryptocurrencies then you must have heard of ICOs or Initial Co...

    Warning Signs of ICO Scams and the Role of Identity Verification Service Explore More

    Blog

    Online ID Verification – A Solution to Tax Refund Fraud

    An increase in identity theft and tax fraud have become a major concern these days. Criminals are...

    Online ID Verification – A Solution to Tax Refund Fraud Explore More

    Blog

    Leveling Up Identity Verification To Meet This Moment

    Companies around the world contend with two digital identity challenges that seem mutually exclus...

    Leveling Up Identity Verification To Meet This Moment Explore More

    Blog

    Biometric Facial Recognition – Combating Identity Fraud with Shufti’s IDV Solution

    Since knowledge-based authentication and passwords were first introduced, security systems in ban...

    Biometric Facial Recognition – Combating Identity Fraud with Shufti’s IDV Solution Explore More

    Blog

    Biometric Identification revolutionizing the world in 2020

    Every day we come face to face with new technology innovations that leave us awestruck. From the ...

    Biometric Identification revolutionizing the world in 2020 Explore More

    Blog

    AML Screening – Combating Money Laundering in Luxury Vehicle Dealings

    Financial criminals usually look for priceless items like art, antiquities, as well as luxury veh...

    AML Screening – Combating Money Laundering in Luxury Vehicle Dealings Explore More

    Blog

    The Crucial Role of Know Your Customer (KYC) in Gaming

    The gaming sector has grown exponentially since the first arcade games of the 70s. Surpassing mus...

    The Crucial Role of Know Your Customer (KYC) in Gaming Explore More

    Blog

    Blockchain Technology and KYC for Crypto Exchanges – How Shufti Can Help

    KYC compliance is the backbone of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) measures implemented by any fin...

    Blockchain Technology and KYC for Crypto Exchanges – How Shufti Can Help Explore More

    Blog

    Five Solutions to tackle business verification challenges

    Know Your Customer (KYC) is critical for verifying the clients before doing business with them, b...

    Five Solutions to tackle business verification challenges Explore More

    Blog

    2025 Fraud Watch: 5 Growing Threats to Education Providers and How to Beat Them

    Education institutions worldwide are under unprecedented attack from increasingly sophisticated f...

    2025 Fraud Watch: 5 Growing Threats to Education Providers and How to Beat Them Explore More

    Blog

    How the US Aims to Fight Financial Crimes and Global Corruption in 2022

    2022 is looking like the year of change in the USA when it comes to combating illicit financial c...

    How the US Aims to Fight Financial Crimes and Global Corruption in 2022 Explore More

    Blog

    5 Ways How AI Is Uprooting Recruitment Industry

    Artificial Intelligence is strengthening its position in many industries and the recruitment indu...

    5 Ways How AI Is Uprooting Recruitment Industry Explore More

    Blog, Identity & KYC

    Know Your Customer with Video Proof

    Know your Customer (KYC) verification with Shufti, which is becoming a recognised name in the...

    Know Your Customer with Video Proof Explore More

    Blog

    5 Key Regulatory Updates for the Banking Sector in 2021

    The pandemic disrupted operations in the banking sector and the criminal activities significantly...

    5 Key Regulatory Updates for the Banking Sector in 2021 Explore More

    Blog

    The Power of Robotic Process Automation in the Banking Industry

    Entering into the fourth industrial revolution, business processes are shifted to the digital sph...

    The Power of Robotic Process Automation in the Banking Industry Explore More

    Blog

    Combatting Fraud in the Automotive Industry

    Fraud is a growing concern for many industries and the automotive industry is no exception. In 20...

    Combatting Fraud in the Automotive Industry Explore More

    Blog

    Halloween and the Spooky Scams – How identity verification helps?

    Halloween is just around the corner and so do the scammers ready to exploit the opportunity. Whic...

    Halloween and the Spooky Scams – How identity verification helps? Explore More

    Blog

    High-Risk Transactions – How Can Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) Help?

    In today’s continuously evolving world, businesses should not only focus on the revenue they gene...

    High-Risk Transactions – How Can Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) Help? Explore More

    Blog

    Digital COVID Pass: Automated COVID Report Verification

    The worsening situation of the pandemic has forced authorities to impose restrictions on several ...

    Digital COVID Pass: Automated COVID Report Verification Explore More

    Blog, Fraud Prevention

    Internet of Things: B2B IoT Segments about to hit $300 Billion by 2020

    The Internet of Things is growing exponentially with respect to its usage and capabilities. A who...

    Internet of Things: B2B IoT Segments about to hit $300 Billion by 2020 Explore More

    Blog

    Anti-Money Laundering Screening – Enabling Financial Institutions to Handle Suspicious Activities

    Financial crime is becoming a global concern, yet it’s often tough to spot. That is why gov...

    Anti-Money Laundering Screening – Enabling Financial Institutions to Handle Suspicious Activities Explore More

    Blog, Identity & KYC

    Common Online Scams You Need to Know About

    The explosion of the internet and the world moving towards the fourth industrial revolution have ...

    Common Online Scams You Need to Know About Explore More

    Blog

    10 Frequently Asked Questions about Real-time Document Verification

    As we’re propelled deeper into digital transformation, techniques employed by scammers are ...

    10 Frequently Asked Questions about Real-time Document Verification Explore More

    Blog

    AML Screening – Solution for Luxury Goods Market to Fight Financial Crimes

    Luxury goods and high-valued assets are frequently but not always found at the integration stage ...

    AML Screening – Solution for Luxury Goods Market to Fight Financial Crimes Explore More

    Blog

    AI-based IDV Can Effectively Curb Unemployment Insurance Fraud

    Throughout the United States, an emerging scam has taken the nation by storm. Unemployment Insura...

    AI-based IDV Can Effectively Curb Unemployment Insurance Fraud Explore More

    Blog

    Customer Identification Programme (CIP) vs Know Your Customer (KYC) | What’s the Difference?

     Often, people confuse CIP and KYC and think both are the same. Customer Identification ...

    Customer Identification Programme (CIP) vs Know Your Customer (KYC) | What’s the Difference? Explore More

    Blog, Reg Tech

    EU’s 4th AML Directive Aims to make the Payment Ecosystem Crime Free

    On June 26, 2018, the European Union landed the fourth AML directive that is targeted at combatin...

    EU’s 4th AML Directive Aims to make the Payment Ecosystem Crime Free Explore More

    Blog

    Implementation of AML compliance – Challenges and fundamentals

    With the advancement in security controls, financial businesses are becoming fraud and stress-fre...

    Implementation of AML compliance – Challenges and fundamentals Explore More

    Blog

    Basel AML Index 2021 – Evaluating the Risk of Money Laundering Worldwide

     The threat for money laundering and terror financing continue to increase with global a...

    Basel AML Index 2021 – Evaluating the Risk of Money Laundering Worldwide Explore More

    Blog

    China’s AML Framework and Regulatory Highlights of 2022

    China has been fighting against money laundering and terrorism financing for a number of years. A...

    China’s AML Framework and Regulatory Highlights of 2022 Explore More

    Blog, Business Technology

    Why is Libra Cryptocurrency The Most Trending Thing Right Now?

    The universe of crypto revolves around an aversion to a central financial authority. The financia...

    Why is Libra Cryptocurrency The Most Trending Thing Right Now? Explore More

    Blog

    A Go-To Guide to Proof of Address Verification in 2024

    Customer identity verification is significant in today’s digital world – from buying produc...

    A Go-To Guide to Proof of Address Verification in 2024 Explore More

    Blog

    6 Ways Identity Verification Will Unlock Digital Transformation in Airlines

    Airlines were particularly negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the situation was fu...

    6 Ways Identity Verification Will Unlock Digital Transformation in Airlines Explore More

    Blog

    Brexit to Change Sanction and Money Laundering Regulations in 2021

    In 2016, the United Kingdom decided to part ways with the European Union (EU). After its preparat...

    Brexit to Change Sanction and Money Laundering Regulations in 2021 Explore More

    Blog, Business Technology, Financial Crime / AML, Identity & KYC, Online Marketplace

    Know Your Business: The Next Step in Identity Verification

    The complex regulatory environment and increased exposure to illegal activities indicate that bus...

    Know Your Business: The Next Step in Identity Verification 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

    Securing Banks and Curbing Financial Crimes with Shufti AML/KYC Solution

    Banks and other financial institutions constantly face the challenges of tackling financial crime...

    Securing Banks and Curbing Financial Crimes with Shufti AML/KYC Solution Explore More

    Blog

    KYC and AML Compliance – Addressing the Challenge of Money Laundering in Online Trading Platforms

    An online trading platform is a program where shareholders and traders deal through financial int...

    KYC and AML Compliance – Addressing the Challenge of Money Laundering in Online Trading Platforms Explore More

    Blog, Identity & KYC

    What are the Different Types and Solutions of ID Verification?

    Customer identification is not an option for some businesses, it’s a must. Ignoring due diligence...

    What are the Different Types and Solutions of ID Verification? Explore More

    Blog

    Understanding AML Sanction Lists: Key Global Regimes and their Importance

    Sanction lists are expanding regularly and sanctions imposed by different authorities do not alwa...

    Understanding AML Sanction Lists: Key Global Regimes and their Importance Explore More

    Blog

    AML Compliance – Putting an End to Money Laundering in Crypto Firms

    In the past few years, cryptocurrencies were widely adopted as an investment method by not only i...

    AML Compliance – Putting an End to Money Laundering in Crypto Firms Explore More

    Blog, Identity & KYC, Online Marketplace

    Importance of Identity Proofing for Facebook & Social Media

    For years, social media has been used as a tool for increased connectivity. Both businesses, as w...

    Importance of Identity Proofing for Facebook & Social Media Explore More

    Blog

    The Future Of the Financial Sector in the Gulf Region

    Digital transformation, that has undoubtedly disrupted numerous industries worldwide, has reached...

    The Future Of the Financial Sector in the Gulf Region Explore More

    Blog

    The Importance of KYC and AML Compliance in the APAC Region

    According to recent studies, over the past three years, more than ever, sanctions have been impos...

    The Importance of KYC and AML Compliance in the APAC Region Explore More

    Blog

    Fraud Detection, Compliance, and ID Verification Solution to Secure the Telecom Industry

    The telecommunication industry has played a crucial role in global digitization, innovation, and ...

    Fraud Detection, Compliance, and ID Verification Solution to Secure the Telecom Industry Explore More

    Blog

    Know Your Player – Preventing Identity Fraud in Sports Events

    The ongoing trend of globalizing sports activities since the last few decades has resulted in a l...

    Know Your Player – Preventing Identity Fraud in Sports Events Explore More

    Blog

    AML/CFT Regulations of Hong Kong: Paper Over Cracks?

    On September 15, 2021, Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission issued consultation conclusi...

    AML/CFT Regulations of Hong Kong: Paper Over Cracks? Explore More

    Blog

    Strategic KYC/AML Checks for the Financial Industry – Staying a Step Ahead of Fraudsters

    In recent times, the financial industry has witnessed significant technological changes which hav...

    Strategic KYC/AML Checks for the Financial Industry – Staying a Step Ahead of Fraudsters Explore More

    Blog, Identity & KYC, Online Marketplace

    How KYC for ICOs can Make Cryptocurrency Great Again?

    Give people a mode of money transaction free from banks. That was the thought behind cryptocurren...

    How KYC for ICOs can Make Cryptocurrency Great Again? Explore More

    Blog

    ID verification Services – Why Paper IDs are inferior to Digital Cards?

    ID verification services are at the forefront of making online marketplace transparent and ensuri...

    ID verification Services – Why Paper IDs are inferior to Digital Cards? Explore More

    Blog

    The FATF Travel Rule: What Business Owners Must Know

    The rapidly evolving landscape of technology and cryptocurrency has made the regulation of digita...

    The FATF Travel Rule: What Business Owners Must Know Explore More

    Blog

    Russian Sanctions Evasion – Is the Art Industry the Next Target for Money Laundering?

    As regulatory authorities are seizing the yachts and real estate belonging to Russian oligarchs, ...

    Russian Sanctions Evasion – Is the Art Industry the Next Target for Money Laundering? Explore More

    Blog, Online Marketplace

    Document Verification Services for a Secure Freelance Platform

    Picture this you have recently started a freelance website you have marketed it properly and foll...

    Document Verification Services for a Secure Freelance Platform Explore More

    Blog

    Indonesia’s First-ever Comprehensive Law on Data Privacy – the PDP Bill

    Being the largest economy in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is experiencing enormous growth in the dig...

    Indonesia’s First-ever Comprehensive Law on Data Privacy – the PDP Bill Explore More

    Blog

    5 Ways Banks Can Minimize Risks In Light of KYC/AML

    If you’re dealing with customers across borders, how can you safeguard your bank by ensuring that...

    5 Ways Banks Can Minimize Risks In Light of KYC/AML 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