Finmo uses Persona’s ID Verification service to help brokers verify borrower identities quickly and efficiently. Once the borrower completes the verification process, you can view the ID verification report directly in Finmo. This article provides a guide on how to read and interpret the key elements of the Persona ID Verification Report.
Accessing the ID Verification Report
Go to the borrower’s profile in Finmo.
Click on the “Documents” or “Fraud & Risk Assessment” section to view the report generated by Persona.
For more on Persona’s verification process, visit Persona’s ID Verification Guide.
Understanding the ID verification report
The Persona ID Verification Report includes essential details for confirming identity compliance and assessing risk. Here’s a breakdown of each section:
1. Verification Summary
Status: The report will indicate whether the ID verification was "Approved," "Failed," or remains "In Progress." An “Approved” result means the verification checks passed without any flags.
Date of Verification: Provides the timestamp of when the verification was completed.
2. Attributes
Full Name and Date of Birth: Confirms the borrower’s name and birthdate as per the ID.
Address: Shows the address provided in the ID.
Government ID Number: Displays the identification number, which could be a driver’s license number or passport number, depending on the ID used.
Issue and Expiry Dates: Lists when the ID was issued and its expiration date.
Issuing Authority: Shows the government or agency that issued the ID.
3. Verification Checks
Persona performs a series of checks to ensure the authenticity of the ID and the borrower’s identity. Common checks include:
Government ID Check: Confirms the ID’s validity using a database of trusted ID templates.
Failed Checks: If any issues occur, such as a “Compromised submission” or “Tampering” flag, these will be noted here.
Selfie Check: Persona will request a selfie for comparison against the ID photo.
Passed/Failed: Selfie verifications may pass or fail based on criteria like “Pose Position,” “Face Covering,” and “Liveness.” Failed checks may indicate issues with photo clarity or inconsistencies with the ID.
For more detailed descriptions of each check type, consult Persona’s ID Verification Check Types.
4. Required and Additional Checks
Required Checks: These include basic ID checks, such as colour integrity, portrait clarity, and electronic replica validation. A passed check means the ID met basic standards.
Additional Checks: These may include other aspects such as glare reduction, double-sided ID check, and PO box verification. These additional checks help increase the accuracy of the ID verification.
5. Sessions
Each session shows details about where and how the borrower accessed the verification portal.
IP Address and Threat Rating: This section lists the IP addresses used, network country, and any risk ratings (e.g., “Medium” or “High”) based on proxy use, location, or other risk factors.
Device Information: Displays the device type, operating system, and browser used during the verification.
How to Interpret Failed Checks
A failed verification check doesn’t necessarily mean fraud, but it signals areas that may need further review.
Here’s how to approach common failed checks:
Government ID Failure: If the ID verification fails, double-check the ID details with the borrower and confirm they used a valid, up-to-date document.
Selfie Verification Failure: If the selfie verification fails, it could be due to poor lighting, face coverings, or other issues. Ask the borrower to redo the selfie in a well-lit environment, ensuring their face is fully visible.-
Device Issues: If technical issues are suspected, borrowers should try completing the verification process on a different device to resolve potential compatibility or performance problems.
Next Steps if Verification Fails
If a report shows a "Failed" status:
Request Re-verification: In Finmo, re-request IDV to the borrower to complete a new verification.
Conduct Manual Review: If verification issues persist, conduct a manual review by collecting alternate documents or performing additional due diligence as per FINTRAC guidelines. This can be completed in the Finmo Fraud & Risk assessment section under ‘Risk Assessment Checks’.
Common reason ID verifications fail
The quality of the photo taken could be a reason for a verification fail.
Taking photos for online ID verification that get approved on the first try comes down to three main factors: lighting, focus, and avoiding glare.
Here are the exact steps to capture the perfect ID photo:
Turn off your flash: Camera flashes create bright white spots and glare that obscure text. Instead, place your ID on a flat, dark, non-reflective surface and shoot under bright, natural overhead light.
Eliminate shadows and glare: Hold your phone directly parallel to the ID (not at an angle). If you see a reflection, tilt your body or the ID slightly until the glare disappears.
Ensure sharp focus: Tap your phone screen on the text to lock the focus before snapping the picture. Blurry text is the #1 reason for automatic rejections.
Fill the frame: Position your ID inside the camera's crop marks or frame, leaving a small, even border. Make sure no fingers are covering the corners or the photo.
Capture all four corners: Every edge of your ID must be clearly visible against the background.
To pass online verification with a Canadian driver's license, you must prevent the high-security features from causing glare or distortion. Canadian licenses use highly reflective laminate coatings and holographic overlays that easily trigger automated AI rejections.
Follow these specific steps to photograph a Canadian license successfully:
1. Position for Reflective Security Overlays
Angle the light source: Place your license on a flat surface, but position yourself between the light source and the ID.
Watch the hologram: Ensure the laser-engraved ghost photos and holographic elements (like the provincial coats of arms) do not create a white-out glare over your primary details or main photo.
Avoid window glares: Do not shoot directly next to a window where direct sun can blow out the text.
2. Prepare the Correct Background
Use a matte, dark surface: Place the license on a dark blue, black, or dark grey table.
Do not use paper: Avoid white printer paper or paper towels, as they bounce light back and cause overexposure.
Contrast the edges: The edges of Canadian licenses (especially older versions) are pale. A dark background helps the AI scanner detect all four corners instantly.
3. Frame the Core Details
Keep it perfectly flat: Do not hold the license in your hand. Your fingers will block critical security patterns on the edge.
Align the barcode: If the platform asks for the back of the license, make sure the 2D barcode is completely clean, dry, and in sharp focus.
Clean the camera lens: Wipe your phone lens before shooting to remove oils that create a "halo" effect around the license text.
Persona uses advanced machine learning to scan your ID in real-time, meaning it will reject the image instantly if it detects any pixelation, cropped edges, or hidden security patterns. The platform requires a live capture through your phone's camera rather than a pre-taken photo upload.
Follow this checklist to clear Persona's automatic checks on the first try:
1. Master the Live Capture Framing
Wait for the green frame: Persona overlays a bounding box on your screen. Hold your phone completely still until the frame turns green, which signals the AI has detected all four corners.
Do not tilt your phone: Keep your phone completely parallel to the license. Angling the camera distorts the font shapes, causing Persona's Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to fail.
Leave a thin border: Position the license so it fills about 80% of the on-screen box. Leaving a slight dark border around the edges helps the AI confirm the document is not cropped.
2. Bypass Persona's Liveness & Glare Detection
Diffuse your room light: Persona actively checks for "flash glare" and high contrast. If you are under a bright ceiling light, take a step back so the light hits the license from an angle rather than directly from above.
Watch the secondary photo: Ensure the small, secondary ghost image on your Canadian license is completely visible and not washed out by reflections, as Persona cross-references both images to verify authenticity.
Keep your fingers off: Never hold the card. Persona's algorithm is trained to flag human fingers as a potential masking attempt, resulting in an immediate rejection.
3. Handle the Barcode Scan (Back of Card)
Let the camera autofocus: When prompted for the back of the card, hold the camera steady for 3 seconds to let it lock onto the 2D barcode.
Avoid glare on the stripe: The magnetic stripe and barcode on Canadian licenses are highly glossy. If the camera is struggling to read it, slightly tilt the top edge of your phone toward you to redirect the reflection away from the lens.
Additional Resources
To understand how to remain compliant while handling verification results, review the following FINTRAC resources:
FINTRAC Guidance on Identity Verification: KYC and ID Verification Guide
FINTRAC’s AML Compliance Program Requirements: AML Compliance Program
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