Interview with a Document Expert: Reference Data at the Core of Manual Identity Verification
In this interview, we spoke with Phil Hodge, Keesing’s newest document expert, with over 21 years of experience with document verification and fraud prevention. We discussed the importance of reference data and how solutions like Keesing DocumentChecker improve the accuracy and confidence of manual identity verification, even in a digitally connected world.
Thank you for joining us, Phil! Could you please introduce yourself and your experiences?
Hi, my name is Phil, I am the newest member of the Keesing team. I have over 21 years of experience in document authentication and fraud prevention, having held various positions within the UK Government document fraud roles. Most of my career has seen me serve as the senior document examiner and as an expert witness for document fraud-related matters at the UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
I have also been lucky enough to have provided training on security document and forgery detection to various UK Government departments, the Ministry of Defence, and the Police, as well as on an international level, working with border and local police from across the EU. I also worked as a short-term expert in Kosovo on two occasions.
Can you explain what reference data is and their role in manual identity verification?
People with varying levels of experience and training may not always know what to expect from a document being examined. Reference materials provide a benchmark for comparing the design, security features, and expected print quality of that document.
Even the most seasoned examiners sometimes encounter genuine documents with lower production quality or documents they have not experienced before. In such cases, having comparison material allows us to compare and confirm that the document is authentic and not fraudulent.
Reference material can also be a good source of keeping up to date with technological advancements. New security features are constantly being developed and not all governments are good at communicating their documents safeguards. It’s surprising what you can pick up when exploring reference material. In my new role, I have access to a wealth of information, and I have been surprised by how much I have discovered that I hadn’t previously come across during my examinations.
Secondly, when I serve as an expert witness, referencing comparison materials can significantly strengthen my testimony. By detailing the differences between the examined document and the reference material and explaining what I see versus what I expect to see, I can provide clear and credible evidence. This approach not only supports my findings but also enhances the overall reliability of my examination.
Sounds like reference data is very valuable. Can you talk about a time when you found the documents being presented happened to be forged by comparing them to reference data?
I once examined a driving licence from a country where each regional province issued its own licences, and multiple formats were valid within each province. The licence in question had poor production quality, with print characteristics that would often be deemed fraudulent, making it difficult to verify authenticity.
Using reference materials, I was able to compare the licence to known genuine examples from the same province issued around the same time. This comparison revealed several key characteristics that contained anomalies. For instance, the font used for the personal details was inconsistent with the standard fonts used in genuine licences. Additionally, the optically variable security feature was misaligned and whilst of the expected quality, it was not the correct design that is typically seen in authentic documents of this format.
These discrepancies, identified through careful comparison with reference material, allowed me to conclude that the licence was indeed counterfeit. Without the reference materials, it would have been challenging to make this decision with the same level of confidence.
That’s a fascinating example, Phil, it must be quite satisfying to catch these forged IDs. Imagine if you don’t have reliable data to compare with. Anyways, many businesses are moving towards digital solutions. How does reference data fit into that transition, and how do tools like Keesing DocumentChecker come into play?
It’s interesting because even automation works based on reference material, or a template to which it compares. As an old-school document examiner, I recognise automation works well for standard documents & it certainly speeds things up, but it can struggle with issues such as poor image quality, unfamiliar document formats, or speculative documents that do not fit into the standard templates. When this happens, there is a need to fall back to the human examiners. We can step in to analyze more complex cases where automation falls short.
This is where DocumentChecker comes in. It’s a comparison tool that provides access to the largest database of reference data from more than 235 countries and territories. It provides document examiners with up-to-date information on thousands of documents, including passports, visas, driver’s licenses, residence permits and even banknotes. I am part of a team of document experts working hard to make sure it is constantly updated by acquiring documents from trusted sources.
I can imagine that DocumentChecker puts more confidence in businesses and organisations in the verification or onboarding process.
Yes, I firmly believe that having reference material for document verification significantly enhances confidence in business organisations during the verification or onboarding process. With comprehensive reference material, businesses can verify documents more efficiently and accurately, reducing the risk of errors. This, in turn, builds trust with clients and partners, as they can rely on the verification process to be thorough and reliable.
Moreover, this reference material supports the seamless integration of automated systems with supporting manual checks. Automated systems can quickly process large volumes of documents, but manual verification will always be needed, to ensure accuracy. It provides a solid foundation that ensures both approaches are aligned and complements each other, leading to a more robust and efficient verification process overall. By investing in quality reference material such as the Keesing DocumentChecker, businesses can enhance their verification procedures, instil confidence in their operations, and ultimately create a more secure and trustworthy onboarding experience.
It has been fantastic hearing your thoughts, thank you for your insight!
My pleasure, happy to share.
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Click the link below to get a free demo account and see how it can enhance your manual identity verification. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at sales@keesingtechnologies.com or call us at +31207157825.