Identity Check
Selfie liveness detection and face match for KYC identity verification. ISO-certified PAD Level 2 biometrics to prevent spoofing.
About service
An Identity Check is a biometric identity verification service for KYC onboarding.
It combines ISO-certified (PAD Level 2) selfie liveness detection with facial similarity (face match) to verify that a customer is the genuine person behind an identity. It compares a live selfie with the photo on an official ID document. It returns a liveness outcome and a facial similarity confidence score.
To protect your identity verification flow from spoofing, ComplyCube uses Presentation Attack Detection (PAD). This helps detect common liveness fraud vectors, including:
Printed mask attacks: Where masks with cut-outs are used to mimic real faces.
Printed photo attacks: Where fraudsters use printed photos.
Image replay attacks: Where injected images attempt to simulate liveness.
3D mask attacks: Where silicone or plastic masks are used to impersonate individuals.
By combining face match with real-time liveness detection, Identity Check helps reduce onboarding fraud. It’s commonly used for KYC identity verification, customer onboarding, transaction approvals, and more
If you need higher assurance with video challenges, use Enhanced Identity Check.
On a successful Identity Check, your customer’s facial biometrics will be automatically enrolled (if enabled on your plan). This helps prevent fraud related to multiple registrations under different identities and enables face-based authentication for future interactions.
Even though it is possible to run this check entirely through our API, we highly recommend that you run it through our Hosted Solution, Web SDK, or native Mobile SDKs. These SDKs guide your clients through the capture process, aiding them with completing the flow successfully with minimal friction and false-positive outcomes.
Analysis performed
An Identity Check runs layered biometric analysis to validate liveness, confirm facial similarity, and flag spoofing or tampering signals.
The diagram below outlines the key analysis categories.
Detailed verification checks
Face Analysis
Facial similarity: Compares the submitted selfie with the ID photo to confirm both belong to the same person. Returns a confidence score between 0–100%, where 100% indicates a perfect match and 0% indicates no match at all.
Banned faces analysis: Flags matches against prohibited or blacklisted face databases.
Previously enrolled face: Detects if the same face has already been registered using different customer details.
Authenticity Analysis
Spoofed image analysis: Indicates whether the images are manipulated, copied from the internet, or are known blacklisted images.
Liveness check: Confirms the customer is physically present and not a spoof attempt. This involves advanced biometric and anti-spoofing techniques, such as:
3D facial mapping
Skin texture and micro-expression analysis
Pixel-level tampering detection
Virtual camera detection
Mask and disguise recognition
Proprietary anti-spoofing techniques
Returns a confidence score between 0–100%, where 100% indicates a highly reliable live presence and 0% indicates a likely spoof attempt.
Integrity Analysis
Face detection: Ensures the expected number of faces are present in the image and that the image quality is sufficient for reliable analysis.
Check duration
An Identity Check takes an average of 3 seconds to complete.
Related checks
You’ll typically run an Identity Check alongside:
Document Check for document authenticity and ID data extraction.
AML Screening Check for sanctions, PEP, and adverse media screening.
Multi-Bureau Check for identity and address verification via authoritative sources.
Face Authentication Check for step-up and repeat authentication after enrolment.
Related topics
Use these when building end-to-end KYC journeys that include Identity Check:
Workflows to bundle Identity Check into a single customer journey.
Compliance Policies to apply rule-based decisions and evidence requirements.
Hosted Solution, Web SDK, and Mobile SDKs for guided selfie capture.