Mobile Verification Innovation: Sumsub Introduces NFC Authentication in Their Mobile SDK for Fraud Mitigation
In a significant stride towards enhancing security and streamlining identity verification processes, regulators like the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority are starting to recognize NFC-based verification as a compliant option in their Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.
A New Era of Identity Verification
NFC (Near Field Communication) verification is making its way into the mainstream, offering a secure, efficient, and user-friendly solution for identity checks. This technology is now available through native plugins on NFC-enabled devices, allowing for instant extraction of identity information from documents.
The one-month test of NFC-based ID verification began on January 28th, 2022, and businesses and users alike are reaping the benefits. NFC verification can be integrated into KYC flows in five simple steps: taking a photo of the ID document, requesting a scan, tapping the document against the phone, extracting data from the NFC chip and the photo of the ID document, and cross-validating the data.
Secure and Reliable Identity Verification for Businesses
For businesses, NFC technology enables more secure and reliable identity verification by reading encrypted data directly from biometric documents such as e-passports and electronic ID cards. This provides access to the original high-quality digital image stored on the NFC chip, which is free from distortions inherent in printed documents, improving facial recognition accuracy and reducing fraud risks during verification.
As a result, businesses benefit from reduced identity theft, enhanced fraud prevention, and improved risk scoring through a holistic assessment that includes NFC authentication combined with behavioral and device data.
Convenience and Speed for Users
For users, NFC verification offers convenience and speed. Users can simply tap their NFC-enabled device to an ID card to complete identity verification quickly, without lengthy manual input or scanning. The process is also more seamless and less intrusive compared to traditional methods, improving user experience and trust through secure, privacy-focused identity proofing.
NFC’s contactless nature enhances user safety and accessibility, especially in public venues, healthcare, and events where fast and hygienic interactions are valuable.
A Win-Win Solution
In summary, NFC-based identity verification provides:
| Benefits for Businesses | Benefits for Users | |-----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------| | Enhanced security and fraud reduction through high-quality chip data[1][4] | Fast, contactless, and convenient verification process[4] | | Increased accuracy and reliability of facial and document verification[1] | Less intrusive and more privacy-focused experience[1][3] | | Streamlined operational efficiency & digital onboarding workflows[2][3][4] | Improved trust and smoother access to services and venues[3][5] | | Compliance support for regulated and government services[3][4] | Safer identity proofing reducing vulnerabilities to forgery or theft[1][3] |
These combined advantages foster trust, protect user identities, reduce operational friction, and enable secure and scalable identity verification processes in both physical and digital contexts.
NFC verification is compatible with Mobile SDK on both iOS and Android platforms. The Sumsub demo app, which includes this new feature, is available for download in the AppStore and GooglePlay. Users can update their Mobile SDK for access to NFC verification and start experiencing the benefits of this innovative technology.
[1] Source: [Link to the source] [2] Source: [Link to the source] [3] Source: [Link to the source] [4] Source: [Link to the source] [5] Source: [Link to the source]
- The integration of NFC technology in the KYC (Know Your Customer) flows can significantly enhance business operations in finance and data-and-cloud-computing sectors, as it offers secure, reliable, and efficient identity verification methods, reducing identity theft, enhancing fraud prevention, and improving risk scoring through a holistic assessment.
- As NFC verification offers a fast, contactless, and convenient verification process, it not only helps businesses in the finance and business industries streamline their operational efficiency and digital onboarding workflows, but also provides users with a more seamless, less intrusive, and privacy-focused experience, improving trust and smoother access to services and venues.
