KYC Liveness Check Guide for Secure Customer Onboarding
Gift Arku
Marketing Associate
Imagine a world where creating a convincing fake identity is no longer a costly or complicated endeavour. Today, with generative AI tools, this unsettling reality is here. For as little as $15, anyone can generate a lifelike fake ID using services like OnlyFake. These AI-generated IDs mimic real-world conditions so well that they can fool even the sharpest eye—captured against backgrounds like carpets or bed sheets to appear entirely authentic.
While some might see these tools as playful experiments, fraudsters have weaponised them to wreak havoc on industries reliant on secure identity verification. AI-generated personas have already enabled scammers to bypass KYC checks on financial platforms and crypto exchanges, underscoring a critical vulnerability in outdated onboarding systems.
Consider this: in February 2023, fraudsters used AI-generated video personas to impersonate executives during a Zoom call in Hong Kong. Every participant except the target was fake, yet they convinced the victim to transfer $25 million.
The numbers are staggering. In 2023 alone, over $3 trillion in illicit funds moved through the global financial system, stemming from activities like money laundering, terrorist financing, and online scams. With generative AI making these attacks easier and more scalable, the need for robust identity verification has never been more urgent.
Enter biometric solutions, specifically liveness detection. This advanced technology ensures that the person presenting an ID is not only legitimate but also physically present and alive. By combining AI-driven analysis with real-time verification, liveness checks create a formidable barrier against fraud.
In this article, we’ll explore:
What KYC liveness checks are and why they matter.
The growing challenges posed by deepfakes, generative AI, and presentation attacks.
In a digital-first world, verifying that the person presenting their identity is not only genuine but also physically present has become a cornerstone of secure onboarding processes. This is where the KYC Liveness Check comes into play—a technology designed to confirm that the identity provided during verification belongs to a live, present individual and not a photo, video, or digital simulation.
The roots of this concept trace back to the Turing Test, created by British mathematician Alan Turing in 1950. His work explored whether machines could mimic human intelligence. Fast forward to today, and the concept of "liveness detection" builds on this foundation, using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to distinguish between real humans and synthetic or manipulated representations.
At its core, liveness detection analyses biometric features such as skin texture, pupil movement, and subtle facial expressions. Depending on the system, users might be asked to perform specific actions like blinking or smiling, adding an extra layer of assurance. The result? Fraudsters find it significantly harder to bypass these systems, and businesses can onboard customers with greater confidence.
Why Does This Matter for KYC?
KYC (Know Your Customer) is a regulatory requirement across industries such as banking, fintech, and e-commerce. It ensures businesses verify the identity of their customers to prevent fraudulent activities like identity theft, money laundering, and terrorist financing. Liveness checks are a critical component of this process, offering:
Fraud Prevention: By confirming the user’s presence, liveness checks mitigate risks associated with spoofing attacks and synthetic identities.
Regulatory Compliance: Industries bound by stringent KYC and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) regulations can leverage liveness checks to meet global standards.
Enhanced User Experience: Liveness checks offer a seamless and fast verification process, which translates to a better onboarding journey for legitimate customers.
With cybercrime expected to cost the world over $15 trillion by 2029, technologies like liveness detection are not just optional—they are essential.
How Does KYC Liveness Check Work?
Understanding how a liveness check works is crucial for appreciating its role in the broader KYC process. Here's a step-by-step breakdown:
1. Start the Identity Verification Process
The user is prompted to take a selfie or record a short video using their smartphone or computer camera. At this stage, the system begins analysing the user’s biometric data, such as facial features and expressions.
2. Real-Time Instructions
To confirm liveness, the user may be asked to perform specific actions. These could include:
Moving their head in a certain direction.
Blinking or smiling.
Following on-screen prompts, such as turning their head slightly.
3. AI and Machine Learning Analysis
Advanced AI algorithms analyse the captured biometric data, searching for telltale signs of life such as:
Subtle muscle movements around the eyes and mouth.
Natural changes in light and shadow on the skin.
Depth and texture of the face (critical for distinguishing between a live face and a flat image).
4. Verification in Real Time
The system processes the data instantaneously, providing immediate feedback. If the system detects anomalies—such as a static image or suspicious patterns—it flags the verification attempt for further review.
5. Secure Approval
Once the system confirms the user’s liveness and matches their biometric data with the ID provided, the onboarding process is complete. Any discrepancies trigger an escalation process, ensuring robust fraud prevention.
Smile ID’s SmartSelfie™ Technology exemplifies the pinnacle of liveness detection. It uses dynamic liveness challenges, real-time AI analysis, and enhanced fraud detection to catch over 90% of biometric fraud attempts before they impact businesses.
Overview of Deepfakes and Presentation Attacks
Imagine an attacker gaining access to a bank account or sensitive government service using an AI-generated face indistinguishable from a real person. With the rise of deepfake technology, this scenario is not only possible but increasingly common.
The Deepfake Epidemic
By 2025, it is estimated that over 8 million deepfake videos will be circulating online—a figure that doubles every six months. Fraudsters are leveraging this technology to bypass traditional identity verification systems. In some cases, even advanced biometric solutions from tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft have been deceived by sophisticated deepfakes. A 2023 study revealed:
These vulnerabilities highlight a critical need for more advanced detection systems tailored to evolving threats.
Examples in Africa
The African market is no stranger to such incidents. In our 2024 Digital Identity Fraud in Africa Report, we predicted the rise of deepfake in Africa and that prediction was actaulised as we observed a sevenfold increase in deepfake-related fraud from Q2 to Q4 of 2024.
Andy Hess, Senior ML Engineer at Smile ID, summarised the challenge:
The availability of free or low-cost AI tools has lowered the barriers for fraudsters, making it easier for them to create higher-quality biometric fraud attempts."
The Solution: Building AI-Resilient Systems
Smile ID’s Enhanced SmartSelfie™ Technology is purpose-built to combat such threats. By using dynamic liveness detection and continuously training AI models with real-world fraud examples, we offer a defence system capable of detecting even the most sophisticated attacks. Our liveness checks don’t just protect businesses; they safeguard the trust that forms the foundation of customer relationships.
Liveness Detection Technology
Liveness detection is at the core of modern biometric security systems, ensuring that the individual attempting verification is not only genuine but also physically present. Broadly, there are three types of liveness detection: passive, active, and dynamic. Each offers unique advantages and levels of security, catering to specific use cases.
1. Passive Liveness Detection
This method requires minimal user action. Typically, the system analyses a selfie to detect subtle signs of life, such as skin texture or natural facial movements.
Ease of Use: Ideal for environments where user experience is paramount, like quick customer onboarding.
Trade-off: While seamless, it may be less effective against sophisticated spoofing attempts such as high-quality masks or deepfake images.
2. Active Liveness Detection
Active liveness requires users to interact with the system, such as blinking, smiling, or turning their heads. These specific actions make it harder for fraudsters to use static images or pre-recorded videos.
Enhanced Security: A reliable option for scenarios where fraud prevention is critical.
Challenges: The user experience can be less intuitive, particularly for non-tech-savvy individuals.
3. Dynamic Liveness Detection
Dynamic liveness combines elements of both passive and active approaches. It randomises prompts, such as head movements or specific facial gestures, making it nearly impossible for fraudsters to predict the verification flow.
Advanced Security: This approach excels at thwarting sophisticated fraud attempts like deepfakes.
Wide Adoption: Its balance of usability and security makes it increasingly popular in high-risk industries, such as banking and digital payments.
Dynamic liveness detection goes beyond traditional methods by integrating AI and machine learning to adapt to emerging threats. Future innovations may include augmented reality (AR), where virtual cues guide users through an interactive verification process.
ISO Certified Enhanced SmartSelfie™
At Smile ID, we’ve taken liveness detection to new heights with ourEnhanced SmartSelfie™ Technology, a dynamic solution designed to provide robust security while maintaining user convenience. This innovation recently earned theISO/IEC 30107-3:2023 certification, marking a 0% facial fraud attack penetration—a testament to its unparalleled effectiveness.
Key Features of Enhanced SmartSelfie™:
Dynamic Randomised Liveness Challenges: Users respond to random prompts like specific head movements, making fraud attempts significantly harder.
Enhanced Selfie Quality Analysis: A scoring system ensures high-quality selfies, rejecting images that fail to meet security standards.
Real-Time UI Feedback: Instant feedback enhances user satisfaction by streamlining the verification process.
Strict Compliance Mode: Designed for high-security environments, this mode enforces rigorous standards for capturing user images.
Enhanced SmartSelfie™ helps you build trust with your customers by ensuring secure and compliant onboarding. You can also operate confidently, knowing you are equipped with the industry’s most advanced liveness detection technology.
See it in action 👇
Smile ID’s Biometric Suite and Integrated KYC Solutions
Smile ID offers a comprehensive suite of biometric and KYC solutions that work together to address the unique challenges of secure customer onboarding across Africa.
SmartSelfie Enrollment: Seamless onboarding using dynamic liveness detection.
SmartSelfie Authentication: Real-time biometric login for ongoing security.
SmartSelfie Compare: Verifies users by matching live selfies with stored biometrics.
Smile Secure: Monitors user accounts to detect duplicate signups.
Biometric KYC and Document Verification: Combines liveness checks with document validation and government database lookup for robust identity verification.
Document Verification Across Africa
Smile ID’s Document Verification solution supports over 8,500 ID types across 226 countries, ensuring inclusivity with at least three ID types in every African country. With a 99.8% matching accuracy, our technology is optimised for low-bandwidth environments, making it ideal for emerging markets.
Our access to trusted government databases spans Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania, and more. This ensures businesses can verify identities efficiently while maintaining compliance with regional regulations.
By integrating these solutions, Smile ID provides businesses with a unified approach to fraud prevention, onboarding efficiency, and customer trust.
Wrapping Up
Fraud in the digital economy is no longer a distant threat—it’s here, and it’s growing. From deepfakes to AI-driven presentation attacks, businesses in Africa and beyond face unprecedented challenges in secure customer onboarding. Technologies like dynamic liveness detection are not just innovations; they are necessities for any organisation looking to stay ahead of fraudsters.
Smile ID is at the forefront of this battle. With solutions like Enhanced SmartSelfie™ Technology and our Biometric Authentication Suite, we empower businesses to onboard customers confidently, ensuring security, compliance, and a seamless user experience.
We are equipped to help you level up your KYC/AML compliance stack. Our team is ready to understand your needs, answer questions, and set up your account.
