The Identity Fraud Epidemic: How a Rogue Technology is Robbing South Africa Blind
The once-blue skies of South Africa are now shrouded in a thick layer of identity fraud. A staggering 400% surge in impersonation fraud has left citizens feeling helpless and government officials scrambling to contain the crisis. The recent high-profile investigation into the citizenship of former Miss SA contestant Chidimma Adetshina has brought the social impact of falsified identity into the spotlight, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
As the two-pot pension system becomes increasingly popular, there’s a growing fear that fraudsters could rob consumers of large sums of money. But it’s not just pension funds that are at risk – identity fraud is a cancer that’s spreading throughout every aspect of South African society.
The Dirty Truth About Biometric Identity
Gur Geva, Founder and CEO of iiDENTIFii, has a dire warning for South Africans: "Stolen identity has a wide-ranging impact. It robs a person of access to services, the ability to vote, set up a bank account or rent/buy a property. Fake identities are used to steal funds or data from consumers, or from businesses themselves. From whatever angle you look at it, a valid biometric identity can prevent rising digital identity-based crimes in South Africa."
But what is biometric identity, and how can it stop identity fraud in its tracks? In short, biometric identity is a digital footprint that confirms an individual’s identity through unique physical characteristics, such as facial features. And when combined with 4D Liveness technology, it becomes almost impossible for fraudsters to fake.
The Battle for Inclusivity
In South Africa, the struggle for identity verification is a battle for inclusivity. Undocumented citizens are restricted in their ability to collect social grants or access healthcare, while those with valid IDs spend hours in queues due to inefficient and protracted identification processes.
But a valid digital identity is more than just a convenience – it’s a human right. Whether it’s applying for legal employment, registering at an address, or opening a bank account, a proven identity that can be authenticated is essential.
The Dark Side of Deepfakes
As we’ve seen in the case of Adetshina, impersonation fraud via physical documentation is possible, and ongoing. Even traditional verification methods such as fingerprints and OTPs are no longer enough. Cyber criminals can even use a person’s voice using deepfake technology to fake their identity.
"The technology used by cyber criminals is simply evolving too fast," warns Geva. "Out of all the biometrics available, face biometrics is the most effective across the African continent, because of its simplicity and the fact that consumers are familiar with it."
The War Against Identity Fraud
The war against identity fraud is a fight for the very fabric of South African society. As a proven technology provider in this space, iiDENTIFii is urging businesses and government departments to work together to prioritize the securing of individual identities and substantially reduce all forms of identity-based crimes.
Geva concludes: "The rise of identity theft is concerning, but it’s a challenge that can be solved with the right technology. We need to work together to protect the identities of South Africans and stop the epidemic of identity fraud in its tracks."
