Deepfake Fraud and KYC: 5 Identity Checks Beyond Face Matching

Deepfake Fraud and KYC: 5 Identity Checks Beyond Face Matching

A customer uploads an ID and takes a selfie. The name matches. The photo looks real. Nothing immediately looks suspicious.

That is becoming a harder decision to trust.

The Entrust 2026 Identity Fraud Report found that deepfake selfies increased 58% in 2025. Deepfakes also made up one in five biometric fraud attempts in its data. The report is based on more than 1 billion identity verifications across 195 countries and more than 30 industries. Entrust notes that its findings reflect its identity verification data and may not represent the wider market.

For financial services, insurance, law enforcement, and background screening teams, the lesson is simple. A convincing face should be treated as one identity signal, not the entire identity check.

The name, phone number, address, email, and available history should also make sense together.

Why Deepfakes Make KYC Identity Verification Harder

Deepfake fraud is not only about spotting a fake photo.

A fraudster may use a generated face with real personal information. A stolen identity may have a real address but a new phone number. A synthetic identity may combine real and fake information until the profile looks believable.

Human review alone may not catch it.

A 2025 iProov study tested 2,000 people in the United States and United Kingdom. Participants reviewed real and AI-generated images and videos and were told to look for deepfakes. Only 0.1% correctly identified every item shown to them.

That does not mean people fail every deepfake test. It shows why teams should not depend only on what a reviewer sees on screen.

Why Face Matching Alone Is Not Enough for KYC

A face match can tell you that two images appear to show the same person.
It cannot tell you whether the rest of the identity information belongs to that person.
A reviewer may need to ask a few more questions.

Does the stated address have a reasonable connection to the person? Does the phone number appear with the same identity? Do other available records support the name and contact information?

One mismatch does not prove fraud. Records can be old or incomplete. People move and change phone numbers.

Several details that do not line up may give the team a reason to check further.

The same issue appears with synthetic identity fraud. Fraudsters can combine real and fake information to create a profile that looks normal until several records are compared.

How Deepfake-Assisted Fraud Can Appear in Real Workflows

Deepfake-assisted fraud can show up differently depending on the type of review.

Financial services

A loan applicant passes the ID and selfie check. The phone works and the email looks normal. Another record does not show a clear connection between the applicant and the stated address. The lender may send the application for another identity check.

Insurance

A policyholder clears onboarding without raising concerns. Later, a claim review finds that the address and phone history do not match the customer information on file. The insurer may send the case for further review.

Law enforcement

An online subject uses a realistic profile image with a working phone number and real address. Investigators may review available contact history, prior addresses, and known associates before deciding which leads to follow.

Background screening

A submitted identity looks consistent at first. Permitted records show a different address history. The screening team may need more information before completing the review.

None of these mismatches proves fraud. They give the reviewer another reason to check the identity.

5 KYC Checks to Use Alongside Face Matching

These checks can help teams decide when a record looks consistent and when another review may be needed.

1. Compare the Main Identity Details

Check the name, phone number, address, email, and other information your process allows.

Look for records that support the same person. If several details point to different identities, the application may need another check.

2. Review Address and Contact History

Current information only shows part of the record.

Previous addresses and older contact information can provide more context. A person with little history is not automatically suspicious, but unexpected gaps may deserve attention.

3. Keep the Face Match as One Signal

A successful face match should not automatically clear the whole identity.

Biometric checks, contact information, identity records, and risk screening answer different questions. Teams can review them together without treating one result as proof of everything else.

4. Check Mismatches Before Making a Decision

Before escalating a mismatch, consider whether there is a reasonable explanation, such as a recent move, a changed phone number, or an outdated record.

Teams can request another document, check another permitted source, contact the customer through a known channel, or send the record for manual review.

5. Document the Verification Review

Document what was checked and what did not match.

Also record what the team did next. Clear records can help fraud and compliance teams review similar cases later.

How Searchbug Can Add Identity Data to a KYC Review

Searchbug tools can add identity and record context to support a broader review when an application or record needs a closer look.

Screen Identity and Risk Data Before Approval

Teams that need another layer of onboarding review can use Searchbug KYC/AML Screening to support identity and risk screening.

A team may use this type of check when an applicant reaches a higher-risk review stage or when internal policy calls for additional screening before approval.

The result may support further due diligence or manual review. It does not make the final KYC decision and does not guarantee compliance.

Check Whether Contact Records Support the Same Person

Searchbug People Search APIs provide structured U.S. contact data that can include names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails.

A reviewer could compare a submitted phone and address with available identity records. Consistent information may support the wider review, while conflicting information may justify another verification step.

Searchbug offers People Search API, Contact Info API, and Phone, Name, Address, Email API options for different coverage and workflow needs. Returned associations do not prove that a phone or address currently belongs to the person.

Review Broader Records When Risk Warrants More Context

A Searchbug Background Check can provide public, civil, criminal, property, business, and related records for permitted due diligence or investigative uses.

A broader record can help a team assess whether identity details connect across time or whether another inconsistency needs review.

Results require context and judgment and should not replace any legally required consumer reporting, employment screening, or eligibility process.

Deepfake KYC Checks Should Go Beyond the Face

Deepfakes make it harder to rely on appearance alone.

A selfie may look real and still be connected to identity information that does not make sense. Comparing the face with contact information, available history, and other permitted records gives reviewers more information before they make a decision.

A mismatch should not mean automatic rejection. A match should not mean automatic approval either.

The practical next step is to decide which identity signals your team checks today and what happens when those signals do not agree.

TL;DR

Deepfake selfies increased 58% in 2025 according to Entrust, while iProov research shows how difficult deepfakes can be for people to identify consistently.

Teams should treat a face match as one part of identity review. Check contact information, available history, and meaningful mismatches before making a decision.

Searchbug KYC/AML Screening, People Search APIs, and Background Check services can add identity and record context to support a broader review alongside existing verification processes.

Want to test additional identity signals in your existing verification workflow? Create a free Searchbug API Test Account with $10 in credits to test relevant tools with your workflow. Teams reviewing larger files or working without an API can also use Bulk Processing.