Government ID, Smart Cards, Identification and Authentication

Biometrics expected to lessen but not eliminate fraud

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Frank Gregory, a professor of European Security at Southampton University in Britain, acknowledges the increase in security that biometric identification at border security checkpoints entails, however he is careful to point that the use of fraudulent travel documents is likely to continue, according to a Reuters article.

Gregory goes on to point to an ongoing race between security technology and people such as spies wherein each side is trying to get ahead of the other.


The remarks from the professor come following the suspicion by Dubai officials that Israeli spies using forged documents were responsible for the killing of Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in a Dubai hotel in January.

Gregory suspects part of the blame is to be placed on less attention from border control agents in the wake of biometric checkpoints speeding up foot traffic at border crossings. Additionally, he argues that various corrupt countries make it easier for those looking to defraud a biometric system to get identification cards that will fool the system.

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Oracle has released a new version of Oracle Retail Point-of-Service that aims to increase security, operational efficiency and functionality in part by integrating biometrics.

Oracle partnered with DigitalPersonal to add integrated biometrics to the POS package. Users of the software will login using their fingerprint, which will replace the need for PINs or passwords. This feature intends to reduce fraud by eliminating the possibility of unauthorized employees using a manager ID or swipe card to access the POS and approve overrides.

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The Department of Motor Vehicles in Rhode Island is employing a facial recognition-based system in its license and identification card issuance programs in an effort to curb identity fraud, according to a Turn to 10 article.

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Internet fraud prevention and user authentication provider TeleSign and IP geolocation and online fraud detection company MaxMind have joined forces to create a multilayer fraud prevention service.

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Authentication and access provider DigitalPersona released the results of a survey that found more than half of retailers rely on passwords for point-of-sale system login in, even though they also have great concerns over passwords being shared and misused.

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The UK Border Agency has announced intentions to require applicants applying for six-month stays from outside the European Economic Area to use biometric residency permits starting at the end of February 2012, according to an HR Magazine article.

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Clarity Services, a provider of thin-file and underbanked consumer data reporting, has called on Experian to provide identity verification and fraud detection services for its subprime market product.

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