IDEAL Framework · Pillar I
IDENTIFY – Is everyone who they claim to be?
Verified identity is the foundation of trust. Before screening income, sharing documents, or signing a lease, both landlords and tenants must confirm who they are. Gen X and Millennials report the highest fraud cases, while seniors suffer the largest losses.
IDENTIFY replaces guesswork with verification. When the real human matches the digital file, every later step—DATA, ENGAGE, ASSESS, LEASE—becomes clearer and safer.
Step 1 · Identify
01 · Why Identity Verification Matters
Just like airports verify passengers and banks verify customers, rentals need a consistent identity process. Identity verification is not suspicion—it's protection for honest people.
- Fake landlord scams cost tenants $2,500–$5,000+.
- Tenant identity fraud can cost landlords $10,000–$40,000.
- Identity theft related to rentals continues to rise in Canada.
Fraudsters invest heavily in:
- High-quality fake IDs
- Spoofed phone numbers
- Disposable emails
- Scripts for mass-applications
IDENTIFY is the moment when “the paper name and the real human become one file.” After this, the system can speak clearly.
02 · What IDENTIFY Is – Four Layers of Verification
IDENTIFY is more than looking at an ID. It is a structured, layered check that protects both landlords and tenants from the most common fraud patterns.
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Layer 1: Government ID Check │ │ → Real ID, expiry, security features │ ├───────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Layer 2: Biometric Match │ │ → Live face matches ID photo │ ├───────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Layer 3: Cross-Database Verification │ │ → Address history, flags, data mismatch │ ├───────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Layer 4: Contact Verification │ │ → Active phone & email with confirmation │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The goal is not perfection, but clarity and risk reduction.
Layer 1 · ID Check
- Check name, DOB, expiry, security features
- Look for tampering or odd formatting
- Purpose: stop basic fake IDs
Layer 2 · Biometric Match
- Video call or live selfie—not static photos
- Purpose: prevent stolen ID use
Layer 3 · Cross-Verification
- Check lawful data sources (e.g., credit/address history)
- Purpose: detect synthetic identities
Layer 4 · Contact Verification
- Confirm phone/email with a verification code
- Purpose: ensure a solid, traceable contact
03 · 20 Real Patterns of Identity Fraud
The following represent common patterns seen in Canadian tribunals, police files, and media reports.
- Fake Landlord (Toronto): $2,500 deposit stolen → FIX: Verify ownership.
- Stolen ID Tenant (Vancouver): Sublet illegally → FIX: Biometric match.
- Deepfake Photo (Calgary): AI-generated → FIX: Liveness detection.
- Spoofed Phone (Montreal): Urgent deposit pressure → FIX: Written ID only.
- Forged Pay Stubs (Ottawa): Fake employer → FIX: Match ID + confirm employer.
- Friend as “Landlord” (Winnipeg): Fake reference → FIX: Check ownership.
- Multiple Aliases (Toronto): Same device, different names → FIX: Pattern alerts.
- Catfishing (Vancouver): Multiple victims → FIX: Verify owner or brokerage.
- Fake Tribunal Official (Hamilton): Urgent e-transfer → FIX: Verify official contact.
- Address Mismatch (Calgary): Ignored → FIX: Ask simple clarification.
- Expired ID (Halifax): Missed → FIX: Require current government ID.
- ID Theft Ring (Toronto): Repeated → FIX: Cross-landlord pattern detection.
- Urgent Story (Vancouver): No documents → FIX: Same steps for all applicants.
- Borrowed Documents (Montreal): Names didn’t match → FIX: Check everything matches ID.
- Fake Business License (Calgary): Illegal subletting → FIX: Verify registration.
- Evicted Tenant Reapplies (Winnipeg): New name → FIX: Check DOB + contacts.
- Different Person Moves In (Toronto): Identity swap → FIX: Verify at key handover.
- Mistaken Citizenship (Vancouver): Story mismatch → FIX: Clarify respectfully.
- Credit File Mix-Up (Ottawa): Wrong data → FIX: Allow evidence correction.
- Proxy Tenant (Calgary): Fake signer → FIX: Only sign with verified adult.
04 · How IDENTIFY Prevents These Scams
Fake IDs
- Check expiry, layout, and security features
- Confirm details match application + lease
Stolen IDs
- Require live face match
- Avoid static photo submissions
Forged Documents
- Check consistency across all documents
- Confirm employer or source where lawful
Proxy Applicants
- Verify ID at key handover
- Never release keys to unverified adults
05 · Technology Behind IDENTIFY
| Step | Manual Way | Platform Way |
|---|---|---|
| ID Collection | Photo copy | Secure upload + quality checks |
| Face Match | In person | Liveness + video comparison |
| History Check | Calls | Data APIs where lawful |
| Contact Verify | Trust the number | Verification codes |
| Time | 1–3 days | 5–10 minutes |
06 · Legal & Fairness
Necessary
- Collect only what is needed
Transparent
- Explain what is collected and why
Equal Treatment
- Same steps for all adults
07 · Who Benefits?
Landlords
- Lower fraud risk
Tenants
- Protection from scams
System
- Better trust + transparency
08 · Next Steps
IDENTIFY → DATA → ENGAGE → ASSESS → LEASE → TRUST
A simple habit — “we always verify identity before keys or money move” — becomes the foundation for every other IDEAL pillar.