Fake Identity Verification Requests
Scammers send fake "verify your identity" requests from banks, platforms, employers and marketplaces to collect ID photos, selfies and card details. How to spot them and verify safely.
"We need to verify your identity." It is a phrase we see from banks, social networks, marketplaces, employers and payment apps, often for good reasons. Scammers copy it to collect exactly what they need for identity fraud: ID photos, selfies, card numbers and codes.
Where fake verification requests appear
- Emails and texts from a "bank" or "platform" saying your account is limited until you verify.
- Marketplace chats where a "buyer" sends a link to "verify" so you can receive payment.
- Job offers asking for ID and selfies before an interview.
- Social media messages about verification badges.
- Crypto and investment platforms that ask for ID before letting you withdraw fake profits.
hxxps://marketplace-secure-payout[.]info and upload your ID for security.- A buyer sending a link for you to "receive" money.
- Card details and ID requested to get paid.
- A domain that is not the marketplace's.
How to verify safely
- Ignore links in the message.
- Open the official app or type the website address yourself.
- Check for any verification request in your account notifications.
- Complete genuine checks only there. See know your customer requests.
Receiving money never requires your card PIN, full card details or one-time codes.
If you submitted details
- Card details: call your bank to block the card.
- Login details: change the password and turn on two-step verification.
- ID and selfie: consider a credit freeze or fraud alert, and watch for new accounts. See leaked ID numbers.
- Report the scam and the account.
Got a verification request? Paste it into CyberWatch AI Scan for a free check.
Related: selfie and face verification scams. For more, read about protecting your identity in our complete guide.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a verification request is real?
Go to the service yourself, through its official app or website, and see whether the same request appears there. If it does not, the message was likely fake.
Why do scammers want my ID and selfie?
To open accounts in your name, pass verification on crypto or payment platforms, take over your accounts, or sell your identity.
Marketplace buyers ask me to 'verify' through a link to get paid. Is that normal?
No. This is a common scam against sellers. Buyers and marketplaces do not need you to verify through a link sent in chat.
Sources
- How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams, US Federal Trade Commission
- What To Know About Identity Theft, US Federal Trade Commission
- Buying From an Online Marketplace, US Federal Trade Commission
