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Verification Methods

AuthDuty offers six verification methods. Combine them to match the level of assurance your situation requires.

Subject-facing verification page with step checklist

Email Verification

Confirms the subject has access to the email address on file. The subject clicks a verification link sent to their email.

  • Best for: Low-risk confirmations, basic identity checks
  • Subject experience: Click a link in their inbox

Phone (SMS) Verification

Sends a one-time code via SMS to the subject's phone number. The subject enters the code on the verification page.

  • Best for: Verifying phone number ownership, medium-risk situations
  • Subject experience: Receive a text message, enter the 6-digit code
  • Requires: Subject's phone number when creating the case

Government ID Verification

The subject uploads a photo of a government-issued identity document (passport, driver's license, national ID). The document is verified for authenticity using Stripe Identity.

  • Best for: High-risk situations, compliance requirements, account recovery
  • Subject experience: Photograph or upload their ID document
  • Powered by: Stripe Identity (document fraud detection)

Selfie Verification

The subject takes a live selfie that's compared to the photo on their government ID. This is always paired with Government ID verification.

  • Best for: Maximum assurance, preventing impersonation
  • Subject experience: Take a live photo using their device's camera
  • Powered by: Stripe Identity (face matching)

Custom Question

Ask the subject a question that only the real person would know - for example, "What project did you present at last Tuesday's standup?" You provide the expected answer when creating the case, and it's manually reviewed against the subject's response.

  • Best for: Internal knowledge verification, adding context-specific checks
  • Subject experience: Type their answer in a text field
  • Requires: Question text and expected answer when creating the case

Manager Verification

The subject's manager receives an email asking them to confirm the subject's identity. This adds a human judgment layer to the verification process.

  • Best for: Situations where human judgment matters, high-value account changes
  • Manager experience: Click a link, confirm or deny the subject's identity
  • Requires: Manager's email address when creating the case

Combining Methods

You can select multiple methods per case. The subject completes them one at a time in order. Common combinations:

  • Email + SMS - Quick verification for routine helpdesk requests
  • Email + Government ID + Selfie - High-assurance verification for account recovery
  • Email + Custom Question + Manager - Multi-layer check combining technical and human verification