Tinder scam victim launches IDfier service to protect against fakes
By ForGeeks Pernilla Sjöholm, one of the main characters in Netflix’s acclaimed documentary «Tinder Fraud» turned a personal tragedy into a technological solution. Together with computer scientist Süyeb Memeti, she launched IDfier — an identity verification platform designed to combat online fraud.
What is IDfier and how does it work?
IDfier offers a simple but reliable way to confirm identity between two users. First, a person scans a passport, driver’s license or ID card with a smartphone camera. If the document has an NFC chip, the system reads its data for enhanced verification. Next, the user performs a brief head movement to prove they are a live person and not a deepfake or video.
After the identity is confirmed, a request for identification can be sent to the other person. Each party decides what information they are willing to provide: name, age, phone number, and so on. All data is encrypted and stored on distributed servers, which ensures a high degree of security.
According to the developers, the system is 99.9 percent accurate in recognizing real users.
From scam victim to startup co-founder
Schoelm met scammer Simon Leviev through Tinder in 2018. He posed as the heir to a diamond empire, invited her on expensive trips, and then started asking for money, allegedly because of threats from «enemies». As a result, she lost tens of thousands of euros and found herself in debt.
The Netflix documentary made Pernilla’s story known around the world. She has since become a strong advocate for financial literacy and anti-fraud efforts. However, she says, awareness alone is not enough. Her goal — to give people a tool to helpprevent fraud before it happens.
Support, price and goals of IDfier
The platform is already available on the App Store and Google Play on a subscription basis: from $2 per month, with a family plan (up to 5 people) costing from $7 per month. The startup has received investment from Visive Invest and the Swedish state fund Almi Invest.
The goal of IDfier — to reduce fraud on a global scale. According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, annual losses from online fraud exceed $1 trillion, and about 60% of such cases involve fake identities.
Schoelm also intends to provide free access to young users, especially students. She says 95% of the high school students she spoke to admitted to regularly chatting with strangers online. She is also in favor of tougher EU legislation and a ban on creating fake identities.
Schöholm is also in favor of stricter EU legislation and a ban on creating fake identities.
«Now I’m coming back stronger»
On June 19, Pernilla will speak at the TNW Conference in Amsterdam — the city where she first met Leviev. Now, she says, she returns there no longer a victim, but a person with the tools to make a real difference.
Perll says she is no longer a victim, but a person with the tools to make a real difference.
Material A victim of «Tinder scammer» launches IDfier service to protect against fakes was first published on ITZine.ru.
