Is blockchain the answer to reducing identity fraud?

The PRM Group have always been on the leading edge of Verification of Identity (VoI) technology. They were the first company in Australia to provide an online Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check service over ten years ago. Managing Director, Geoff Stockton is sought after as a consultant to superannuation funds and government departments who are dealing with increasing attacks. He says, ‘We are aware Russian hackers are targeting Australian superannuation funds and we are working with superannuation companies to provide them with a way of securing documents and properly identifying superfund owners.’

Stockton, a former police officer, has seen people go to extraordinary lengths to obtain a ‘clear’ Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check to gain employment or apply for a government grant. ‘We now use the Department of Home Affairs Document Verification Service (DVS) in our application process to ensure an applicant has legitimate government-issued documents, but it does not stop other people stealing genuine documents and then stealing another persons’ identity. It is all too easy for a person to sit behind a computer and open an Australian bank account using a copy of another persons’ driving license, passport or other personal documents.’

Innovative UK based technology company Byzgen may have an innovative solution to reducing identity fraud. Byzgen designs and builds private blockchain-based systems for the Defence and Security sectors. Their core blockchain system has been developed in partnership with the Swiss Technical Institute, EPFL, based in Lausanne, Switzerland. EPFL are world leaders in de-centralised and distributed systems research and development.

Byzgen was recently contracted to provide a bespoke private blockchain system to improve the UK Government’s Ministry of Defence security screening services. The result is a fully distributed and tamper-proof data management system that exceeds all current and planned personnel data-management legislative standards and requirements.

Byzgen’s CEO, Marcus Ralphs is meeting with The PRM Group later this month to finalise an international partnership with exciting potential for improving identity verification in Australia. Ralphs, a former member of the British Armed Forces, says, ‘This is a great opportunity to work closely with The PRM Group to deliver cutting-edge, proven technology services to benefit both government and corporate Australia, and of course to the PharmacyID network.’

The PRM Group has an established pharmacy network of who are trained to verify identity using the PharmacyID portal. ‘Pharmacies are trusted by the community to provide this service’, says Stockton. ‘Pharmacy staff are able to see the applicant in a face-to-face interview and ensure they are the person who is the rightful owner of the identity documents being used. It’s similar to going through Immigration at the Airport and having the Immigration officer check to see if the passport photo matches the person holding the passport. The simplicity of the PharmacyID digital system is that it’s fully auditable, from the start of the application to the end of the verification of identity process.’

It is ordinary Australians under threat of identity theft that will benefit the most from bringing Byzgen’s blockchain technology into the PharmacyID network. ‘We believe blockchain it is the next step to enhancing our already exceptional solution. We can already take an ICAO or Biometric photograph, and obtain a copy of a persons’ fingerprints digitally, in seconds. Adding a blockchain will deliver tamper proof and cyber resilient assured data governance that places the individual back in control of who actually has access to their data for as long as they see fit,’ says Stockton.

The PMG Groups, Head of Technical Sales, Neil Davies, is an ex-British Armed Services officer and sees many synergies between the two companies. Davies says, ‘Together we are talking with government and corporations. We honestly believe it raises the bar of identity verification significantly above what is currently in place across Australia.’