Fallback to Selfie Photo Comparison

Audience: Organizations

The short answer: When knowledge-based authentication (KBA) fails or can't generate questions, eligible signers can verify their identity using selfie photos instead. Learn more about selfie photo comparison or how to complete selfie verification.

Which Senders Can Enable This Feature

Eligible signers are offered selfie verification automatically when KBA fails and database checks show no fraud flags — no action needed on their part. Availability depends on your organization type:

Business Organizations

Available when account-level settings are properly configured.

Real Estate Organizations

Available when all of the following are met:

  • Your underwriter accepts selfie as a valid form of identity verification.
  • The setting is enabled in your account.
  • You've confirmed activation with your CSM or by emailing sales@proof.com.
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Selfie verification as a KBA fallback only applies to co-located signings — where all signers are physically together and share one device. If your transaction has remote co-signers, this fallback won't be offered to them; see Multiple-signer transactions overview for other verification options.

How Calls Are Routed

When a transaction uses selfie verification, it routes to In-House Notaries (IHNs) commissioned in biometrics-approved states first — Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Pennsylvania. If your organization has no IHNs in those states, the call won't be answered by your notaries.

If the meeting overflows to the Notarize Network, it will ring for On-Demand Notaries (ODNs) in Nevada or Pennsylvania.

Who Can See Verification Activity

During the meeting, the notary can view selfie activity on the identity timeline. After the meeting, anyone with access to the identity timeline in Transaction Details can see which verification method was used.

Summary Checklist

  • Signers: Offered selfie verification automatically when KBA fails and no fraud flags are present.
  • Business orgs: Available with the correct account-level settings enabled.
  • Real estate orgs: Available when the underwriter approves selfie verification, the setting is enabled, and activation is confirmed with your CSM or sales@proof.com.
  • Multi-signer transactions: Selfie fallback only applies to co-located signings sharing one device.
  • Notaries and senders can view which identity verification method was used in the identity timeline during and after the meeting.
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Still unsure? Contact Proof Support for help.

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