SheerID uses Onfido for government ID verification and biometric verification when leveraging third-party fraud signals.
Biometric verification confirms that an identity document actually belongs to the person submitting it. A consumer uploads a photo of their ID, then takes a photo or video of their face and submits it. AI then generates a score based on the similarity of the face and the photo ID, and runs liveness checks to identify fraudulent images. This ID Check Loop is used as a fraud prevention backstop, meaning that in most instances the user must complete the loop to proceed to verification.
This article contains steps for how to test your SheerID programs that have integrated Onfido’s biometric scan services.
How to test programs using Onfido while in Test Mode
When testing in Test Mode, you can simulate the Onfido user experience by using the following testing credentials:
| If First Name equals | and Last Name equals | and biometrics is configured on your program, then |
| Inconclusive | idcheckloop | User will be prompted to complete the Onfido ID upload and selfie scan |
| Inconclusive | idcheckloopreject |
User will be prompted to complete the Onfido ID upload and selfie scan |
| Rejected | idcheckloopreject | User will be prompted to complete the Onfido ID upload and selfie scan |
| Rejected | idcheckloop | User will be prompted to complete the Onfido ID upload and selfie scan |
It's important to keep in mind that you can only test using the first names outlined above. A test containing SSO or UPLOAD as the first name will result in an error, while in Test Mode.
While testing in Test Mode, you will have the ability to test the Onfido steps, but will not be able to test the complete user flow until the program is live.
How to test programs using Onfido in Live Mode
When testing in Live Mode, you can simulate the end-to-end user experience by using the following testing credentials, keeping in mind that you will ned to add the appropriate testing email addresses to your Testing Allowlist.
| If First Name equals | and Last Name equals | and biometrics is configured on your program, then |
| SSO | IDCHECKLOOP |
User will be prompted to complete the Onfido ID upload and selfie scan, once completed the user should be routed to the SSO page.
Clicking the button will open the testing portal (using SAML), with clear instructions on the page on how to enter an acceptable username and password to simulate successful login. |
| UPLOAD | IDCHECKLOOP |
User will be prompted to complete the Onfido ID upload and selfie scan, once completed the user should be routed to the Document Upload page.
Uploading a document with a filename that starts with 'approve' will simulate a document review success. |
| EMAILLOOP | IDCHECKLOOP |
User will be prompted to complete the Onfido ID upload and selfie scan, once completed the user is told to check their email inbox and click on the button in the email.
Clicking the button simulates successful completion of this step. |
It is important to keep in mind that continued testing may result in a rejection from Onfido regardless of the testing triggers that are being used, as you may appear on the Onfido known faces report, especially if testing using different first and last names.
There are some additional reasons why a test (or live customer) verification may be denied by Onfido:
- If a user is rejected while verifying because they have used a nickname versus the name on their government ID, they may face future Onfido rejections as they could appear on Onfido's known faces report (specifically as a person that has used a different name previously).
- A user wearing a traditional hijab may fail the biometrics facial scan, in these instances they can go through manual review with SheerID to confirm their identity.
- A user that has a gender identity that is currently different from their government ID could fail the biometrics facial scan, this could also occur if they use a different name than their legal government name. In these instances they can go through manual review with SheerID to confirm their identity.
- Rejection may occur if consumers misenter their date of birth on the verification form, resulting in a mismatch with their government ID. In these instances they can go through manual review with SheerID to confirm their identity.
- Consumers that are using a nickname on the verification form that doesn't align with their government ID, excluding traditional nicknames like "Sam" for "Samuel". In these instances they can go through manual review with SheerID to confirm their identity.
Reviewing testing outcomes
To review test verifications, click on the Search tool in the left navigation found within MySheerID.
By default, the tool only searches live verifications; to find test mode verifications, add "testing:" as a prefix to the search term. Example: if you started a test verification with the email johndoe@gmail.com then you would search "testing:johndoe@gmail.com".
Testing details specific to Onfido tests can be found within the Verification Details drawer and will appear similar to results shown below – this will be a pass or fail note, direct access to Onfido results is not available at this time.
Reach out to SheerID Product Support with any questions.