Fraud Reduction, Applications

Synonyms

Biometric fraud reduction; Duplicate detection; Fraud deterrence; Fraud mitigation

Definition

Fraud is conventionally defined as the deliberate perversion or withholding of veracity in order to induce another to surrender something of value. In the context of biometrics, the item of value is typically an identity or a privilege associated with an identity.

For the purposes of this entry, fraud reduction in a biometric application’s context refers to the use of biometric technology’s duplicate detection capabilities to deter, inhibit, and mitigate fraud. Duplicate detection refers to the discovery of multiple identities claimed by a single, given individual.

Introduction

For numerous decades, individuals have sought to misrepresent their identities for the sake of obtaining benefits and privileges to which they are not properly entitled. Such fraud can be costly – both financially and politically. For fiscal year 2007–2008, the United Kingdom’s Department for Work and Pensions...