A new electronic service to help combat identity fraud will be made available to banks and other financial institutions, Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy said today.The Internal Affairs Department has developed the data validation service as a way of
A new electronic service to help combat identity fraud will be made available to banks and other financial institutions, Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy said today.
The Internal Affairs Department has developed the data validation service as a way of proving identity.
"It has been trialled by other government agencies, and now Cabinet has agreed to let private sector organisations use it as a way of confirming identity and reducing costs," Mr Guy said.
"This service allows users to enter the information they hold into the data validation service website, which can immediately confirm whether it is consistent or not with other personal details held by the Department of Internal Affairs. This can include details on citizenship, passports and births, deaths and marriages databases and registers."
The service would help financial institutions comply with laws on money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
Mr Guy said the Government was mindful of privacy concerns and the records would not include sensitive information such as income, travel details or criminal records, and those using the service will need their customers' permission to make the checks.
"The data validation service will be available only to organisations which meet strict security, privacy and integrity criteria. The Government has also agreed that the Privacy Commissioner will monitor this service," Mr Guy said.
A bill will be introduced this year to make the service available to the private sector.
