Cleared Identity: A New Shield Against Fraud in Jamaica

In a world where digital transactions are becoming the norm, the threat of identity fraud looms larger than ever. For Jamaicans, this means being cautious about who they trust, especially in sectors like real estate, finance, and employment. Enter Cleared Identity, a groundbreaking platform designed to help businesses and individuals confirm exactly who they’re dealing with before sharing sensitive information or money.

A Personal Journey to Innovation

Desmond Campbell, the founder of Cleared Identity, had a wake-up call that sparked the idea for this innovative service. While searching for a property in 2022, he encountered a scammer posing as a legitimate realtor. This imposter requested Campbell’s ID and other personal information, only to later demand money for a viewing that never materialized. Although Campbell didn’t lose any cash, he realized the potential danger of having his sensitive information in the wrong hands. “How come there is no platform out there where a realtor is vetted?” he pondered, leading him to create Cleared.

Bridging a Critical Gap

With a background in chemical engineering and over a decade of experience in software engineering, Campbell recognized the urgent need for a secure, technology-driven approach to identity verification. However, building such a platform in Jamaica came with its own set of challenges. “We had to invent the wheel,” he explained, noting the absence of a local model to follow. This meant starting from scratch, which posed funding challenges as investors had no benchmarks to gauge the platform’s potential.

A Secure and Transparent Process

Cleared Identity is not just another verification service; it’s a comprehensive solution that prioritizes privacy and consent. Users can submit their IDs and complete verifications with confidence, knowing that their information is highly secured. “We do not share it with any unauthorized entity,” Campbell reassured.

The platform operates on a simple yet effective principle: no background check is conducted without the explicit approval of the individual involved. Users control who sees their verified data, ensuring that only vetted institutions gain access. This level of transparency is crucial in a landscape where trust is paramount.

Tackling Identity Fraud Head-On

Cleared employs biometric checks and official document validation to combat identity fraud. By preventing users from submitting altered IDs and verifying addresses through GPS confirmation, the platform significantly reduces the risk of deception. Employment history is independently verified by contacting employers directly, while financial claims are scrutinized using bank statements and fraud detection technology.

Currently, the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector is the primary user of Cleared’s services, especially during recruitment. Campbell envisions a future where Cleared becomes the standard verification platform across Jamaica’s public and private sectors, streamlining the verification process and eliminating the need for manual checks.

Looking Beyond Jamaica

The vision for Cleared Identity doesn’t stop at Jamaica’s shores. Campbell is eyeing expansion into markets with similar fraud risks, including Liberia, Guyana, Belize, and El Salvador. “We have a lot of work to do to get to that point,” he admits, but the potential for growth is immense.

As digital transactions continue to rise, the need for secure identity verification becomes increasingly critical. Cleared Identity is not just a service; it’s a movement towards safer transactions and a more trustworthy marketplace.

In a world where trust is hard to come by, how can we ensure that our personal information remains safe? Cleared Identity might just be the answer we’ve been looking for.