Verify the Identity of Your Candidate

Candidates with a criminal past often look for ways to manipulate the system, providing potential employers with fake names or social insurance numbers (SIN) to prevent them from uncovering records. Checking a candidate’s photo identification is critical to verifying their identity; however, falsified documents can be hard to identify, and can expose employers to risk.

Sterling Talent Solutions’ Identity Cross-Check is designed to verify the identity of an employment candidate while not acquiring financial information. Identity Cross-Check used the ID component of a credit bureau inquiry service to cross-reference against the information provided by a candidate.

The Identity Cross-Check reveals inconsistencies between information your candidate provides and information that the credit bureau has collected regarding the candidate. By comparing Identity Cross-Check details with your candidate’s consent forms, we can expose up to 30% more criminal records, as held by CPIC, by revealing unknown or “forgotten” aliases, incorrect information, and common name misspellings.

Identification Verification

Identification Verification is required before beginning a Canadian Criminal Record Check. The purpose is to ensure the candidate consenting to the check is who they claim to be. This simple step adds a layer of protection for both the individual giving their consent and for the requesting organization.

Sterling Talent Solutions can create an identification verification program that is highly accurate, while easy and painless for candidates.


Sterling Talent Solutions offers 3 ID Verification options:

Electronic ID Verification (eIV)

Most adults in Canada have experienced Electronic ID Verification at one time or another. Developed by Canada’s major credit bureaus, eIV is used by most major financial institutions, and even by Canada Post when you change your address. eIV is recognized under the “Know your Customer” regulations as a suitable countermeasure against fraud and money laundering.

Drawing from the TransUnion credit bureau and other third-party databases, eIV produces four ‘out-of-wallet’ questions relating to the candidate’s credit history – only the candidate will be able to accurately answer these questions and thus pass the process. Information is cross-referenced with personal details provided by the candidate (such as their date of birth and address history) to produce a confirmation that the person is who they claim to be.

If someone fails the process (most often this is because they have a limited credit history), they can be directed as a fallback to Sterling Talent Solutions’ 2nd and 3rd ID verification options.

Canada Post ID Verification

Candidates can have their identity verified anywhere in Canada by visiting their nearest participating Canada Post location.

  • Canada Post has over 5,000 locations nationwide.
  • Individuals can select the location closest to them.
  • ID verification will be completed at no cost to the individual.

And working with the Canada Post is fast and easy. After providing online consent, the candidate is instructed to print forms and visit a local Canada Post retail outlet for ID verification. Canada Post witnesses the consent, scans ID, and then sends it instantly to Sterling Talent Solutions. (Once we receive it, the Canada Post system permanently deletes the documents.)

Hiring Manager/Company Representative ID Verification

Having a candidate’s identification verified in person is always an option when a hiring manager is available to meet with the candidate. A hiring manager should make copies of the candidate’s ID and fax them.