Top 10 SSN Verification Services for Secure Identity Checks

Nine digits. That’s all it takes for someone to open accounts, access credit, or claim benefits in another person’s name. And here’s what makes it interesting: while most businesses check SSNs, very few know if they’re using the right SSN verification service for their needs.

The difference between catching synthetic identities and letting them slip through often comes down to which verification service you choose. 

But with dozens of options available, finding the right one isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. Let’s look at what sets the best SSN verification services apart and how to choose one that actually protects your business.

What is SSN verification?

SSN verification cross-references user data provided to your business against the Social Security Association (SSA) database. The SSA also has other details like criminal history and political exposure about the person whose SSN is being verified. Verifying this data can help your business track your customer’s history and stay compliant with AML or CFT laws.

Importance of verifying SSN

Recently, with the change in AML and CFT rules, regulations have become more stringent and require businesses to be more vigilant. This means that your business could need to touch back on its identity verification standards. Through SSN verification, businesses can authenticate the following information:

• Avoid and detect fraud: SSN verification helps make sure that your customers are using legitimate ID documents. Financial institutions use SSN verification before extending credit and accepting investments or deposits from customers.
• Age verification: Verifying the SSN of the customers allows a business to know the age of its customers, which is especially important for financial institutions, casinos, and gaming businesses, that need to stop the entry of minors. Banks and other financial institutions may also verify their customers’ age when extending credit.
• Reducing risks: With the use of SSN verification, your business can check the history of the customers that it interacts with. Banks and financial institutions can use SSN verification to avoid bad debts or take the steps necessary for a Politically Exposed Person.

Now let’s get to the main part. Here are the top 10 SSN verification tools you can use.

Top 10 SSN Verification Services

1. Signzy SSN Verification Service

Signzy offers a versatile Social Security Number (SSN) Verification API that caters to businesses seeking both standalone verification and comprehensive compliance solutions. This flexibility allows organizations to integrate SSN verification directly into their existing systems or as part of Signzy’s broader Know Your Customer (KYC) and identity verification suite. 

This SSN verification service is designed to enhance compliance procedures, prevent fraud, and streamline customer onboarding in the U.S.

Key Features Of Signzy’s SSN Verification Service

• Standalone API Integration: Easily incorporate SSN verification into existing workflows for immediate validation.
• Comprehensive Compliance Suite: Option to utilize SSN verification within Signzy’s full KYC and identity verification platform.
• Fraud Prevention: Detects and prevents fraudulent activities by verifying SSN authenticity.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Flexible integration options	A comprehensive suite may be more than needed for simple verification tasks.
Enhances compliance and fraud prevention	Focused primarily on the U.S. market
Streamlines U.S. customer onboarding

2. Equifax Social Security Verification Services

Equifax provides a Social Security Number Verification service that enables businesses to instantly match an individual’s name, date of birth, and SSN directly with the Social Security Administration (SSA). This service is designed to reduce fraud and ensure compliance during the onboarding process. A unique aspect of Equifax’s offering is its ability to detect if an SSN is associated with a deceased individual, adding an extra layer of security.

Key Features of Equifax SSN Verification Service

• Direct SSA Matching: Verifies personal identifiers directly with SSA records.
• Deceased SSN Detection: Identifies if an SSN is associated with a deceased individual.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Provides real-time verification	Requires SSA-89 consent form
Enhances fraud prevention	This may involve additional compliance steps
Reduces reliance on intrusive authentication methods

3. LexisNexis Instant Verify

LexisNexis Instant Verify is an identity verification service that confirms personal information, including SSNs, to help businesses authenticate identities in real-time. This service utilizes extensive databases to provide immediate validation, reducing fraud and streamlining customer onboarding. A distinctive feature is its comprehensive data sources, which enhance the accuracy of verifications.

Key Features of LexisNexis’s SSN Verification Service

• Real-Time Verification – Provides immediate validation of personal information.
• Fraud Detection – Identifies discrepancies to prevent fraudulent activities.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Immediate verification results	Access may require specific integrations
Extensive data coverage	Potential for false positives
Enhances compliance efforts

4. Early Warning Verify Identity

Early Warning’s Verify Identity service assists financial institutions in preventing fraud by detecting false and synthetic identities before they enter the system. It provides a risk score and attributes and matches name, date of birth, and SSN in real-time. A unique aspect is its Identity Confidence Score, which assesses the likelihood that an applicant’s identity is genuine.

Key Features of Early Warning’s SSN Verification Service

• Identity Confidence Score: Assesses the likelihood that the applicant is presenting their true identity credentials.
• Synthetic Identity Detection: Flags potential synthetic identities for further review.
• Real-Time SSN Verification: Confirms if the provided SSN matches SSA records.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Enhances fraud detection capabilities	Primarily available to financial institutions
Provides comprehensive identity insights	It may require complex integration
Supports compliance with regulatory standards

5. Experian Social Search

Experian’s Social Search service assists businesses in verifying individuals’ identities by providing insights into their SSNs. This service helps in detecting potential fraud and ensuring the accuracy of customer information. A notable feature is its ability to provide associated address information for the SSN, offering deeper insights into an individual’s identity.

Key Features of Experian SSN Verification Service

• Address History: Provides associated address information for the SSN.
• Deceased Indicator: Alerts if the SSN belongs to a deceased individual.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Enhances identity verification processes	It may require access to Experian’s systems
Provides comprehensive SSN insights	Potential privacy considerations
Assists in fraud prevention

6. SentiLink eCBSV

SentiLink offers an Electronic Consent SSN Verification (eCBSV) service that validates name, date of birth, and SSN combinations directly with the SSA in real-time. This service is effective in reducing synthetic fraud and accelerating customer onboarding. A unique aspect is its pairing with SentiLink’s Synthetic Fraud Score, enhancing its effectiveness in discerning synthetic identities.

Key Features of SentiLink’s SSN Verification Service

• Synthetic Fraud Reduction: Helps identify and prevent synthetic identities.
• Streamlined Onboarding: Eliminates the need for paper SSA-89 forms, speeding up the process.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Provides authoritative SSN validation	Requires consumer consent
Accelerates the onboarding process	This may involve compliance with SSA regulations
Reduces risk of synthetic identity fraud

7. Cisive Social Security Verification

Cisive’s Social Security Verification service enhances candidate background checks by conducting deep SSN scans. This service captures address history and aliases and verifies if the SSN has been associated with the candidate in consumer transactions. A unique feature is its comprehensive SSN trace, which provides detailed address and alias history, building a complete background profile.

Key Features of Cisive’s SSN Verification Service

• Identity Association Check: Verifies if the SSN is linked to the candidate.
• Background Investigation Tool: Builds a complete profile for thorough background checks.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
High accuracy rate (99.9994%) in background checks	The verification process can take longer than competitors
Extensive data matching, beyond basic SSN validation	Not ideal for real-time or high-volume identity verification
Well-suited for regulated industries	User reports of occasional verification challenges

8. Sumsub SSN Verification

Sumsub integrates SSN verification into its full-stack KYC compliance solution. Instead of offering SSN checks as a standalone product, Sumsub combines them with identity verification, AML screening, and address confirmation to provide a seamless onboarding experience for businesses handling regulatory compliance.

Key Features of Sumsub’s SSN Verification Service

• SSN Matching: Confirms the validity of SSNs within regulatory frameworks.
• Fraud Detection: AI-driven analysis to detect synthetic identities.
• Multi-Layered Verification: SSN checks are part of a broader KYC process.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Integrated with AML, identity verification, and compliance tools	Not a standalone SSN verification tool
Advanced fraud detection to flag synthetic identities	Requires API integration for large-scale use
Designed for seamless onboarding compliance	Pricing may be higher than basic SSN checks

9. Social Security Administration (SSA) SSN Verification

SSA’s Social Security Number Verification Service (SSNVS) is a government-run tool designed for employers to validate employee SSNs for wage reporting accuracy. While it is free and directly tied to SSA records, it is not intended for real-time or customer identity verification at scale. 

Businesses that need instant results for onboarding customers will likely find SSA’s solution inefficient due to processing limitations and its lack of fraud detection capabilities.

Key Features of SSA’s SSN Verification Service

• Direct SSA Data Matching: Ensures SSNs align with SSA records.
• Free for Registered Employers: No cost for businesses that meet SSA requirements.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Free for registered employers	Limited to employee wage reporting; not for customer verification
Bulk SSN verification capabilities	No real-time verification; results take up to one business day
Direct government data source	No fraud prevention or risk assessment tools

10. Veriff

Veriff’s SSN verification service helps businesses confirm user identities with speed and accuracy. Cross-referencing SSNs with trusted databases reduces fraud risks and ensures regulatory compliance. The service integrates seamlessly via API, making it ideal for fintech, financial services, and other regulated industries.

Key Features of Veriff’s SSN Verification Service

• Automated SSN Data Matching: Instantly verifies SSNs against official records.
• Fraud Prevention: Detects inconsistencies and minimizes identity fraud risks.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Fast, automated SSN verification	Requires API integration
Strengthens fraud prevention	Pricing may not suit smaller businesses
Enhances compliance for regulated industries	Additional verification is needed for flagged cases

Getting Started with SSN Verification Services

Choosing the right SSN verification service depends on your business needs. If you require a standalone API for quick SSN verification, Signzy stands out with its flexible approach. 

Unlike most services, Signzy allows businesses to integrate SSN verification as an independent API or as part of a full-fledged KYC and compliance suite, giving you more control over how deeply you integrate identity verification into your workflow. 

Whether you need real-time customer onboarding, fraud prevention, or regulatory compliance, their solution scales accordingly.