Proof of address
Updated on 16.01.26
6 minutes to read
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Overview
The proof of address check uses AI-powered analysis to validate a user's residential address by authenticating official documents such as utility bills, bank statements and government correspondence.
This check is designed to prevent fraud and meet compliance requirements by confirming that a user is associated with a legitimate physical address. By analyzing the submitted document alongside 900+ unique fraud signals that span across digital footprint, device intelligence, behavioral biometrics and IP reputation, SEON can quickly determine not only whether the address document is legitimate, but also the true intent of the user providing it.
Supported documents and file requirements
Supported document types: SEON supports a wide range of address documents, including but not limited to:
- Utility bills (gas, water, electricity)
- Bank statements
- Credit card statements
- Tax bills
- Government-issued letters
File requirements: The platform accepts JPEG, PNG and PDF file formats for document uploads. The maximum file size is 16 MB.
How it works
The proof of address verification process is a streamlined, user-friendly flow that confirms a user's residential address as part of the identity verification journey.
Document type selection: The user selects the type of address document they wish to upload (e.g., Utility Bill, Bank Statement).
Guided document capture: The SEON SDK provides a camera-guided interface to help the user capture a clear image of their proof of address document.
User intent analysis: The captured document is sent to SEON’s servers for analysis. In parallel, SEON’s fraud engine gathers hundreds of data points, including device intelligence, IP data and digital footprint information to analyze the context of the verification. The system validates the document's authenticity and cross-references the extracted name and address.
Unified verification results: A final result (Pass, Fail or Review) is returned with a detailed breakdown of all checks performed. This unified outcome, enriched with fraud scores and signals about user intent, is delivered via webhook and is available in SEON.
Verification checks
SEON performs a comprehensive set of checks to ensure the integrity and authenticity of every address document.
| Check | What it validates |
| Document authenticity | Verifies that the document is a genuine utility bill, bank statement or other official correspondence and not a forgery. |
| Name match | Confirms that the name on the proof of address document matches the name extracted from the user's government-issued ID. |
| Address match | Verifies that the address on the document matches the address provided by the user during the onboarding process. |
| Date check | Ensures the document is recent and not outdated (e.g., issued within the last 3-6 months), as per your configured compliance requirements. |
| Data extraction and logic | Utilizes OCR to extract all relevant data and checks for logical consistency within the document. |
| Forgery and tampering detection | Analyzes the document for signs of digital alteration, editing or other forms of tampering. |
Data extraction
As part of the verification process, SEON automatically extracts structured data from the proof of address document. This data can be used to automate compliance checks and enrich your fraud detection rules.
Extracted data includes:
- Full name
- Full residential address
- Document issue date
- Utility provider/bank name
Use cases
KYC/AML compliance: Fulfill regulatory requirements by verifying the residential address of new customers during onboarding.
High-risk account opening: Add a mandatory proof of address check for users from high-risk jurisdictions or those flagged by the fraud engine.
Address change verification: Securely confirm a user's new address before updating their account details to prevent account takeover fraud.
Financial services onboarding: Meet stringent compliance standards for opening bank accounts, crypto wallets or other financial products.
SDK integration
The proof of address verification is initiated and managed through SEON’s mobile and web SDKs. The SDKs provide the complete user interface for guiding users through the document capture process, ensuring high-quality images and a frictionless experience.
To start a verification, your application will initialize the SEON SDK and configure it for a proof of address session. The SDK handles the camera interface, user guidance and secure submission of images to SEON’s servers.
For detailed instructions on implementing the SDKs, please refer to the iOS, Android and Web SDK developer guides.