More property firms are expected to use the anti-fraud platform
Property sales and lettings company DAPS UK has partnered with SmartSearch, the all-in-one anti-money laundering, fraud prevention, and know your customer platform.
DAPS UK is the latest property company to sign up to the SmartSearch digital customer verification and screening system, which is now used by over 1,000 estate agents and property-related businesses.
Martin Cheek, managing director at SmartSearch, noted that there is an increasing need for businesses to check and verify certain customer information.
“We are anticipating further partnerships with businesses in the property sector, as, in addition to the importance of being fully compliant with regard to anti-money laundering, there is now the added pressure of checking for sanctioned companies and individuals following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” Cheek said.
Read more: The importance of electronic anti-money laundering checks.
Darren Anderson, managing director at DAPS UK, said that as the volume of work involved in conducting identity checks was becoming overwhelming, the company has decided to invest in electronic identity digital verification to simplify the process and obtain extra security.
“After researching different providers, we chose SmartSearch because it offers next generation identity verification and security, and gives peace of mind to our landlords,” Anderson said.
Aside from DAPS UK, companies in the property sector which already use the SmartSearch platform include JLL, Winkworth, and Alto.
The SmartSearch service is available on a single platform via a browser or API, with full sanction, politically exposed person, adverse media screening, and ongoing monitoring.
It states it is the only organisation with the ability to verify individuals and companies in the UK and internationally, and recently launched a new service that enables businesses to check clients for residency in Russia, Belarus, and other high-risk countries.
