Screening Preferences

To improve the accuracy of our PEP & Sanctions and Adverse Media service, we have included filter options in the Verify Portal. These filters enable admin users to customise and manage their PEP and Sanctions settings based on their business requirements for their Verify Portal account. Users can now specify which filters to apply for PEP, Sanction, and Adverse Media checks.

These filters include:

1. Date of birth filters

Purpose: To narrow down potential matches by comparing the date of birth provided with the dates of birth listed in multiple reliable resources for PEPs.

Function: The Verify system cross-references the date of birth provided by the user against the multiple reliable database of PEPs. This ensures that the person being checked has the same or a very similar date of birth as a listed PEP.

Here is how the date of birth filters work, including examples for each scenario:

1.1 Include all results:

This filter will return all potential matches from the database, even if the date of birth is not provided or does not match the one being checked.

Example	Result return
If you are checking John Snow born on 1st January 1980, and the database has multiple John Snow with various birth dates or no birth dates at all, all these entries will be included in your results.	John Snow - 01/01/1980 John Snow - 07/05/1980 John Snow - 01/01/1981 John Snow - (not available)

1.2 Exclude if the date of birth unknown:

This filter excludes results where the date of birth is not available from reliable sources. Its function is to eliminate any potential matches that do not have a date of birth listed in the database. The results that are filtered out are still available to view within an expandable element within the Portal.

Example	Result return
If you are checking John Snow born on 1st January 1980, and the database includes John Snowy without birth dates, those entries will be excluded. Only John Snowy with a known birth date will be considered.	John Snow - 01/01/1980 John Snowy - 01/01/1981 Excluded result: John Snowy -(not available) John Smith Snow -(not available)

1.3 Match the exact date of birth:

To include only results where the date of birth exactly matches the provided date of birth, if the date of birth is available in the source, this filter will return only those entries where the date of birth exactly matches the one you are checking. The results that are filtered out are still available to view within an expandable element within the Portal.

Example	Result return
If you are checking Michael Johnson born on 1st January 1985, and the database has several Michael Johnsons with different birth dates, only the Michael Johnson with the exact birth date of 10th October 1975 will be included in the results.	Michael Johnson - 01/01/1985 Michae Johnsons - 01/01/1985 Excluded result: Michael Johnson - 05/09/1985 Michael Johnson -(not available)

2. Name match filters

Purpose: To identify potential matches based on names. These filters are used to verify the identity of users or to identify similar-sounding names listed in multiple reliable sources for PEPs.

Function: The Verify system uses algorithms to match the names provided against the names of PEPs. This includes exact matches and fuzzy matches (accounting for slight variations or misspellings). By considering these factors, the algorithms can accurately identify potential matches even in cases of minor discrepancies in spelling.

Here is how the name match filters work, including examples for each scenario:

2.1 Exact name required

This filter ensures that only entries with an exact match of both first and last names are included in the results, which is particularly useful if identification accuracy is key and slight variations in first and last names are unacceptable. The filter compares the provided name with entries in the database, returning only those entries in which the first name and the last name match exactly. The results that are filtered out are still available to view within an expandable element within the Portal.

Example	Result return
Suppose you are searching for "John Smith" in a database. The filter will only include entries that are an exact match, such as "John Smith" or "John A Smith". Entries like "John Smyth," and "Jon Smith," will be excluded because they do not exactly match the provided first and last names.	John Smith - 01/01/1985 John A Smith - 01/01/1985 Excluded result: John Smyth - 01/01/1985 Jon Smith - 01/01/1985

2.2 Surname only (fuzzy match on surname only):

The purpose of this filter is to include results that match the provided surname, allowing for slight variations in spelling or phonetic differences. This is particularly useful in cases where the surname might be commonly misspelt or where variations are common due to transliterations or typographical errors.

This filter works by performing a fuzzy match on the surname, which means it will return entries that are similar to the provided surname within a specified tolerance level. The default tolerance is set at 95%, meaning the surnames need to be 95% similar to be considered a match. The minimum tolerance can be set as low as 80%, allowing for even greater variations, and can go up to 100% for better matches. The results that are filtered out are still available to view within an expandable element within the Portal.

Example	Result return
If you are searching for "Johnson," the filter will include entries like "Johnston," "Jonson," and "Johnsen" if they fall within the specified tolerance level. Therefore, if the database contains: Johnson Johnston Jonson Johnsen Jansen	At a 95% tolerance level: the filter will likely include Johnson Johnston Johnsen At an 80% tolerance level: the filter will likely include. Jonson Jansen Johnson Johnston Johnsen

3. Gender match filters

Purpose: The purpose of the gender filter is to refine search results by ensuring that only entries matching the specified gender are included.

Function: This filter works by comparing the gender of each entry in the database with the provided gender. Only those entries where the gender matches exactly will be included in the results. This helps in narrowing down the list of potential matches to those that are gender-appropriate, thereby increasing the accuracy of the search.

Example	Result return
In the case of searching for Alex Smith with the specified gender as Female, the filter narrows down the database to only include entries that identify Alex Smith as female. For example, among the database entries including Alex Smith, Male and Alex Smith, Female, only Alex Smith (Female) will be included in the filtered results.	Alex Smith, Female - 01/01/1985 Excluded result: Alex Smith, Male - 01/01/1985

4. PEP type filters

Purpose: PEP Type Filters categorise and filter Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) based on specific types or classifications to distinguish between different categories of PEPs. These categories include domestic PEPs, foreign PEPs, family members, or close associates, allowing users to tailor the level of scrutiny and risk assessment. You can view these PEP Types on the PEP and Sanctions screening page under the "PEP Source and Type" section.

Function: The Verify system allows users to apply PEP Type Filters to specify the types of PEPs they want to include or exclude from their searches and verifications. This functionality helps in focusing on particular subsets of PEPs that are relevant to the user's risk management policies and compliance requirements

Here is how the PEP type filters work, including examples for each scenario:

4.1 Include all PEP types:

This filter will return results for all individuals classified as PEPs, regardless of whether they are PEPs by their own position or by association with another PEP.

Example

Result return

If you are searching for "John Snow" within a database that includes entries such as: John Snow, a government official (PEP by position) Jane Snow, John Snow's spouse (PEP by family association) and John Snow, an executive at a state-owned enterprise (PEP by position) All three entries will be included in the result. This means the search results encompass all individuals named "John Snow," irrespective of their PEP classification, whether they hold a position that qualifies them as a Politically Exposed Person (PEP) or are associated with a PEP through family ties.

John Snow, government official (PEP by position) Jane Snow, (PEP by family association) John Snow, an executive at a state-owned enterprise (PEP by position)

4.2 Exclude PEP by family association:

This filter works by excluding entries where an individual's PEP status is solely attributed to their familial relationship with another PEP. Only direct PEPs (due to their own positions) will be included.

Example

Result return

If you are searching for "John Snow" within a database that includes entries such as: John Snow, a government official (PEP by position) Jane Snow, John Snow's spouse (PEP by family association) and John Snow, an executive at a state-owned enterprise (PEP by position) only "John Snow, a government official (PEP by position) and John Snow, an executive at a state-owned enterprise (PEP by position) will be included, while Jane Snow will be excluded

John Snow, government official (PEP by position) John Snow, an executive at a state-owned enterprise (PEP by position) Excluded result: Jane Snow, (PEP by family association)

Adverse Media filters

Purpose: The adverse media filter is to detect and highlight individuals mentioned in negative news or media reports.

Function: The filter works by searching through various sources such as news outlets, media platforms, and public records to find mentions of the person under investigation. It specifically identifies instances where their full name, or something similar, has come up in relation to controversies, scandals, legal issues, or other negative events.

In an adverse media filter, you can select specific adverse media types such as BRB (Bribery, Graft, Kickbacks, Political Corruption), BUS (Business Crimes like Antitrust, Bankruptcy, and Price Fixing), DEN (Denied Entity), and FOF (Former OFAC List). Depending on the screening process requirements, these types can be enabled or disabled. more information about adverse media types can be viewed in the Adverse media screening

Example

Result return

Suppose you are conducting a screening on John Snow using an adverse media filter and you want to include reports related to bribery and business crimes while excluding other adverse media types. In the adverse media results, you find the following: John Snow (Involved in bribery to a high state officer) John Snow (Conspiracy to plot a scam in the housing industry) John Snow (Tax avoidance scheme) John Snow (Possession of drugs) In this scenario, only the reports related to bribery and business crimes (the first three entries) will be included in the results, while the report related to possession of drugs will be excluded based on the specified filter settings.

John Snow (Involved in bribery to a high state officer) John Snow (Conspiracy to plot a scam in the housing industry) John Snow (Tax avoidance scheme) Excluded result: John Snow (Possession of drugs)