Tinder Swindler survivor creates identity verification tool to combat scams.

      A survivor of the Tinder Swindler has created a tool to combat the scams that disrupted her life. Pernilla Sjöholm, who appeared in Netflix’s acclaimed documentary The Tinder Swindler, co-founded the platform called IDfier with computer scientist Suejb Memeti.

      Launched globally today, IDfier offers a human-to-human identity verification system, aiming to provide a straightforward yet secure method for users to confirm the identities of those they interact with. Users can verify themselves by scanning their passport, driver’s license, or ID card using their smartphone camera. If the document includes NFC (near-field communication), IDfier can also read the chip for added security. The user then makes a brief head movement to demonstrate that they are a live person, rather than a photo, video, or deepfake.

      Once verified, users can request the same from others, allowing both parties to choose what information to share — ranging from their name and age to their contact details. All data is encrypted and stored across various servers. The platform aims to combine security with accuracy, with a claim that the technology boasts a 99.9% success rate in verifying real users and preventing impersonation attempts.

      The team envisions this system being used across countless online services, including e-commerce, email, social media, and dating apps like Tinder, where Sjöholm once matched with con artist Simon Leviev in 2018. Leviev, who posed as the son of a wealthy diamond merchant, developed a close relationship with Sjöholm, taking her on extravagant trips throughout Europe, funded not by his claimed family wealth, but through other women he had scammed.

      Months after their initial match, Leviev claimed that "enemies" were threatening his life and urgently needed money. Ultimately, Sjöholm, a former sales worker from Sweden, lost tens of thousands of euros, which led to her bankruptcy.

      The New Web (TNW) visited her hometown of Stockholm to discuss her story and her plans for IDfier. Reflecting on her experience, Sjöholm expressed that the emotional toll of fraud was even greater than the financial loss. “In my view, it shouldn’t just be seen as a fraud or scam; it should be recognized as emotional abuse towards the victim,” she stated.

      She noted that the stigma surrounding fraud often leads victims to feel shame and embarrassment, while society tends to think it couldn't happen to them. “People often think that only ‘naive’ or unintelligent individuals fall victim to such schemes,” she explained, emphasizing that such notions can actually put those who believe they’re immune at greater risk.

      The Tinder Swindler showcased her experiences to a worldwide audience, and after its release in 2022, it became Netflix’s most-watched documentary ever. Sjöholm has utilized her newfound visibility to raise awareness about fraud and promote financial security. Since then, she has married and had twins, prompting her to reconsider her career focus. Frustrated by the limitations of post-scamming support, she became increasingly concerned about the rise in deepfakes, remarking, “We can't even be sure we're interacting with a real human today. Previously, it was more common for someone to steal another's identity; now, synthetic identities are prevalent and worryingly easy to create.”

      As she sought proactive solutions, Sjöholm was contacted by Memeti, a senior lecturer at Sweden’s Blekinge Institute of Technology, who proposed developing a preventative approach. Sjöholm recognized that having such a tool could have prevented her deception and concluded, “What resources did I have to truly verify his identity? I had none. Now I could."

      Sjöholm has taken on the roles of co-founder and COO at IDfier, with Memeti as CEO. They have secured financial backing from venture capital firms Visive Invest and Almi Invest, the latter being owned by the Swedish government, providing IDfier with significant credibility.

      To monetize the platform, it will be offered as a subscription service available on the App Store and Google Play, starting at $2 a month, with discounts for annual subscriptions and multi-user accounts, including a family plan for up to five individuals starting at $7 per month.

      The pricing strategy aims to capture a large market share, as the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) estimates that scams cost consumers over $1 trillion annually, surpassing the GDP of most countries. Many of these scams involve fake identities or information, yet there is currently no standardized form of digital consumer identity verification. “Fifty to sixty percent of scams involve fake identities,” Sjöholm noted. “What if we could reduce that to 5%? It could have a massive impact on the global economy.”

      Identity fraud also has profound social effects, and the incidence of suicidal thoughts among victims is alarmingly high. In some cases, those committing identity fraud can themselves be victims. “If we could disrupt the profitability of such