Client Identity Verification - Why and How?
Back in 2010 & 2011, two properties were sold by overseas fraudsters who had masqueraded as the owners (ie stole their identities) and the properties were sold to new owners who got to keep them, with the sale proceeds being repatriated to overseas bank accounts.
To prevent this the WA Government has implemented a stringent process of verifying the identities of both sellers and buyers of land which means that ALL client signatories must have their identities verified separately by both the real estate agent AND the settlement agent.
The ID standard required of settlement agents is quite onerous as it requires the presentation in person of the following original documents in person face to face:
- Australian Drivers Licence; and
- Australian Passport.
If you don’t have one of those, then you need to supply the one you do have, plus:
- Birth Certificate (plus a Marriage or Change of Name Certificate/s if your current name is different to your birth name); PLUS
- Medicare, Centrelink or Veterans Card.
If you can’t supply one of those, then it all gets very complicated, but please contact our office on 9021-4599 and we can talk you through it.
If you can attend our office, we can verify your identity without charge, otherwise you will need to use an online app such as InfoTrackID at a cost of $9.95 per person being identified or attend at a participating Australia Post outlet with your original documents and they will verify your identity at a cost of $49.
There is also another service called ZipID which operates in the metro area of major cities in Australia, by which a trained agent will come to you and verify your identity, also at a cost of $79.
If you are overseas, then your identity can ONLY be verified by an authorised Australian Consular officer in an Australian diplomatic post, who should also witness your signature on the transfer of land document. In addition to your identity documents, overseas sellers will also need to supply an original local government rates notice for the property being sold. Sellers should ensure that their contract of sale allows sufficient time to enable this process.
Further information on this matter can be sourced from the Landgate website: https://www.landgate.wa.gov.au/corporate.nsf/web/Verification+of+Identity