In an era where identity fraud is increasingly sophisticated, relying solely on a candidate’s name or ID number to conduct a criminal record check is no longer sufficient. The margin for error is significant and in a business context, that margin can have serious consequences.
Uphando offers criminal background verifications and police clearance through the AFISwitch Biometric Fingerprint Scanning system – one of the most advanced and accurate methods available in South Africa today.
The science supports the shift. Studies show that fingerprint-based checks using the AFIS system are over 50% more accurate than checks based on name or ID number alone. That is not a marginal improvement – it is a fundamental upgrade in the reliability of the information on which your hiring decisions are based.
In South Africa, the law already recognises this. Criminal record checks are legally required to be conducted using digitally captured fingerprints and Uphando’s service ensures full compliance with these standards. Our Certified Biometric Officers capture a candidate’s demographic information and fingerprints digitally, accompanied by a signed consent form and a copy of the candidate’s identity document. The fingerprints and supporting documentation are then submitted to MIE and AFISwitch for verification with the SAPS Criminal Record Centre.
What sets Uphando apart is the convenience we offer alongside the accuracy. Our Certified Biometric Officers can travel to your location, eliminating the need to send candidates off-site and keeping your screening process streamlined and professional.
The AFISwitch service is available for pre-employment enquiries, corporate verifications, property rental applications and career applications – making it a versatile tool for any organisation that takes due diligence seriously.
In a world where a single bad appointment can carry significant risk, biometric verification is not a luxury. It is the standard your organisation should be operating to.