Liquid Introduces New Plan to Combat Dark Work Scams Across Industries

Overview of a New Initiative

The Liquid Group's Liquid Inc., headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, has announced the launch of a pioneering plan tailored for the gig economy. This initiative focuses on effective identity verification through its online identity verification service, LIQUID eKYC. The plan aims to combat persistent issues associated with dark work, preventing the proliferation of fraudulent job posts and malicious actors who exploit job seekers.

The Rising Threat of Dark Work

Background: A Surge in Criminal Activity

In recent years, the financial repercussions of fraudulent activities have escalated dramatically, with 2024 projections indicating losses nearing an unprecedented ¥72.1 billion (approximately $670 million). A major contributor to this alarming trend is the prevalence of dark work listings circulating on social media and job platforms, with over 14,000 related postings in a single year. Without a robust verification system in place to authenticate the legitimacy of companies advertising these jobs, it becomes increasingly difficult to mitigate these threats and safeguard potential employees from becoming victims of crime.

Structure of the New Service

Dependable Screening for Employment Opportunities

Liquid's initiative will offer businesses operating in the gig economy a comprehensive framework for verifying the identities of job advertisers and their corporate legitimacy. Multi-layer data matching allows the detection of fraudulent registrations before personal information is shared, actively removing suspicious offers targeting unsuspecting job seekers.

Key Features of the Plan

1. Strict Identity Verification: Utilizing IC chip reading of identity verification documents, such as My Number Cards, alongside selfie verification, Liquid adheres to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, ensuring high precision in identity confirmation.
2. Cross-Industry Fraud Detection Database: With a proprietary database of around 30 million records built through LIQUID eKYC, the service can detect fraudulent activities across industries. This feature enables immediate recognition of previously blocked names, birthdates, and facial images, preventing multiple registrations from the same individual.
3. Corporate Existence Confirmation: The plan includes checks against official documents like articles of incorporation and corporate numbers, in addition to verifying business licenses relevant to various sectors (e.g., used goods, staffing agencies, job placement companies). Customization of verification requirements is available to meet specific client needs.

Pricing Structure

This indispensable service is available starting at ¥200,000 (pre-tax) monthly, with pricing variations based on the number of verification requests made.

LIQUID eKYC Market Dominance

LIQUID eKYC holds the distinction of maintaining the leading market share in the eKYC sector for six consecutive years. The service facilitates online identity verification needed for contracts, account registrations, and other essential processes. By employing cutting-edge AI, biometric technology, and OCR methods, Liquid has minimized abandonment rates throughout the verification process, managing approximately 130 million identity checks to date and partnering with around 600 organizations.

About Liquid Inc. and ELEMENTS Group

Liquid envisions a future where approximately 8 billion individuals can seamlessly access various services in a safe and user-friendly manner through biometric verification. Focused on adapting to the growing trend of online identity verification across various sectors, Liquid is dedicated to executing comprehensive fraud detection measures while enhancing convenience and security.

Location: 3-8-3 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 代表取締役社長: Hasegawa Takaki 設立: December 2018

For additional information, visit Liquid Inc.'s official site: LIQUID eKYC.