CertifID
How We Verify Identities with CertifID
Before funds move in any real estate transaction, we make sure the people on the other end of that transaction are who they say they are. Here is how Select Title Company uses CertifID to verify identities — and what happens if verification can't be completed.
Why We Verify
Identity Verification Protects Your Money
Wire fraud works by impersonation. Criminals pose as a party you trust — a closer, an agent, even a family member — and ask you to send funds or change instructions. The single best defense is confirming, independently, that the person on the other end is real.
We verify buyers and sellers alike. On the seller side, seller impersonation fraud is one of the fastest-growing scams in real estate: a criminal pretends to be the property owner and tries to sell or refinance a home that isn't theirs. Before any sale proceeds move, we verify that the seller we are dealing with is the real owner of the property.
On the buyer side, we verify the identity of the person bringing funds to the table — so the money we receive and disburse is coming from the real buyer, not an impostor acting in their name. Verifying both sides of the transaction is how we keep everyone's funds safe.
That is why identity verification is built into how Select Title Company sends, receives and confirms wire information. Through CertifID, every verification is documented, so there is a record of who was verified, when, and how.
How Verification Works
CertifID verifies identity at key points in the transaction, using data checks rather than trust in an email address.
Identity Data Is Collected Securely
When verification is needed, we send you a secure request through CertifID — never a plain email asking for personal details. Your information is submitted through CertifID's encrypted channel.
CertifID Checks the Identity
CertifID validates the details you provide against authoritative data sources to confirm the identity matches the real person involved in the transaction.
We Make Sure the Seller Is Real
Before closing, we verify that the seller on the transaction is the actual property owner — not an impersonator. Seller impersonation is a growing fraud, and this check stops it before any proceeds are released.
We Verify Buyers Too
Before you bring funds to closing, we verify your identity as the buyer. That confirms the funds we receive are coming from the real buyer — not someone posing as someone else to insert themselves into the transaction.
Results Are Documented
Every verification produces a record: who was verified, what was checked, and when. If anything about a transaction is ever in question, we have the documentation to fall back on.
Wire Instructions Stay Protected
Verified identities and verified bank accounts work together. CertifID confirms the sender and the account before any wire information is acted on.
Our Policy
If Verification Isn't Completed, We Verify in Person
Identity verification through CertifID is a required part of doing business with Select Title Company. If a party in the transaction is unable — or unwilling — to complete verification, we do not simply move ahead. Instead, that party must come into one of our offices before closing and present two forms of identification in person.
This in-person requirement follows the identity verification standards established under the USA PATRIOT Act, the same standards that govern financial transactions in the United States. It applies regardless of the reason verification wasn't completed, and it exists for one reason: to make sure no one's money is ever sent to an impostor.
- Verification is requested through CertifID at the appropriate point in the transaction.
- If verification isn't completed, our team contacts the party to explain the in-person requirement and schedule a visit to one of our offices.
- At the office visit, the party presents two acceptable forms of identification, which we examine and document.
- Once identity is confirmed in person, the transaction proceeds as normal — with everyone's funds protected.
Two Forms of Identification
When an in-person visit is required, plan to bring one photo ID and one additional form of identification. Common examples include:
Photo Identification
A valid driver's license, state-issued ID card, or U.S. passport.
Secondary Identification
A second government-issued document or other identification we can verify — our team will confirm what works when we schedule your visit.
If you have questions about what to bring, call us before your visit — it only takes a minute and saves you a second trip.
Frequently asked questions
Why is identity verification required?
Wire fraud relies on impersonation. Verifying identities through CertifID confirms that the people in the transaction — buyers and sellers alike — are who they claim to be before any wire information is shared or acted on.
How do you make sure the seller is real?
Before closing, we verify the seller's identity through CertifID to confirm they are the actual property owner. Seller impersonation — a criminal posing as the owner to divert sale proceeds — is a growing fraud, and this verification stops it before any money moves.
Do you verify buyers too?
Yes. Before closing, we verify the buyer's identity to confirm the funds we receive and disburse are coming from the real buyer. It protects your money from anyone posing as you, and it protects the transaction from impostors on either side.
What happens if I can't complete verification online?
Nothing is lost — we simply ask you to visit one of our offices (Brighton, Ann Arbor or Fenton) before closing with two forms of identification. We will examine and document them in person, and the transaction proceeds.
Why two forms of identification?
Two independent forms of identification make impersonation far more difficult than a single document. This follows the identity verification standards established under the USA PATRIOT Act.
Does verification slow down my closing?
Verification through CertifID typically takes only minutes. The rare in-person verification is scheduled ahead of your closing so it never delays your transaction — it just protects it.
Questions About Identity Verification?
Our team is happy to walk you through the process before your closing. It's one more way we protect your funds.