The Jamaica Institute of Financial Services (JIFS), in collaboration with the Jamaica Bankers Association (JBA), will host a virtual seminar on the topic “Identity and Document Authentication: Adjusting to the New Normal” on Thursday (December 2), from 8:30 am to 2:15 pm. 

The organisers noted the timely nature of the seminar with the increased use of digital and online processes over the past few months.   

“With the implementation of digital services and tools in business, the risk of document fraud is now higher than ever before,” said Mrs Jerome Griffiths, Chair, JIFS Council of Management.   

“JIFS is, therefore, ensuring that staff are aware of what to look for in validating documents in order to safeguard the interest and the integrity of our financial systems,” she added. 

Dr Warren Vernon, Programme Director, the National Identity System (NIDS) at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), will give the keynote presentation, providing an update on the implementation of the NIDS.

The morning’s agenda will continue with presentations by Forensic Digital Imaging and Analysis Expert Mr David Witzki on authenticating PDF documents; as well as talks on authenticating Drivers Licences, Tax Registration Numbers (TRNs), and National Voter IDs by representatives of the Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) and JIFS.

The event will conclude with a description of real-life documentation and ID fraud cases by Warren Williams, Director of Complaints/Eastern Region at the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM).

President of the JBA, Septimus Blake, noted that the organisation was pleased to be collaborating with JIFS for the seminar.

“This seminar represents a critical step in ensuring participants are adequately equipped with the tools to operate efficiently in an ever-evolving digital society,” Blake shared.

“We have seen that digitalisation is definitely our new normal and it’s our responsibility to ensure teams have the capacity needed to minimise any instances of fraud that may arise through inauthentic documents or forms of identification,” he added.