Aware and PeopleCert Align to Prevent Proxy Testing

First-of-its-Kind Biometrics Application in Examination and Accreditation Market Promises to Eliminate Fraud, Guarantee Test Validity

In 2019, the infamous Varsity Blues conspiracy implicated several well-known business people and celebrity actors in an elite college admissions scandal. Part of this scheme involved expert test-takers standing in to take college entrance exams in place of students using fake IDs.

Amid ongoing sentences for key participants in the Varsity Blues scandal, the issue of fraudulent test-taking, including business certifications and exams, continues to draw attention – challenging many institutions, large or small.   Aware, Inc. (NASDAQ: AWRE) teamed up with the major player in examination and accreditation services, PeopleCert, to demonstrate how this issue can be addressed. By incorporating biometric authorization, specifically Aware's Knomi solution, PeopleCert bolstered their KYC (Know Your Customer) process, showcasing to all that the security and credibility of certification procedures can be bolstered – resolving the challenge many institutions face.

"Unfortunately, it can be far too easy for an expert test-taker to sit in and take an exam for someone else, which is a deceitful and illegal practice known as ‘proxy testing,’” says Craig Herman, CRO, Aware. “The ease of proxy testing has increased due to online exams, e-learning and online certifications which makes the risk from it rise. This problem, whether online or in-person, can seriously impact test validity. If not stopped, it means someone can pass a test without having the requisite skills and experience - which in the worst case scenario can be very dangerous.”

PeopleCert delivers millions of exams in over 200 countries and territories, including business, IT and language exams. PeopleCert has integrated Aware’s Knomi® mobile biometric authentication framework as part of the eKYC identity verification process for individuals who intend to take an online exam or certification.

“Biometric authentication is an unsurpassed measure to prevent proxy testing in several ways,” Suzy Gunn, Chief Operating Officer for PeopleCert. “Biometric data can be gathered upon registration and checked in exam delivery. Or biometrics can be used to crossmatch people to their identity documents, ensuring they are the people represented in the documents. The technology can also detect the presence of a single proxy test taker who may be taking multiple exams or pretending to be different people. Security within exams is of paramount importance to PeopleCert and is a collaborative effort involving technology, processes, human expertise, and judgement. Biometric authentication is one of the many steps PeopleCert take in maintaining security, trust, and credibility.”