ID.me, Inc. is a digital identity verification company that helps individuals prove their identity online and enables organizations to securely authenticate users. Its platform provides identity proofing, authentication, and group verification services across government and commercial sectors.
Mission
ID.me’s mission is to create a portable digital identity network that allows individuals to verify their identity once and reuse that verified identity across multiple services without repeating the process.
Company Overview
Founded: 2010 (originally as TroopSwap/Troop ID)
Founder: Blake Hall
Headquarters: McLean, Virginia, USA
Industry: Cybersecurity and Digital Identity Verification
Funding Stage: Series E; valuation has reached unicorn status in past funding rounds
Core Services
Identity Proofing
Verifies government-issued IDs and personal information remotely or in person.
Authentication
Allows users to log in securely using a single ID.me account.
Group Verification
Confirms eligibility for specific groups such as military members, students, nurses, and first responders to access benefits or discounts.
Digital Identity Wallet
Stores verified credentials for reuse across partner organizations.
Fraud Detection
Uses document verification, network analysis, and biometric technology to reduce identity fraud.
How It Works
To verify identity, users typically:
Upload a government-issued photo ID.
Complete a selfie scan or live video verification session if required.
Once verified, use their ID.me account to access supported services without repeating verification.
Verification options may include automated online verification, live video chat with a representative, or in-person verification at partner locations.
Where It Is Used
ID.me is commonly used by:
U.S. government agencies such as the IRS, Social Security Administration, Veterans Affairs, and state unemployment systems
Healthcare and financial service providers
Retailers offering discounts to verified groups
Security and Compliance
ID.me states that it aligns with federal digital identity standards, including NIST 800-63-3 guidelines. Its verification process may include document authentication, biometric checks, liveness detection, and fraud risk analysis.
Public Discussion and Criticism
ID.me has faced scrutiny regarding:
The use of biometric facial recognition technology
Accessibility challenges during identity verification
Broader privacy and governance concerns related to digital identity systems used by government agencies
The company reports tens of millions of verified users and partnerships with hundreds of organizations across public and private sectors.
Short code 95246 is owned by ID.me and providing SMS verification services for IRS.gov and USPTO.gov.
Example of SMS 2FA verificaiton flows:
Your ID.me verification code is 461574. Don't share it. Anyone asking for it is stealing your identity.
This message is from ID.me. Your identity is being used to log in to USPTO to apply for government benefits or healthcare services. Please click this link to either confirm the transaction or to report unauthorized use of your identity: https://verify.id.me/en/phone_verifications/6024xxxxxxxxxxxxx1e4/authorize
Message from the ID.me Security team: Your identity JOHN SMITH was used to log in to USPTO on 04/04. Was this you? If you do not recognize this transaction, reply N.
The email used to create your ID.me account is [email protected]. If this is your email, no response is needed. If you do not control this email, please reply with N to prevent identity theft.
SMS example from IRS.dov to verify identity:
Message from the ID.me Security team: Your identity NAME P. NAME was used to log in to The Internal Revenue Service on 12/05. Was this you? If you do not recognize this transaction, reply N.
ID.me: If someone asks for your code, STOP; it's a SCAM. We will never contact you for this code. Only enter it online at login. Your code is: 175113.
ID.me: If someone asks for your code, STOP; it's a SCAM. We will never contact you for this code. Only enter it online at login. Your code is: 867558.