Irish biometric smartcard intended to reduce welfare fraud
Welfare fraud has been on the rise in Ireland, as people will often claim to need the assistance even though they do not. However, to counteract this growing problem, the country is aiming to distribute special ID cards for individuals who are on the program, according to the Irish Examiner.
The new plastic ID cards will be manufactured with a biometric chip inside of them that will have the person's name, picture, signature and Personal Public Service number stored on it. The cards will also electronically store date and place of birth, gender, nationality, maiden name and all maiden name of the individual's mother, the news source reported.
The smartcards will begin as a pilot program through a number of Tullamore, Sligo and Dublin welfare providers in mid-October. The cards are meant to confirm a user's identity, verify that they need welfare assistance and minimize fraudulent activity within the program, according to the Examiner.
According to the Silicon Republic, there were more than 3,000 reported cases of identity theft in Ireland in 2009. By using biometric smartcards, organizations and individuals may be able to reduce the number of fraudulent activities.
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Tags: Government ID News
