How Treefort Keeps Your Identity Safe

Buying or selling a home is one of the most significant financial transactions many people will ever make. To protect all parties involved and to prevent fraud, the Law Society of Ontario requires all lawyers in the province to verify the identity of their clients, including anyone involved in a residential real estate transactions.

At Kelly Santini LLP, we have made this process even more convenient and secure by using Treefort, a trusted digital identity verification platform approved for use in Ontario real estate transactions. Verifying the identity of home buyers and sellers with Treefort is convenient and helps ensure that every home buyer and seller is legitimate.

How Treefort Works

Treefort allows our clients to verify their identity remotely, eliminating the need for in-person meetings. Here’s how the process works:

1. Kelly Santini LLP sends you an ID verification request to the email address and phone number you provided.
2. After completing the two-step verification process you will have the opportunity to review how your privacy will be protected before providing your consent.
3. Using your smart phone, you will be asked to photograph and upload a government-issued ID, such as a passport or driver’s license.
4. With your phone’s camera, you will then need to take a selfie to match your face to the ID provided.
5. In some instances you will be asked to verify your banking details. This step will include entering your online banking password. This step allows Treefort to connect directly with your bank. No passwords are ever retained by Treefort or Kelly Santini.
6. Treefort cross-references your information with trusted databases to ensure authenticity.
7. Once verified, Kelly Santini receives confirmation, and your transaction can proceed securely.

Watch a short video demonstration of Treefort in action and
download the Treefort instruction guide.

Security Features of Treefort

Treefort employs state-of-the-art security measures, including encryption of all data, multi-factor authentication, and real-time fraud detection algorithms. These features ensure that your personal information is protected at every step. Treefort is majority owned by Stewart Title, a leading provider of real estate title insurance in Canada.

Preventing Real Estate Fraud

Using Treefort for identity verification helps protect against common types of real estate fraud, such as title fraud and mortgage fraud. For example, fraudsters may attempt to take out a mortgage on a property they do not own or transfer property ownership illegally. Treefort’s robust verification process makes it significantly harder for these schemes to succeed.

In-Person Verification Still Available

For clients who prefer or need to verify their identity in person, Kelly Santini LLP still offers this option at our office.

At Kelly Santini LLP, we are committed to protecting your real estate transactions. Whether you choose to verify your identity remotely through Treefort or in person at our office, you can trust that your information is secure and your transaction is in safe hands.