How ID Verification Protects Your Rental Applications from Fraud

Rental application fraud wastes time, delays move-ins, and can put your property at risk. Scammers can apply under stolen or fake identities, sign quickly, and disappear when it’s time to pay, or worse, get access to keys using someone else’s name.

A practical fix is to add ID checks before the applicant can view and sign your rental application package. With BoldSign ID verification, you can require a government ID + selfie verification as part of your rental application eSignature flow and keep proof in your records.

Why rental applications are a target for fraud

Rental workflows are now heavily online, listings, applications, approvals, deposits, lease signatures. That speed is convenient, but it also gives scammers opportunities to:

Use a stolen identity to apply and sign,
Submit an application for a unit they don’t intend to rent,
Pressure owners/agents to skip steps, or
Run “rental scam” playbooks that rely on urgency and remote payment. Consumer Advice

Separately, fake document sellers exist for things like pay stubs and bank statements, which is why identity controls and document controls are often both needed, but they are not the same control. Consumer Advice

What ID checks help prevent

ID verification is designed to answer a simple question: “Is this person who they claim to be?”

In rental application signing, that typically reduces:

Impersonation (someone applying under another person’s name)
Fake or altered IDs (basic document authenticity checks and matching)
“It wasn’t me” disputes (stronger evidence tied to the signer)

With BoldSign, ID verification can validate signer identity using government-issued ID checks and selfie verification before granting access to sign.

What ID checks do not solve by themselves

ID verification does not prove that every document attached to the application is true. For example:

It doesn’t confirm the applicant’s income is real.
It doesn’t confirm the employment letter is genuine.
It doesn’t confirm the bank statement wasn’t altered.

Think of ID checks as identity assurance, not financial verification. If income proof is a key risk in your market, pair ID checks with your existing screening steps (payroll verification, employer callback, tenant screening report, etc.).

How ID checks inside e-signature works

A typical “ID check + e-signature” pattern looks like this:

You send the rental application package for e-signature (application, disclosures, consent forms).
Before the signer can access the signing page, they complete ID verification.
If verification passes, they proceed to sign.
You keep the audit trail showing key events, timestamps, and signer activity.

BoldSign supports configuration such as verification frequency, attempts, selfie/live capture requirements, allowed documents/countries, and name-match tolerance.

A practical “application to lease” signing flow for property owners

Here’s a simple, repeatable flow that uses ID checks where it matters most.

Step 1: Application package (ID check ON)

Use a single “application pack” that includes:

Rental application
Consent to background/tenant screening (if applicable)
Required disclosures (varies by location)

Send it for rental application eSignature with ID verification required for each applicant.

Step 2: Review and screening (outside e-sign)

Once the signed application is received, complete your standard verification steps, including:

Reference checks
Screening report review
Income verification

If screening reports are used, ensure compliance with consumer rights requirements and confirm the accuracy of all information reviewed.

Step 3: Lease signing (ID check ON, again)

Enable ID verification again for the lease, especially when there is a gap between application approval and lease execution.

Use reusable BoldSign templates to simplify and accelerate the lease‑signing process.

Step 4: Embedded signing for your website/portal

If you have a property management portal or website, embed the signing experience so applicants can complete forms without leaving your workflow.

Use BoldSign’s embedded signatures capabilities to deliver a smooth, branded application and lease‑signing experience.

What evidence to keep and why it matters

Legally valid e‑signatures in the U.S. rely on consent, intent, signature association, and proper record retention, as defined by ESIGN and UETA. In fraud‑related situations, the key is being able to clearly show who signed, what they signed, and when the signing took place.

With BoldSign, you can maintain:

Audit trail details such as events, timestamps, signer actions, and IP information.
Identity verification audit trail records that document the verification process.

If you use the API and prefer a single consolidated file, you can also:

Combine the signed document and audit trail into one unified record.

How to keep ID verification tenant-friendly

ID verification adds a bit of friction, so it’s important to keep the process clear and reasonable:

Communicate the purpose upfront: A simple explanation “We verify identity to reduce rental fraud and protect applicants”, helps set expectations”.
Verify only the right people: Apply ID checks to applicants and signers only, not to CC recipients or non‑signing parties.
Set fair retry limits: Provide enough attempts for genuine mistakes without allowing unlimited retries.
Accept common documents: Ensure your allowed ID documents align with the needs of your applicant base.

How to set this up in BoldSign

If you use the BoldSign web app

Upload your rental application pack.
Add signer details for each applicant.
Enable identity verification for all required signers.
Configure verification settings, including attempts, selfie checks, and allowed ID types or countries.

If you use BoldSign API (apps, portals, property tools)

Use the Identity Verification API to add ID checks directly into your app or portal.
For embedded workflows, generate an embedded signing link through the API.

Conclusion

Rental application fraud often starts with one gap: you don’t truly know who is signing. Adding ID checks to your rental application eSignature flow helps you reduce impersonation risk, improve auditability, and make decisions with better confidence, without slowing down good applicants.

Protect your rentals with ID-verified e-signatures. Use BoldSign to add government ID + selfie checks before applicants sign, plus a clear audit trail you can keep on file.

Explore more about how BoldSign supports secure workflows with our Signer Identity Verification and Real Estate eSignature solutions.

Start your BoldSign journey with a free trial, available for both the web app and the API.

Need assistance? Request a demo or contact support today.

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Note: This blog was originally published at boldsign.com

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