The in’s and out’s of identity verification

With the rise of the gig economy and online opportunities, identity verification has become a common industry practice. Most platforms that pay freelancers money in exchange for their services require identity verification to ensure a secure and fair work environment. 

We also require identity verification at Mindrift to keep our freelancers and platform safe by:

• Protecting your account and payments: Verification ensures that only the rightful account owner can withdraw earnings, safeguarding freelancers from unauthorized transactions.

• Preventing fraud: Verifying identities helps stop multiple accounts and unauthorized access. 

• Ensuring compliance: Some projects require verified workers to meet security and legal standards.

What is Persona? 

To make identity verification seamless and secure, we partner with Persona—a leading global identityplatformthat helps businesses securely collect, verify, and manage identities throughout the entire customer lifecycle. Persona works with businesses across all industries and is used by some of the world’s largest companies—like Fiverr, Lyft, LinkedIn, and Square. 

Persona specializes in delivering a privacy-first, flexible, and best-in-class verification experience, ensuring that freelancers can complete the process quickly while keeping their personal data secure. With Persona, verification is a one-time step, designed to be intuitive, efficient, and safe. 

How is my data managed?

Persona takes a security and privacy-first approach to your data. The company is compliant and certified to the highest standards to ensure any personal information you share during the verification process is secure. 

Some key points to know about Persona’s data management:

• Your data is yours: Your data is never sold and you maintain full rights to delete it, in accordance with Persona’s privacy policy. 

• Secure and encrypted: All data transfers are performed securely via data encryption. 

• Compliant and transparent: Persona honors the CCPA/CPRA and GDPR frameworks, ensuring full data transparency. 

Read more about Persona’s security and privacy features. 

How long does the process take?

Up to 20 minutes – but in some cases it could take a few days. Keep in mind that identity verification is a one-time step. Once verified, you can work on any projects you’re invited to contribute to without repeated checks.

What if I don’t want to verify my identity?

While we understand that some freelancers might be uncomfortable sharing their personal information online, identity verification is a requirement for collaboration with Mindrift. 

It helps us maintain security, prevent fraud, and, most importantly, keep your account and earnings safe. That being said, if a candidate chooses not to verify their identity, we won’t be able to proceed with the collaboration. 

A few tips from the experts

If your account requires identity verification, you’ll find a notification on your Tasks page. Once you begin, you’ll be guided through the quick and simple steps by Persona. 

Our support team is also available to answer any questions you might have. To help you breeze through the process, we asked Maria, Head of Support at Mindrift, to share her top tips for success:

• Match your documents to your country of residence: Your country selection affects your payment rates, so ensure your documents align with where you’re currently living.

• Use original documents, not scans: Persona requires clear photos of physical documents—screenshots or digital scans won’t be accepted. 

• Switch devices if needed: If your laptop camera isn’t great, use the "Continue on another device" option to complete verification on your phone.

• Check your lighting: Poor lighting or glare can cause issues with document recognition. A well-lit room and a steady hand can prevent delays.

• Take your time with selfie verification: Position your face centrally, look directly at the camera, and move your head slightly as instructed for the best results.

Once this step is complete, you’ve finished the verification process! 

Your questions, answered

Let’s finish this guide off with a few of your most commonly asked questions. 

Why can’t I access my tasks before/during the verification process?
Since our platform allows users to earn money from tasks and withdraw funds, we need to ensure the identity of each user. This keeps your account and earnings safe, ensuring no one can access them but you. 

Can I get updates on my verification status?
Once you complete the process via Persona, you’ll be able to monitor the status of your verification on the platform. You’ll also receive a notification once you’re approved. 

What happens if I fail the verification process?
Once all verification attempts have been exhausted, you will no longer be able to use the platform in accordance with our User Agreement.

What if my documents and current country of residence don’t match?
Persona accepts various types of documents, including residence permits and other temporary documents. However, we strongly recommend using valid documents from your current country of residence to avoid account suspension, in accordance with the Terms of Service.

Will I ever be asked to re-verify my identity?
Unless an issue arises with your account, you won’t be asked to re-verify your identity again. 

Next stop: The project lifecycle

Once you’ve verified your identity, you’ll be able to use the Mindrift platform to complete tasks, get invited to projects, and withdraw your earnings. 

If you’re new to the platform—or if you need a refresher—take some time to learn how the project lifecycle works. In this guide, we cover everything from our talent pool to downtime and the nature of freelance work to set you up for success on the Mindrift platform.