Fix Your KYCSTOP LOOKING LIKE A DEEPFAKE
HOW TO PASS THE LIVENESS CHECK
You're staring at your phone like a confused tourist while it tells you to "turn left... blink... smile..." Here's why you keep failing—and how to finally look human to the robot.
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It used to be simple. You uploaded a photo of your face, a photo of your ID, and you were done.
But then came the bots. And the deepfakes. And people buying high-res photos of strangers on the dark web.
So now, we have the "Liveness Check." You know the one. You stare at your phone while an app tells you to "Turn left... blink... smile... look up."
It is awkward. It is annoying. And surprisingly, it is really easy to fail even if you are a real human being.
🤖 What The AI Actually Sees
The AI isn't just looking at your face. It's building a 3D depth map. It projects invisible dots onto your face (if you have a newer iPhone) or analyzes how light moves across your skin as you turn. It's checking if you're a flat image or a real 3D human skull with skin stretched over it. Creepy? Yes. Effective? Also yes.
The "Uncanny Valley" Problem
Here's the catch-22 that trips up real humans:
Too Stiff = FAIL
You look like a photo being held up
Too Fast = FAIL
Motion blur destroys the 3D map
💡 The Sweet Spot
Move like a human, not a statue, and not a squirrel on espresso. Smooth, natural movements at a conversational pace.
The "Triangle of Death" (Lighting)
I sound like a broken record, but lighting is everything.
If you have a light source directly above you (like a ceiling pot light), it casts shadows in your eye sockets and under your nose. This creates the "Triangle of Death."
👁️ Why Shadows Kill Your Scan
👀
Eye Sockets
Shadows hide your eyes—AI can't track blinking
👃
Nose Shadow
Creates fake depth data that confuses the 3D map
👄
Chin Area
Under-chin shadows look like mask edges
😶
Forehead
Uneven lighting = uneven depth reading
✓ The Fix
Stand facing a window. Let the light hit your face flat-on. No shadows. The goal is even, diffused light across your entire face—like an overcast day or a north-facing window.
Get The Hair Out of Your Face
This is a huge one for anyone with bangs or long hair.
If your hair covers your eyebrows, the 3D mapping gets confused. It loses the "landmarks" of your face—the fixed points it uses to build the depth map.
🚫 What Blocks Your Landmarks
💇Bangs covering forehead or eyebrows
👓Glasses (glare on lenses ruins the 3D scan)
🧢Hats, beanies, or headbands casting shadows
😷Face masks (obviously)
💄Heavy makeup that flattens facial contours
✓ The Fix
Push your hair back. Take off the glasses. Take off the hat. You aren't trying to look good on Instagram—you're trying to prove you have a skull structure.
The "Chin Check" Problem
Most of us hold our phones down at chest level and look down. This gives you a double chin (unflattering, but whatever) and forces your eyelids down.
When your eyelids are lowered, the camera struggles to register the "Blink" command.
Phone at Chest
Looking down, eyelids half-closed, chin doubled
Phone at Eye Level
Eyes fully visible, natural expression, clear landmarks
✓ The Fix
Hold the phone up. Eye level. Shoulders relaxed. Look straight at the camera lens, not the screen. Your eyes should be wide open and clearly visible.
Don't Be a Robot (Move Naturally)
When the screen says "Turn Left," don't snap your head to the left instantly.
The system needs to see the transition. It needs to see the skin stretch and the light shift on your cheekbones. That "motion data" is how it proves you aren't a deepfake video.
Movement Speed Sweet Spot
🐢 Too Slow (Stiff)
✓ Perfect
🐇 Too Fast (Blurry)
✓ The Fix
Turn your head slowly. Smooth. Count to two in your head while you turn. Think of it like moving through honey—deliberate but not frozen.
Clean Your Screen (Seriously)
If your front camera is covered in thumb grease (and it probably is), the video will be slightly hazy.
That haze looks exactly like the blurring filters fraudsters use to hide artifacts in fake videos. The AI sees fog and thinks "deepfake."
⚠️ The Dirty Camera Effect
A smudged camera creates a soft-focus effect that matches the signature of AI-generated faces. Even 10% haziness can trigger a fraud flag.
✓ The Fix
Wipe the camera with your shirt. It sounds stupid, but it works. Use the corner of a clean, soft fabric. Check for streaks by looking at a bright light.
Your Pre-Liveness Check Routine
✅ Before You Hit "Start Verification"
- Stand facing a window (flat, even lighting)
- Push hair back from forehead and eyebrows
- Remove glasses, hats, and anything covering your face
- Hold phone at eye level, arm's length away
- Clean the front camera lens
- Look at the camera lens, not the screen
- Plan to move slowly (count to 2 on each turn)
💡 The Hidden Connection
Liveness checks are getting harder because the fakes are getting better. The system is paranoid—it assumes you're fake until proven otherwise. Give it high-quality data: good light, slow movements, clear face. And if you're still getting rejected on the static ID upload part, the document might be the problem, not your face. Get that fixed first.
STILL GETTING REJECTED?
If your liveness check keeps failing, the problem might be your ID photo. Get expert human review to identify exactly what's wrong.
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