A centralized biometric system is provided for verifying an individual's identity over a communications network. The system includes a storage that stores biometric information in association with information that identifies an individual. The system also includes a receiver that receives, from one of a communications device and a network communications platform, a biometric sample from a party attempting to obtain a service from the one of the communications device and the network communications platform. The service is provided contingent on authentication of the party as the individual. The system also includes a processor that compares the biometric sample to the biometric information to authenticate the identity of the party as the individual.
A system is provided for verifying an identity of a calling party. The system includes a storage that stores voice sample information in association with information that identifies an individual. The system also includes a receiver that receives, from a communications platform called by the calling party, a request to authenticate the identity of the calling party as the individual, using a digital audio sample packetized according to voice over internet protocol and obtained from the calling party during the call. Additionally, the system includes a processor that compares the digital audio sample to the voice sample information to authenticate the identity of the calling party as the individual.
