Point-of-Sale ID scanning is nothing new: The majority of western U.S. states have six active ID scan laws, and New York has a whopping eight statutes in place to ensure that the sale of everything from tobacco and alcohol to scrap metal and diet pills is above board. But the retail world is exploding with new talk about POS ID scanning for one reason: Fraud is on the rise. The good news is that a new EVS and Dejavoo partnership is opening new doors to low-friction, audit-ready verification.
- Fake IDs, though not new, are increasingly the crux of advanced fraud attempts.
- Many consumers now carry a mobile driver’s license rather than a physical ID card, opening the door for manipulated digital IDs.
- Self-checkout age verification is an easy hurdle for people to sidestep.
- Return fraud is another expanding trend, and one way to deter frequent or suspicious returns is by scanning IDs and tracking customers’ return histories.
- BOPIS, or “buy online, pick up in store,” crimes are soaring, but could quickly be negated by POS ID scans.
- Age restriction laws continue to evolve; just this year, new online age-verification rules have been adopted in the U.S., the U.K, and multiple other countries.
- Businesses who get caught – or are fooled into – selling age-gated merchandise to inappropriate consumers face serious penalties.
To protect companies and consumers from drowning in this growing wave of crime, fraud prevention at POS is taking a greater hold in legislation and increasing in popularity at brick-and-mortar retailers across multiple new industries.
Which Industries Are Affected?
In the early 2000s, only wine and spirits retailers needed to worry about carding a customer. But these days, everyone from vape, tobacco, and cannabis dispensaries to pharmacies, shipping services, and auto renters are being inducted into the “fraud prevention at POS” club.
The list goes on, but you get the picture. Few industries are exempt from POS ID scanning, and those that currently are may not be in the near future. Additionally, multiple states are implementing affirmative defense measures just to cover all their bases.
Affirmative Defense
Affirmative defense, popularly called “scan by default,” is a loophole law that protects businesses in a specific “if/then” scenario:
If a company scans all IDs at point-of-sale, then that company is released from responsibility should they unknowingly sell age-restricted products to minors.
By scanning IDs at point-of-sale, businesses relinquish liability for fraudulent consumers and cannot be sued for legal damages. Though not all 50 U.S. states currently have affirmative defense laws, some do, including New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Arizona, and Texas, and we anticipate that more will join the crowd in coming years.
The Good and Bad of POS ID Scanning
Obviously, there are shades of light and dark coloring the POS ID scanning process. As is the case in most digital ID verification scenarios, POS ID scanning is both beneficial and potentially hazardous.
POS ID Scanning Pros
- Federal and state compliance. Though no laws directly govern Point-of-Sale identification, the adoption of affirmative defense is paving the way for stricter POS ID scanning guidelines.
- Value beyond compliance. POS ID scanning mitigates fraud, reduces key-entry errors, and improves consistency. Businesses can also use age scans to track vital KPIs like prevented incidents and audit pass rates.
- Increased accuracy and speed. Scanners can quickly and reliably verify a customer’s age, reducing transaction times compared to manual checks.
- Reduced human error. POS ID scanning eliminates the subjective decision-making of employees, who can make mistakes or be easily fooled by fakes, especially during busy periods.
- Improved fake ID detection. Scanners can detect fake IDs more effectively than the human eye because they perform automatic checks for embedded security features.
- Enhanced liability protection. Scanning identification at Point-of-Sale creates a digital record of age-restricted transactions, which can release businesses from liability.
- Privacy-by-design. POS ID scanning earns your customers’ trust by collecting minimal personal data, storing sensitive information in encrypted logs, and offering simple exception paths.
POS ID Scanning Cons
- Data privacy. Some people have raised concerns about who has access to scanned ID data and if it is being stored securely, if at all.
- Limitations with fake IDs. While most scanners are effective against forged ID cards, very sophisticated fake IDs may still be able to pass a POS scan.
- Does not guarantee ownership. POS scanning can verify document authenticity and that the person is of legal age, but it cannot definitively prove that the person presenting the ID is the actual owner.
Fighting Back Against Point-of-Sale Fraud: EVS + Dejavoo
If you’re familiar with the EVS ecosystem, you’re aware of our BlueAssure cloud-based portal of verification solutions and how easily they can layer to create a bespoke security system for your business. However, a brand-new partnership between EVS and Dejavoo Systems is elevating our age verification software to new heights.
In August 2025, EVS and Dejavoo launched a robust in-terminal age verification app in nearly every age-restricted industry, from alcohol and cannabis to tobacco and gaming. Dejavoo has pioneered secure, Android-based payment solutions since 2006, and when coupled with our dynamic knowledge-based authentication, EVS customers will be able to access real-time ID scanning directly at the Point-of-Sale.
Maximizing EVS + Dejavoo Benefits
We’re already rolling out this technology for our EVS customers in the form of our new EVS Age Verification app, and your business could be the next to onboard. Schedule a consultation with our team to explore all the ways a Dejavoo-enhanced EVS integration could protect your brand with these advantages at Point-of-Sale.
The EVS Age Verification app adds an important layer of legal protection, dismissing merchants like you from liability if underage sales slip under your radar. The EVS app also collects valuable customer data that can be parlayed into hyper-personalized marketing, tailored direct-mail campaigns, and elevated customer engagement – all in accordance with privacy laws, of course. Each scan delivers actionable insight and peace of mind, backed by two trusted technology providers. Implement age verification software today so you’re ready for tomorrow: Your EVS verification stack and Dejavoo payment solutions are just a phone call away!