How Informativ’s Google Maps “Out-of-Wallet” Questions Help Lenders & Auto Dealers Tackle Fraud Head-On
In a digital world where identity theft and synthetic fraud are growing threats, lenders and auto dealers alike are seeking sharper tools for fraud prevention. Enter Informativ’s powerful “Google Maps Out-of-Wallet” questions feature—a location-based fraud detection solution called Customer Insights that adds an innovative layer of ID fraud detection to your customer verification process, Customer Insights.
If your business handles financing, leasing, or it sells vehicles, here’s why enabling this feature might be the smartest fraud prevention move you make all year.
What Are “Out-of-Wallet” Questions, Anyway?
Before diving into how Informativ’s new feature works, let’s understand what “Out-of-Wallet” (OOW) questions actually are. These are questions that a fraudster—no matter how many stolen credentials they’ve swiped—typically can’t answer. That’s because the answers aren’t found in a wallet, a credit report, or a dark web data dump. Instead, they tap into personal knowledge.
Traditionally, OOW questions ask things like, “Which of the following streets have you lived on?” or “What bank did you open a credit card with in 2017?” But Informativ goes further by leveraging Google Maps to validate user proximity to specific businesses—think local dealerships, service centers, or title loan branches.
How It Works: Location-Based Intelligence Meets Fraud Detection
Let’s say a customer applies for a loan online. Before the application is processed, Informativ’s system can allow you to prompt a location-based OOW question like:
“Which of the following businesses is closest to your residence?”
Or:
“What is the name of the school closest to your home?”
Or even:
“What are the major cross-streets closest to your home?”
These questions can be dynamically generated by the end-user based on consumer GPS activity, historical geolocation data, and Google Maps proximity. The idea is simple but powerful: only someone truly familiar with the area—and who has a legitimate presence—can answer them correctly.
For lenders, auto dealers, and buy-here-pay-here lots, this adds an extra layer of ID fraud detection that’s nearly impossible to spoof.
Why This Is a Game Changer for Auto Dealers and Lenders
Fraud is expensive—plain and simple. Between synthetic identities, impersonation fraud, and fake employment claims, the costs to dealers and lenders are escalating. Informativ’s Google Maps feature strengthens your fraud detection workflow by:
- Preventing synthetic ID fraud: Fraudsters using invented identities often can’t match real-world geolocation patterns.
- Improving loan origination quality: Better customer insights lead to stronger, more trustworthy portfolios.
- Reducing manual verifications: Let automation handle what used to take hours of phone calls and paperwork.
- Enhancing compliance: By utilizing a multi-layer ID verification process and verifying identity more robustly, you’re covering your bases for regulatory audits.
The Bigger Picture: Trust, Technology, and Competitive Edge
In an industry where trust can make or break a deal, tools like Informativ’s location-based OOW questions offer a competitive advantage. Today’s consumers want quick approvals and minimal friction—but not at the expense of data security. Informativ helps you strike that balance.
Think of it as the modern way to vet prospects. You’re not just selling cars or underwriting loans—you’re protecting your business and customers in real-time.
Final Thoughts: Say Goodbye to Guesswork, Hello to Smart Verification
Fraudsters are getting smarter. But so are the tools we use to stop them.
Informativ’s Google Maps Out-of-Wallet questions are a seamless, smart, and scalable way to improve identity verification, reduce risk, and support compliance in industries where trust is critical. Whether you’re a lender or a dealership, this is the kind of innovation you can’t afford to ignore.
So go ahead—turn the map into your secret weapon for smarter fraud detection.
Schedule a demo to see our fraud solution in action.