After years of seeing Aussies fall victim to scams, these Canberra founders built a solution
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In a world where our online identity is inextricably linked to our day-to-day life, there is one question that constantly niggles at the back of an internet user’s mind: is the person I’m speaking with real?
As AI deepfakes – a digital photo, video or sound file of a real person that’s been created with malicious intent – become more common, a predicted 3.4 million Australians will be using dating apps by 2029 and scam activity is on the rise globally, it’s becoming harder and harder to determine what is real and what is fake.
And with the impact of scams and catfishing devastating people far beyond financial loss, many Australians are searching for a way to protect themselves and their loved ones from the long-term emotional trauma, humiliation, relationship breakdowns, and (in some cases) serious safety risks.
That’s where Australian-built and Canberra-founded digital identity verification tool FaceProof comes in.
What decades in law enforcement taught them about online safety
Beginning development in 2023 before launching into the public sphere in 2025, FaceProof was founded by Andrew Chapman and John Galea, Canberra-based veteran Australian law enforcement and personal security specialists.
Andrew and John both have extensive backgrounds working in law enforcement – spanning national and international policing – and say the concept for the web app grew after spending years seeing Australians fall prey to scams, manipulation and AI-powered fraud.
So they combined decades of investigative experience, risk assessment and operational leadership to develop a tool to keep people safe, online and offline,
“We witnessed people get hurt, financially and emotionally, simply because they believed who they were chatting with was real. That sparked our mission: to build a practical, secure, and easy-to-use solution that gives people more power,” they explain.
“Our backgrounds have shaped FaceProof at every level. We’ve spent decades investigating criminals, understanding how they think, and watching how quickly they adapt, and the truth is, scammers aren’t going anywhere.”
Verification without complexity
Available at faceproof.ai, the concept is simple: FaceProof is a platform designed for anyone 16 or over who wants safer, more trustworthy connections.
Ideal for preventing catfishing and protecting the identities of buyers, sellers, or tradespeople on platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree, it’s also designed with landlords, Airbnb hosts, real estate agents and small business owners and freelancers in mind.
Andrew and John looked at scams, fraud, grooming and impersonation cases from a human perspective – not only as investigators, but also as parents and consumers – to ensure FaceProof can be used by parents to verify who their children are communicating with in gaming or social apps.
“Users confirm their identity with a government-issued ID and a selfie, while the system checks ‘liveness’ to prevent deepfakes or fake photos,” they explain.
“All data is encrypted on Australian servers, and IDs are deleted after verification – only a temporary reference image and status remain. Once verified, you can invite others to confirm their identities and receive clear Pass/Fail results. With a flexible pay-as-you-go invitation system, verification is easy, affordable, and only used when you need it.”
Privacy by design
Built from the ground up through the lens of real victims and real investigations, John and Andrew say that they approached FaceProof the same way they approached crime and victim support: by analysing how people were being deceived, listening to victims, and applying a threat- and risk-based methodology.
They also knew that it was important to find the balance between giving people a powerful, easy-to-use verification tool without compromising their privacy.
“We’ve always understood that security and privacy aren’t opposites – they must work together,” they say.
“We built FaceProof knowing that people are rightly protective of their personal data. In fact, privacy was one of our non-negotiables. Our philosophy is simple: you should be able to verify someone’s identity without surrendering your own.”
Designed to break the very mechanism that scammers rely on – anonymity – the reality of internet and social media use is that scammers, fraudsters, and AI-generated impersonations aren’t going to disappear. As it becomes harder to tell the real from the fake, what John and Andrew hope to offer people is the confidence to interact online safely.
And they say if you choose to use FaceProof and someone is unwilling to verify their identity, it’s a clear red flag.
“FaceProof is the tool that gives honest people, parents, businesses, and children a real chance to stay safe in a world where deception is everywhere,” they say.
“In a world where AI makes deception easier than ever, FaceProof closes that door, firmly.”
Looking for more ways to protect your privacy online?
Beyond using verification tools like FaceProof, John and Andrew recommend these practical steps to stay safe online in finance, dating and parenting.
Finance
- Always pause before sharing personal information or sending money to someone you haven’t met in person.
- Make further inquiries, call a trusted friend or family member and seek their thoughts, or check with government authorities like Scamwatch.
Dating
- Always arrange your first couple of meetings in public, well-populated places and let a trusted friend or family member know where you are and who you’re meeting.
- If at a licensed premises, keep an eye on your drink and avoid consuming too much alcohol to maintain full awareness and control.
- Trust your instincts – if something feels off, have an exit plan ready. This could include arranging a “safe word” you can text to a friend or family member, so they can call or check in on you, giving you an excuse to leave.
- Other practical steps include bringing your own transportation so you can leave if needed, keeping your phone fully charged, and always having a small emergency kit or money handy in case you need to leave quickly.
- Remember, prioritising your safety is smart, not paranoid.
Parenting
- A balanced approach is essential. Encourage open communication so your child feels comfortable sharing who they are talking to and what apps or platforms they are using. Monitor interactions without being overly intrusive, and teach them to never share personal details, photos, or location information with strangers.
- Set clear boundaries and explain the reasons in an age-appropriate way, helping them understand risks without creating fear.
- Additionally, model safe online behaviour yourself, use parental controls where appropriate, and consider tools like FaceProof to help.
Free to join, FaceProof offers tiered subscriptions for identity verification requests. For more information, visit faceproof.ai
