Geo-Location Technology — A New Tool to Verify Your Adviser

Many people perform checks before dealing with someone online, such as confirming an ABN number or reviewing information listed on the ASIC registry.

While these checks can help confirm that a business exists, they do not always confirm that the person contacting you is genuinely connected to that business. Company details are widely available to the public and, unfortunately, they can sometimes be misused by individuals attempting to impersonate legitimate organisations.

Recognising the growing problem of online impersonation, Titan Securities Pty Ltd is currently developing a geo-location verification tool designed to add an additional layer of transparency when communicating with people online.

The concept is straightforward.

If you are speaking with someone who claims to represent a business, provide professional services, or operate from a particular location, you will be able to send them a secure verification link. If they are willing to confirm where they are, they simply open the link and click a location verification button.

Their device will then request permission to share its approximate location using the browser’s built-in geolocation system. This system determines location using signals available to the device such as GPS, nearby Wi-Fi networks, and mobile network information rather than relying solely on the internet connection, which means the location cannot simply be altered by using a VPN.

Once permission is granted, the system returns geographic coordinates which can then be displayed on a map, providing a simple visual confirmation of where the device was located at that moment.

Although the technology behind the process is sophisticated, using it is simple. No application needs to be installed, and the entire process can be completed in a matter of seconds.

Importantly, the process operates only with the user’s consent. The individual must actively approve the browser’s location request before any information is shared.

This technology is not limited to financial services. It may be useful in many situations where location transparency is helpful, including verifying people involved in online transactions, confirming the location of someone offering services remotely, or simply providing additional confidence when communicating with someone over the internet.

Geo-location verification is intended to complement traditional checks by providing an additional form of voluntary location transparency.

The system is currently under development and testing, and Titan Securities will provide further updates as the technology progresses.