Pernilla Sjöholm, known globally for her role in Netflix’s The Tinder Swindler, has co-founded a new digital identity verification platform called IDfier, in partnership with computer scientist Suejb Memeti. Launched globally, the platform aims to prevent online fraud by verifying identities through a secure, human-to-human system. IDfier uses official documents like passports or driver’s licenses and integrates facial recognition technology to distinguish real users from deepfakes or impersonators.
Turning Pain into Protection: How IDfier Combines Tech and Personal Resolve
IDfier’s process starts with users scanning government-issued IDs using their smartphone camera. For documents with NFC chips, the platform scans the embedded data to enhance security. Users then complete a liveness test by moving their head — a measure designed to eliminate static photos or synthetic identities. Once verified, users can send verification requests to others and choose what information they want to share. All data is encrypted and distributed across multiple servers to ensure privacy and safety.
Tinder Swindler Survivor Launches IDfier to Fight Online Fraud with Verified Digital IdentitiesSjöholm’s motivation for launching IDfier stems from her personal experience with con artist Simon Leviev, who deceived her out of tens of thousands of euros after building a fabricated persona on Tinder. She later appeared in The Tinder Swindler, which became Netflix’s most-watched documentary. Though the emotional toll was just as significant as the financial loss, Sjöholm emerged determined to shift the conversation around fraud from victim shame to structural prevention — especially as synthetic identities become increasingly common.
Empowering Change Through Technology: Fighting Fraud with Prevention, Policy, and Education
Inspired by her traumatic experience and concerned by advances in AI and deepfake technology, Sjöholm sought a proactive way to tackle fraud. Memeti’s proposal for a preventative tool aligned with her vision. Together, they founded IDfier with the goal of stopping scams before they begin. Sjöholm now serves as COO, while Memeti is CEO. The company is backed by venture capital, including public funding from Almi Invest, indicating a strong vote of confidence in the platform’s potential impact.
IDfier is available as a subscription-based app with pricing starting at $2 per month, and plans tailored for families and larger groups. With global scam losses surpassing $1 trillion annually — many rooted in identity fraud — IDfier aims to be a scalable solution. Sjöholm believes that dramatically reducing fake identity usage could not only save individuals from financial ruin but also disrupt criminal networks that traffic people into scamming roles, ultimately saving lives.
Sjöholm continues to advocate for systemic change, pushing for EU legislation to criminalize fake online identities. Through school talks and public speaking engagements, she emphasizes education and awareness among youth — the demographic most at risk. She’ll share her vision at the upcoming TNW Conference in Amsterdam, the city where her ordeal began. For Sjöholm, returning there with a powerful new tool represents a full-circle moment — transforming trauma into empowerment.
