Event fraud prevention: where ID checks fit in a supplier’s booking flow

For UK event suppliers, identity verification is most useful when it answers a specific booking question: is this client who they say they are? It is not a general-purpose fraud shield, and it does not guarantee that a payment will avoid a dispute or chargeback.

That distinction matters as more of the booking process moves from conversations into links, contracts and online payments. A client can appear credible in a message thread and still leave a supplier exposed to a costly cancellation, a disputed payment or a booking made under false details. An ID check adds one more signal. The work is deciding when that signal is worth requesting and what to do with it.

Make verification proportionate

A blanket ID request for every enquiry can create friction, especially for low-value bookings where the risk is modest. A better starting point is a written policy based on exposure. A large deposit, an unusually short lead time, a request to change payment details or a booking that differs sharply from the supplier’s normal work may justify closer review.

Those are prompts to pause and assess, not proof of fraud. Suppliers should apply the same standard consistently and avoid treating a single unusual detail as a verdict. If something does not add up, ask a direct question and give the client a clear route to resolve it.

Verification also needs a place in the timeline. Decide what must be checked before you reserve the date, issue a contract or accept a deposit. Do not assume that an identity check automatically completes every other step. Keep the agreed scope, cancellation terms and payment schedule clear in writing.

Identity is one layer, not the booking

Verifying a person’s identity does not prove that the event exists, that the person has authority to book it, or that the payment will not later be disputed. Nor does it remove the need to check that the date is available and that the contract matches the proposal. Treat identity information as one part of a broader decision, alongside the enquiry details, agreed terms and payment status.

For practical event payment security, suppliers should also keep a record of what was agreed and when. A signed contract can clarify the service, price and cancellation terms. A payment record helps confirm whether a deposit has arrived. Neither should be confused with identity verification; each addresses a different operational question.

Suppliers comparing payment flows may find it useful to revisit the difference between direct payouts and marketplace-held deposits. Who receives the money, when it moves and what the contract promises are separate decisions from whether the client has completed an ID check.

What the product facts establish

Build My Event says it uses Stripe Identity for online ID verification and Stripe to process payments and deposits. The platform also generates priced proposals and digital contracts, and warns suppliers about double bookings against live diaries. These functions address different points in the booking process; the available product information does not specify when an ID check is requested or what happens if verification is incomplete.

That makes a supplier’s own process important. Before adopting any booking workflow, ask when a check is needed, how the client is told about it and what the supplier should do if the result does not resolve a concern. Do not promise clients that verification eliminates fraud, and do not treat completion as a substitute for reviewing the booking terms.

Build My Event lists a free tier and a £29-per-month Pro tier with no platform fee. It says suppliers pay no lead fees or credits, and event organisers can use the service for free. Those are stated terms, not evidence of a new price change or of wider market adoption of ID checks.

The builder’s takeaway

There is no sound basis here for claiming that UK suppliers or venues have broadly adopted ID checks, or that verification alone reduces chargebacks. The practical category question is narrower: can a supplier identify the bookings where extra scrutiny is justified, then fit that check into a consistent process without slowing every enquiry?

Set the trigger before a stressful booking arrives. Keep the quote, contract, deposit and identity decision distinct in your records. Escalate uncertainty rather than relying on a badge or a completed check as a guarantee. That is a more defensible approach to event fraud prevention than asking every client for more information by default.