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One location. Multiple devices. One signal to connect them all. Introducing Proximity Detection for mobile devices: Fingerprint’s newest proximity-based signal for surfacing location-based fraud patterns.
This new feature adds a powerful layer to your existing fraud prevention toolkit to help link devices used in close physical proximity. Beyond just a proximity ID, the signal also includes metadata like precision radius and confidence level, giving richer context. These help you detect device farms and mobile multi-accounting, improve accuracy in identifying account sharing, and strengthen authentication flows.
Proximity detection helps you reveal patterns that become clearer when location-based intelligence is layered alongside Fingerprint’s Visitor Identification and Smart Signals, such as detecting devices that are rooted or jailbroken, devices running a GPS spoofing application, or devices being used with residential proxies.
What is Proximity Detection?
Proximity Detection for mobile devices is a new location-based signal, available to all Fingerprint customers. It complements visitor identification by providing contextual intelligence into device proximity by, for example, grouping devices in the same physical area or recognizing when a device has changed its identity but remained in the same location.
This additional layer of intelligence helps strengthen fraud detection, improve backend models, and reduce false positives.
Why Proximity Detection?
As fraud tactics evolve and identifiers like cookies or mobile IDs become less reliable, many organizations have been looking for a stronger, location-based signal to complement their existing fraud prevention strategies. Customers who already collect location data on mobile devices often find it difficult to make raw coordinates actionable. We structure that data into meaningful radiuses, making it easier to flag co-located devices and uncover risky patterns.
Proximity Detection provides a precise, reliable signal that makes it easier to understand the relationships between devices in the same physical space. By layering this context alongside Visitor ID and Smart Signals, businesses can:
- Detect mobile multi-accounting and device farms. Fraud farms often use large numbers of devices in a single location to abuse promotions or test stolen cards. While each device may appear unique, Proximity Detection groups them together, making it easier to spot suspicious clusters.
- Prevent account takeover. In banking and fintech apps, users typically log in from consistent physical locations such as home or work. Proximity Detection adds an extra layer of security by flagging logins from unexpected areas, allowing apps to trigger additional verification before granting access.
- Enhance cross-channel experiences. By comparing a user’s current Proximity ID with their previously stored one, businesses can recognize returning customers more accurately. If the Proximity ID remains consistent, apps can enable smoother logins, branch-specific offers, or location-aware promotions. If it differs, businesses can trigger additional verification to ensure the user’s identity.
Beyond addressing these practical challenges, Proximity Detection also represents a strategic advantage. Because location patterns are far more difficult to fake than traditional identifiers, this signal offers enterprises a new, trusted way to detect fraud and build better user experiences.
How it works
Proximity Detection works only when your app has been granted location permissions by the user. The Fingerprint mobile SDK never asks users for location access on its own — that’s entirely in your control.
When permissions are granted, Fingerprint generates a proximity signal that shows when devices are in the same physical area, with details like precision radius and confidence level. If location permissions aren’t enabled, no proximity data is created. This doesn’t affect the rest of your app’s functionality and requires no changes on your side.
Getting started
To start using Proximity Detection:
- Update your mobile SDKs to version 2.10.0:
- Use the Server API, webhooks, or Sealed Client Results to access Proximity Detection and related details like confidence level and precision radius.
- Reach out to our support team if you’d like guidance on setup or best practices.
