Overview
When a client completes an Engage request, Legl generates a Client Due Diligence (CDD) report. This report brings together the results of automated checks run on your client's identity, financial background, and watchlist screening status.
This article explains what each section of the report covers and what the different result statuses mean. For firms on a DIATF-certified plan, the report also includes an Identity fraud screening section.
What the report contains
A CDD report covers five core checks, grouped into three areas. The first three checks relate to confirming your client's identity and are run together as part of the same process. For firms on a DIATF-certified plan, the report also includes an Identity fraud screening section.
ℹ️ Important
The Identity fraud screening section only appears in CDD reports for firms that have opted in to a DIATF-certified plan. If your firm is not on a certified plan, you will not see this section in your reports.
ℹ️ Further guidance
To use the AI-powered summary to help with your review, see What is Legl Assist?
Understanding results
Each section of the report shows one of three result statuses.
Clear
The check was completed successfully and no concerns were identified. No further action is required for that section.
Consider
The check could not be fully verified and requires your review. A Consider result does not mean your client is fraudulent. It means something could not be conclusively confirmed, and additional context or documentation may be needed before you can reach a decision. Your firm's risk-based approach determines what action to take.
ℹ️ Further guidance
For a full breakdown of what causes a Consider result in each section and the recommended next steps, see What a Consider result means in a CDD report.
N/A
The check could not be run, typically because the client has a non-UK address. In these cases, Legl automatically prompts the client to upload a supporting document for manual review instead.
ℹ️ Further guidance
For more detail on what this means and what to do next, see Understanding an N/A result in a CDD report.
Identity checks
Three checks are run to confirm that your client is who they say they are.
ID Document Validation
Legl checks that the identity document your client uploaded is genuine and matches the information they provided. This includes checks on document features, expiry status, and whether the details on the document match what the client entered during the request.
Identity Validation
Legl checks your client's name, date of birth, and address against third-party data sources including credit agencies, the electoral roll, and telephone databases. This check confirms that the individual exists as described and is associated with the address they provided.
ℹ️ Further guidance
Identity verification is only available for clients with a UK address. Please see the below article for more information:
Biometrics
Legl checks that the person completing the request is a real, live individual whose face matches the identity document they uploaded. This includes liveness detection to prevent spoofing or the use of a static photograph.
Financial Screening
Legl checks for county court judgements (CCJs), debt collection activity, and whether a record for the individual can be found in credit agency data. This check is only available for individuals with a UK address. Clients with a non-UK address will receive an N/A result for this section.
Watchlist Screening
Legl checks your client against global sanctions lists, Politically Exposed Person (PEP) datasets, adverse media sources, and law enforcement lists. This check applies to all clients regardless of their location.
Identity fraud screening
For firms on a DIATF-certified plan, Legl runs a series of identity fraud checks using public and private sector data. These checks assess whether the claimed identity may be linked to previous fraud or impersonation, belong to someone deceased, use compromised identity documents, or be synthetic. Five checks run as part of this section:
NSIRA – Fraud check — screens the identity for fraud markers on the SIRA database
NSIRA – Impersonation check — screens for impersonation markers on the SIRA database
DDRI (Deceased Identity) check — checks whether the identity appears on the deceased persons register
Identity document fraud check — checks whether the supplied identity documents appear on the police database of lost, stolen, or fraudulent identity documents
Synthetic identity check — assesses whether the identity may be synthetic
Each check returns its own result. If any return a Consider, the overall Identity fraud screening section will show Consider for your review.
ℹ️ Further guidance
For detail on what each fraud check result means and what to do when a Consider result appears, see Understanding fraud check results.
Where to find this in Legl
CDD reports are accessible from the Engage section of your Legl dashboard. Open the relevant Engage request and select the report to view the results. You can also download a PDF version of the report for your records.
ℹ️ Further guidance
To download a CDD report, see How to download a CDD report.
Important information
CDD results represent the outcome of automated checks at the time the request was submitted. They are not a legal determination and must be interpreted using your firm's own risk-based approach and internal policies.
Financial screening is only available for individuals with a UK address. All other clients will receive an N/A result for this section.
Identity validation results may vary for clients who have recently moved address, have a non-UK address, or have limited coverage across the data sources used.
The Identity fraud screening section is only available for firms on a DIATF-certified plan.
Legl cannot provide legal advice on how to interpret or act on CDD results. Your firm is responsible for applying its own escalation and review procedures.