Know Your Customer (KYC) in proxy services is a required identity and use-case check run at signup or when risk increases. Expect to submit a government ID or company documents, pass liveness and sanctions screening, and confirm how you plan to use the network, with stricter checks for residential and mobile access. Reviews may be handled by the provider or by vendors such as Sumsub or Veriff, and access is expanded once verification passes. For related TOS, AUP, and review rules, see proxy provider policies.
What KYC Covers
KYC in proxy services verifies that an account belongs to a real, permitted person or company and that the intended use fits the service rules. It typically includes identity checks, business legitimacy checks, and a brief use-case review.
KYC is not a marketing formality. Providers use it to prevent abuse, reduce fraud and chargebacks, comply with AML and sanctions screening, and keep blocked uses off their networks. Depending on product risk, the depth of KYC may range from light contact checks to full ID and corporate document review.
Why KYC Exists in Proxy Networks
KYC exists to protect the network from misuse and to satisfy compliance requirements that touch payments, sanctions, and fraud prevention. It also helps support teams decide what access level to grant.
Residential and mobile access is usually considered higher risk because traffic flows through consumer IPs, so it often requires stronger verification. Some datacenter products may allow lighter checks until risk signals appear.
Who Is Subject to KYC
All buyers can be asked to verify, but the scope varies by product, spend level, and risk. Individuals typically submit personal ID, while companies provide legal entity details and responsible person identification.
Bulk buyers, resellers, and anyone seeking access to sensitive products or features are more likely to face full verification. Trials can also be gated behind KYC to limit abuse by disposable accounts.
Risk Triggers That Require Verification
KYC can be required at signup or later when risk increases. Common triggers include payment method changes including crypto, abnormal traffic spikes, access requests for higher-risk targets, chargebacks, or reports of abuse.
Other triggers include changes in account ownership, inconsistent contact details, or use of anonymized email domains that do not match claimed business details.
How Verification Works
A typical flow collects basic profile data, documents, and a short statement of intended use. The system then checks ID authenticity, compares names between inputs, and screens against sanctions or watchlists.
If automated checks pass, access proceeds. Edge cases go to manual review, which can include additional questions or a short real-time check to confirm liveness and ownership.
Documents Typically Required
Most providers accept both individual and business buyers, with slightly different paperwork.
Summary: individuals usually submit government ID and a selfie, while businesses submit company registration, tax details, and a representative’s ID.
| Buyer type | Typical documents | Notes |
| Individual | Government ID, selfie or liveness, proof of contact | Name must match payment and account details. |
| Business | Certificate of incorporation or registration, tax/VAT info, proof of address, authorized representative’s ID | Use official email domain. Representative may need liveness. |
Use-case questions are common for both, focused on target categories, tooling, and expected throughput. Answers should be consistent with later usage to avoid re-checks.
In-House vs Third-Party (Sumsub, Veriff)
Providers either run KYC internally or integrate a verification vendor. Internal teams review uploads and run checks with their own tooling. Third-party vendors supply the capture flows and pass/fail responses.
Vendor landscape
Third-party KYC vendors observed in this market include Sumsub as a frequent choice and Veriff in some cases, though many providers still perform KYC fully in-house. These vendors typically offer document capture with OCR, selfie and liveness checks, AML and sanctions screening, age checks, geofence and prohibited-country filters, risk scoring, and webhooks or callbacks to deliver decisions.
Embedded widgets or redirect flows are common integration patterns, with manual review as fallback when automation cannot reach a clear decision. Third-party KYC is often invoked for residential or mobile access, crypto payments, enterprise trials, suspicious activity flags, or escalations during support.
Data note. In a vendor flow, the vendor stores the submitted images and documents. The provider usually receives a verification status plus minimal attributes needed for account decisions.
When Re-Checks Happen
Re-verification can occur when risk changes or compliance requires it. Typical triggers include large plan upgrades, payment profile changes, new regions or targets added to the account, or prior violations.
Buyers should expect a short re-check window if behavior changes materially, especially for products with strict abuse controls or when moving into higher-risk use cases.
How KYC Data Is Handled
KYC data is processed only for onboarding, risk control, and legal compliance, then retained for the account lifetime plus any required compliance period. Access is limited to staff or vendors who need it to make decisions.
Buyers can usually request copies or deletion where applicable, subject to legal retention requirements. If a third-party verifier is used, the vendor acts as a processor and the provider receives only what is needed for approvals.
Reasons for Approval or Denial
Approvals require clear identity, consistent details across documents and payment, and intended use that fits the service rules. Denials occur when identity is unclear, documents are invalid, or the use case conflicts with stated restrictions.
If KYC is not complete, providers can gate features or pause access. Examples include limiting high-risk networks, capping throughput, or suspending new sessions until verification finishes.
Appeal Path if You Are Denied
You can usually appeal by submitting better images, correct documents, and context about your intended targets. Include timestamps, a brief target list, and sanitized config snippets that show normal use patterns.
Appeals go faster when they directly address the reviewer’s concerns. Keep the explanation short and factual, and ensure all contact details and payment names match.
KYC Prep Checklist
A short preparation prevents most delays. Match your account details to your legal documents and payment profile, prepare clear scans or photos, and be ready to explain your use case in one paragraph.
Use a business email and website when you buy as a company, have a working LinkedIn or site that reflects your activity, and keep your expected traffic description realistic and consistent with what you plan to run.
Quick list:
- Ensure legal name matches billing and account.
- Use a business email and domain if buying as a company.
- Have a valid government ID ready, plus company docs where relevant.
- Prepare a one-paragraph use-case summary and target categories.
- Keep a working website or profile that reflects your activity.
KYC Policy FAQ
Do all plans require KYC?
Verification can be required for any plan. Higher-risk products like residential or mobile are more likely to need full checks.
Can I start without KYC and verify later?
Some products or features remain locked until KYC completes. Light access may be allowed first, then expanded after verification.
What if I pay with crypto?
Crypto often triggers stronger checks, especially when combined with high volume or sensitive targets.
How long is my data stored?
Data is kept for the account lifetime plus any required compliance period. Deletion requests may be limited by legal retention rules.
What if my documents are rejected?
Resubmit clearer images that show all corners, ensure names and dates match, and answer use-case questions consistently. You can also appeal with additional evidence.
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