Frequently asked questions
What is Essential-FD?
Essential-FD is a low-friction fraud-detection layer for submitted files. It checks images and PDFs for specific, technically verifiable signs of manipulation, AI generation, and file fraud.
What does Essential-FD output?
Essential-FD returns a simple boolean flag per file. flag=false means no active check detected a covered signal. flag=true means a specific fraud-relevant anomaly was detected, with a clear justification provided.
Does flag=false mean the file is authentic?
No. flag=false means that Essential-FD did not detect any fraud-relevant signal covered by the active checks. It does not certify that the file is authentic or fraud-free.
Does Essential-FD catch all fraud?
No. Essential-FD is not designed to catch every fraudulent file. It is designed to catch specific types of file fraud with high precision and low operational burden.
Why focus on specific checks instead of broad risk scores?
Broad risk scores can create noisy alerts and extra manual work. Essential-FD focuses on specific signals that can be explained and trusted.
Why are raw files important?
Raw files may contain metadata, internal structure, timestamps, and other technical details that are useful for detecting manipulation. Screenshots, compressed files, or re-saved exports may remove important evidence.
Can Essential-FD work without an API integration?
Yes. Essential-FD can connect through common secure channels beyond an API, such as SFTP or a secure OneDrive folder. Essential-FD works with each customer to find the right setup.
Is Essential-FD a replacement for fraud teams?
No. Essential-FD is an additional protection layer. It helps detect file-level signals that may otherwise be missed, but it does not replace human judgment, investigation, or legal review.
What happens when a file returns flag=true?
A file with flag=true should come with an explanation of what was detected, why it matters, and what action may be appropriate.
Still have questions?
The easiest way to understand Essential-FD is to test it on real files from your workflow.