The humble utility bill is one of the most widely accepted forms of proof of address — and one of the most frequently forged. This guide shows compliance teams what to check and how to scale it.

Why utility bills are used

Utility bills tie a named person to a physical address with a recent issue date, which is exactly what customer due diligence needs. They complement identity checks from KYC and broader proof of address verification.

What to check on a utility bill

  • Issuer — a recognised utility provider, with a plausible logo and layout.
  • Issue date — typically within the last 90 days.
  • Name and address — matching the verified identity exactly.
  • Integrity — no edited fonts, misaligned text or altered totals.

Common fraud signals

  • Editable PDF metadata showing a word-processor as the producer.
  • Fonts or spacing that differ from the genuine provider template.
  • Round-number balances or impossible billing periods.
  • Reused document templates seen across multiple applicants.

These obligations sit within the AML framework set by the FATF and enforced by national regulators.

Automating utility bill verification

Use document verification to extract the issuer, date and address, then run rules automatically and push only suspicious bills to a reviewer. Wire it into automation workflows so it scales with volume.

Frequently asked questions

Are mobile-phone bills acceptable?

Policies vary; many firms exclude mobile bills because the address is easy to change. Define accepted types in policy.

How do I detect a forged bill?

Automated document checks compare layout, fonts and metadata against genuine templates to flag manipulation.

Stop forged bills at onboarding. Start free or book a demo.