Spinelli aims to fight fraud with EEZE.

The dealership group, which operates 10 locations in Quebec, has teamed with identity verification and AML compliance provider EEZE to integrate the EEZE platform into its stores.

In a news release, EEZE said the early adoption of identity verification technology reinforces Spinelli’s commitment to customer security and operational excellence and protecting its customers and lending partners as the auto industry faces rising instances of identity theft.

The announcement of Spinelli’s partnership with EEZE comes not only during Canada’s Fraud Prevention Month, but also just ahead of the expansion of FINTRAC’s anti-money laundering (AML) regulations to include companies offering vehicle financing or leasing. The new rules, which take effect April 1, require formal compliance programs that include customer identity verification, transaction monitoring and suspicious activity reporting.

In addition to the regulatory requirements, the companies said, the EEZE platform is designed to give Spinelli’s lending partners assurance that every customer is verified before a finance or leasing application is submitted.

“Spinelli is being incredibly proactive and pioneering in its approach to security,” EEZE president and co-founder Tave Della Porta said. “This is a significant first step in helping the automotive industry prevent and deter fraud and identity theft — ultimately protecting their valued customers. Being an early adopter of IDV shows they understand trust is the most important currency in modern retail.”

Spinelli plans to use EEZE from the earliest stages of the customer journey, including validating customers before a test drive. Embedding ID verification into the pre-qualification and test-drive phases, EEZE said, turns a security necessity into a natural part of the dealership experience.

In addition, EEZE said it helps dealerships gather all necessary consent required under Quebec’s Loi 25 privacy law while giving consumers direct control over how their documentation is handled and stored. The company noted every identity verification performed through the platform includes AML checks, sanctions screenings and customizable workflow engines designed for the sales, F&I and service departments.

EEZE said its founders have more than 20 years of experience in automotive management and retail sales and built its platform to fit into the existing daily operations of a dealership, rather than forcing dealerships to change their processes to fit the software.

“We chose EEZE because of its long-term partnership mentality, product flexibility and ability to customize the platform to our specific needs,” Spinelli director of operations Charles Bari said. “Their team understands the nuances of our day-to-day operations, making the integration seamless for our staff and our clients.”