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Product context is educational relevance, not a feature-status or compliance claim.

Context: Visitor
Context: Education
Context: Trade
Context: Regulated Access
Screening
Identity Resolution
Compliance Manager
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What is a match-confidence score?

A similarity score produced by a matching system; it is not a probability that a sanctions violation or true identity match exists.

Last Reviewed: 2026-09-21Plain-English reference · not legal advice

Plain-English Summary

Match confidence is screening-system shorthand for how closely a query resembles a list entry under that system’s matching logic. The meaning depends on the engine. In OFAC’s Sanctions List Search, the score measures name similarity using phonetic and character-based logic; it does not determine whether the result is a valid sanctions match.

Why This Matters

Similarity scores help prioritize review, but they should not replace identity resolution. OFAC states that users must determine their own match thresholds based on the facts, internal risk assessments, and compliance practices. A lower threshold returns a broader result set; it does not mean lower-scoring parties are automatically safe.

Explanation Depth

Concept Explanation

A match score tells you how similar two names look to the screening system. It does not tell you with certainty that they are the same person or company. Reviewers still compare the details behind the names.

When You'll See This in SecurePoint

In SecurePoint Visitor, match scores can flow into the adjudication queue as review context. Across SecurePoint products, a score is not an automated clearance or blocking decision; the owning workflow records the human review outcome separately.

What You Should Do Next

Use the score to organize review, then inspect the source record and compare available identifiers. Apply your organization’s documented threshold and review procedures, and record why the potential match was cleared, escalated, or otherwise resolved.

What Can Go Wrong

Treating a similarity score as a probability of guilt, a legal conclusion, or an automatic clearance rule can cause both over-blocking and missed matches. Scores are only meaningful in the context of the matching method, available identifiers, and the organization’s risk controls.

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What is a match-confidence score? | Compliance Academy | SecurePoint USA