Describe one method a Court Revenue Assistant uses to verify a payer's identity before posting a payment.

• A. Ask the payer to recite their Social Security number.
• B. Check the court's directory for the payer's contact info.
• C. Validate payer name, case number, and last four digits of account or use a payer account in CMS; verify with a photo ID if required.
• D. Assume identity if payment appears legitimate.

Answer: (C)

Verifying identity before posting a payment relies on cross-checking specific, official records so the payment goes to the correct case and account. The best approach is to confirm the payer’s name and the associated case number, and then verify the last four digits of the account or use a payer account already in the CMS. If required, presenting a government-issued photo ID provides an extra layer of assurance. This combination uses current, authoritative data and minimizes the chance of misapplied funds, while also creating a clear audit trail.

Rationale for why this approach is preferred: it relies on multiple independent identifiers rather than a single, informal cue, which strengthens accuracy and security. It avoids using highly sensitive information like a full Social Security number, which increases privacy risk. Relying on a directory for contact info can lead to outdated data, and guessing identity or assuming it from payment appearance is not acceptable practice.