Abstract: Disclosed is an identification verification system comprising a verification server arranged to: receive, via a network, user photo data corresponding to a photo of a user upon the user authorising the transmission of the user photo data at an identification data provider system, store user identification data in a verification database, the user identification data including at least the user photo data and corresponding user identification string data indicative of a user identification string, transmit the user identification string data to a user device associated with the user for storage on the user device, and transmit to a merchant device at least the user photo data corresponding to the user identification string upon receiving the user identification string or user identification string data from the merchant device, to enable the merchant device to display the photo of the user on the merchant device. An identification verification method is also disclosed.