a method for authenticating an identity involves a computing device receiving a first credential over a first communications channel , and determining a second communications channel from a comparison between the first received credential and a first reference credential provisionally associated with the first credential . the computing device opens the second communications channel and receives second credential over the second communications channel , and the identity is authenticated based on a verification of the second credential . the computing device authenticates the identity by generating a first identity proof score from a correlation between the first received credential and the first reference credential , generating a second identity proof score from a correlation between the second received credential and a second reference credential , and generating an ultimate identity proof score from the first identity proof score and the second identity proof score .