The invention discloses an identity verification method and device, belonging to the technical field of networks. The method comprises the following steps: receiving an identity verification request of a terminal; generating a verification prompt picture and a plurality of option picture groups according to an original picture, wherein each option picture group comprises at least one verification answer picture and at least one interference picture; and the verification answer picture is determined by the original picture and the verification prompt picture; sending the verification prompt picture to the terminal, and sending the plurality of option picture groups to the terminal in batches; every time a picture to be verified is received, judging whether the picture selected by the terminal from the current option picture group is the verification answer picture or not; and, while determining that any one of the pictures selected by the terminal from the current option picture group is not the verification answer picture according to the received picture to be verified, refusing to pass identity verification of the terminal, and stopping sending the next option picture group to the terminal. According to the invention, the problem that the existing identity verification scheme is relatively poor in safety performance can be effectively solved.