A fingerprint sensor device with built-in liveness detection capabilities includes: an area sensor disposed on a top surface of a substrate; a stiffener disposed below a bottom surface of the substrate; a printed circuit making electrical connection to the sensor disposed below the stiffener; and a light source and a photodetector. At least one of the light source and photodetector is disposed on the printed circuit below the area sensor. The stiffener includes at least one through-hole located with respect to the light source or photodetector to allow light from the light source to transmit through the stiffener towards a finger located on the area sensor or to allow light reflected from the finger to pass through the stiffener to the photodetector.