1. A processor-implemented method for facial recognition, the method comprising: comparing, by a processor, extracted facial features of an input image, provided for recognition, to facial features of each of one or more images in a gallery of known faces, to select a closest gallery image, wherein the known faces are associated with potential recognition matches to the input image; calculating, by the processor, a first distance between the input image and the selected gallery image; comparing, by the processor, the facial features of the input image to facial features of each of one or more images in a set of decoy faces, to select a closest decoy image, wherein the decoy faces are associated with persons that should not generate recognition matches to the input image; calculating, by the processor, a second distance between the input image and the selected decoy image; and recognizing, by the processor, a match between the input image and the selected gallery image based on a comparison of the first distance and the second distance, wherein the recognizing includes rejecting the match if the second distance is less than the first distance, accepting the match if the first distance is less than a first selected threshold value, and accepting the match if a ratio of the first distance to the second distance is less than a second selected threshold value, even if the first distance is greater than the first selected threshold value.