Sterling Talent Solutions, has urged employers to ensure they are verifying information from applicants.The call comes in light of the latest reports from careers organisation, Prospects, which investigated 200 potential cases of degree fraud in the last four years and closed down 75 websites falsely offering UK degrees.
Prospects have highlighted a concerning number of fake degrees being used by applicants and have urged everyone involved in the recruitment supply chain to ensure the correct verification procedures are in place. False claims on CVs are currently on the rise, with research from The University of Law stating that 51% of Brits have felt pressure to lie on their application.
However, despite the rise of fake education and training information on CVs, research from Sterling revealed that one in five employers do not have a background screening policy in place.
“In a world of fake news where fraudsters are becoming ever more sophisticated in their use of technology to fabricate educational and training credentials, it’s perhaps no surprise that Prospects has unearthed a number of illegitimate websites,’ said Steve Smith, managing director EMEA at Sterling. “However, while many firms are more than aware of the trend towards falsifying applications, there’s still a worrying number of employers failing to implement the right checks, exposing themselves, their staff and their company to potential risk. You have to ask yourself, if an applicant has a fraudulent degree, what else they are being less than honest about?
“For firms seeking to implement robust checks, there are a few basic steps that should be taken,” Smith added. “By going directly to registrars (or doing so through third-party screening providers) it’s possible to identify immediate red-flags. Diploma mills now also have university websites where you can go to check the validity of a certificate. Of course, as fraud becomes more sophisticated, there will be a need for improved procedures, so it’s always advisable to seek out expert guidance.”
