In light of the pandemic, many companies across the country have switched to telephone and video interviews in order to guarantee safety for candidates and interviewers alike. 

Unfortunately, this altruistic action has been abused by certain candidates who have taken advantage of these remote interviewing practices to substitute fake candidates in their place. Learn More

This practice can cost employers a lot of money and time wasted on vetting and hiring these candidates. The problem can then be made worse once these candidates begin work and lack the skills and abilities they claimed to possess during the interview, and this can potentially result in immeasurable damage to projects and workflow. 

Unfortunately for employers, protecting themselves from hiring an impostor can be difficult due to immigration and employment laws that protect applicants from discrimination. However, there are a few ways employers can protect themselves.

Pay Attention to Warning Signs on Resumes

There are certain warning signs that an employer can pay attention to on an applicant’s resume. These include:

• Pay attention to if a candidate claims to possess a wide variety of different skill sets and experience with top firms. This could be a red flag. Fake candidates may often attempt to over-represent themselves to attract attention.
• Look for an address. Fake candidates may only provide an email or phone number.
• Look for errors. A fake candidate may make mistakes when crafting a fake identity, so check dates of graduation and experience to make sure they do not conflict.
• Compare the candidate’s resume against any online profiles. If the education and work history listed on the resume does not match up with the online profile, that is a red flag.

During the Interview

A few tactics can also be used during the remote interview to detect a stand-in for the interviewer. First of all, try to avoid solely interviewing by phone. If the initial contact is through phone, try to follow up with a video interview so that the candidate’s face can be seen. Pay attention to if the candidate is wearing earbuds and ask them to remove them during the interview, as these could be used for someone to remotely feed the candidate answers to interview questions.

Request permission during the video interview to take a screenshot of the candidate’s face. If the candidate refuses, be ready to end the interview. If the candidate agrees and is later offered a position, request a photo to compare with the screenshot. Make sure that the candidate is aware of why the photo is needed to avoid allegations of discrimination. Destroy any photos and screenshots taken once the candidate is formally hired.

Employer Takeaways

Imposter interviewers are a growing scam that can inflict major harm on employers who may find their new hire lacks the skills and experience necessary to perform their role. Following these tips can help to identify fake candidates and ensure your next hire is who they claim to be.

Pre-employ makes background checks easy and reliable. Speak with a compliance expert today.

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