Fraud in the employment industry is very common, and employers have countless means to battle it, yet still, they aren’t able to prevent it completely
The most common examples of resume or credential fraud show that candidates lie about their work history, experience, educational level, and most frequently, skills and technical know-how. An analysis of 2.6 million background checks carried out by ADP found that: 44% of resumes contained lies about their work history, 41% had lies about their education, and 23% of resumes claimed a falsified credential or license.
To put that into perspective, when hiring for a role almost 1 in 3 candidates will have lied about their abilities in some way.
Yet fraud doesn’t just happen in the employment industry. Businesses and organizations may claim to have credibility, or that they have been certified by an established governing body when in reality, they have not. But for the common folk, and some customers that skip background checks, we believe these claims wholeheartedly. While their services might have industry standards, it is still a bad way to run a business.
This is where digital certificates come into play. As we’ve mentioned before, it is definitely possible to be deceived by a person or business in the physical world, but thinking about it, it is much easier to be deceptive in the digital world. How does an individual or business validate that an electronic transmission came from a trusted, validated source? Digital certificates are one tool that can be used to effectively validate and authenticate both the source and the holder.
Digital Certificates are the safest and most secure way to deal with fraud
Digital credentials bring consistency, data, and security to skill capture and presentation. They give learners the ability to manage their skill certificates and academic record in a portable and verified way.
On the other hand, employees who have access to digital credentials are well-positioned to make more efficient hiring practices. Finally, organizations that issue digital credentials for learning are in a position to not only expand their programs but also contribute to the future of business.
What is credential fraud?
Credential fraud is when a candidate lies about holding a certain credential or license or lies about the issuing authority behind their credential. In a study conducted by Checkster, half of the candidates that applied for job opportunities had lied about their employment history dates to show they had stayed longer in a role. 41% of candidates lied about the job titles they held, often falsifying a director-level role when they were employed as a manager or similar level.
It was also found that 40% of applicants had claimed a degree from a prestigious institution when they were a few credits short. 39% of applicants also claimed a degree from a prestigious institution they had never attended. A third of the applicants assessed had outright lied about a credential or license they had never obtained.
Clearly, we can see the need for verifiable and legitimate certificates, not just for employers but for employees as well, as those employees with actual credibility and certification, as well as the skills required for the job, will get a better chance at securing it with a digital certificate rather than an individual committing fraud.
Fraud in the workplace is incredibly harmful.
Credential fraud creates a risk to the individual employee, to the institution or organization that they claimed to have issued it, to the workplace environment itself, and to the people that are currently working there. The individual is at a high risk of losing their job, getting blacklisted from the company and in some cases, future companies that apply for. Both the individual and the organization may have to face legal repercussions, and depending on the role, might cause harm. Any institution or organization named in instances of credential or resume fraud is at risk of damage to its reputation, causing candidates and employers to doubt its legitimacy.
Workplaces face harm to their reputation for seemingly ignoring instances of credential or resume fraud. This can affect their profit, and customer base, and lead to legal action if harm is caused by an employee that has lied about their competency level. For example, if a candidate lies to gain a role that directly impacts health and safety, the risk of harm is physical and customers of the organization face injury – or worse. There have been instances of pilots, expert witnesses, and even medical professionals lying about their credentials to gain employment.
Prevent Fraud With Digital Certificates
To solve workplace fraud around credentials and resumes, a dependable method of verification that doesn’t cost employers time or money is required. Hyperstack’s platform provides Digital credentials that overcome this obstacle through a one-click verification system that eliminates the need for drawn-out verification processes.
How employers benefit from digital certificates
Recruiters and HR no longer need to rely on contacting administration departments. Employers navigate to the live credential and can see all the details of the award or affiliation. This includes the issue and expiration dates, the validity of the credential, information regarding the issuing authority, and further detail such as how well the candidate performed and evidence of applied knowledge.
How employees benefit from digital certificates
Digital badges adhere to the Open Badge Standard, which enables digital badge files to be downloaded as a .png file and then verified using Open Badge verification tools. Candidates can also add their digital badge to their preferred badge backpack.
QR codes included on digital certificates enable recipients to print a high-quality copy of their certificate that can still be verified by scanning the link to the live credential. The option to print enables candidates to include their digital certificates in physical portfolios or to display them on the wall in their office or home.
Using digital credentials, candidates have the freedom to present evidence of skill or knowledge in their preferred format without impacting an organization’s ability to easily verify the credential.
Allows job seekers to build a solid portfolio
The use of digital wallets alongside digital certificates allows qualified candidates to provide a personal portfolio of competencies to their potential employer. Recruiters are able to easily verify a candidate’s credentials. They also gain insight into what additional skills and certifications the candidate holds.
How organizations benefit from digital certificates
A simple method of verification also benefits the issuing authority. Administrators that previously would have been required to respond to verification requests are able to focus on other responsibilities of their role. Organizations can add further credentialing programs to their offering, without needing to consider how this impacts their staff dealing with verification requests.
Using Hyperstack’s platform, digital certificates can be created securely, with no extra fee, and no additional work required to provide extra security for digital certificates and digital badges.
Looking for a way to provide your organization with secure, authentic and customizable digital credentials? You found us just in time.
Join Hyperstack and create your first credential in as little as 15 minutes, and start your digital journey today!
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