CV fraud is where a job applicant provides false information or overstatements on their CV. This can range from small overstatements, such as minor alterations of job titles and extra-curricular activities, to providing false qualifications and experience.

Worryingly, a recent report found that nearly 10% of people in the UK have lied on their CV in the last 12 months and 39% said they were not likely to report a colleague’s CV fraud. The consequences of CV fraud can be wide-reaching and could include dismissal from employment, criminal charges (including a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, if applicable), barring from certain professions and difficulty obtaining future jobs. For the employer, there is the risk of considerable reputational harm and financial loss.

Blake Morgan Associate Madeleine Mould considers the wide range of issues arising out of CV fraud in an article first published in the Reward Strategy digital magazine issue 240.

Madeleine also highlights the preventative steps employers should take such as:

  • Carrying out pre-employment screening checks (including right to work checks, which are of course required to establish a statutory excuse for the purposes of right to work legislation)
  • Carrying out DBS checks and obtain medical reports (if appropriate)
  • Verifying employment history, references, education and professional qualifications
  • Independently verifying membership of any professional bodies/registers

Read the article in full here.

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