It has become more common since COVID-19 that 60-80% of companies incorporate some form of online interviewing into their recruitment process. At the same time, this not only brings positive changes but also a rise in interview fraud. This is because when employees apply for remote positions, they often don’t even get to meet the employer. Communication takes place via email or instant messenger, which further increases the chances of deception.
In recent years, the number of companies offering remote work options has increased, particularly due to the remote work trend accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some estimates suggest that around 40% to 60% of companies offer some form of remote work option.
It is a trend for fraudulent recruiters to offer attractive job offers and then disappear with other people’s money. If the recruiter is from a lesser-known company, it’s worth checking out the company’s website or a well-known site such as Linkedin for job postings. Today, we will try to explain all types of interview fraud, how to prevent them, and the reason behind the rise of interview fraud.
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The reason behind the rise of interview fraud
We all have seen, a recent rise of interview fraud after remote work popularity. To protect from this you all have to know what is the reason behind the rise of interview fraud.
Lack of Awareness
We all have to agree that this is a problem, many job seekers are unaware of the signs of a fraudulent job offer or interview. Additionally, most job seekers lack digital skills, a 2022 Pew Research Center survey found that 30% of US adults lack basic digital literacy skills, including using video conferencing tools and navigating online platforms effectively. So, this lack of knowledge and their minimal ability to identify suspicious activity allows them to commit fraud.
Rise of remote work trend
Since COVID-19, job interviews around the world have largely shifted from offline to online. However, this has made it easier for scammers to set up fake interviews and exploit them after being hired. Glider AI‘s report found that candidate fraud increased by 92% during the pandemic. During the online interview process, it is not easy to verify information and references compared to traditional face-to-face interviews.
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Advance Technology
This is just a black mirror episode in reality. Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated techniques to deceive job seekers. This includes creating fake job descriptions on popular job sites, putting up fake company websites, and even conducting fake interviews via video conferencing platforms. Technological advances such as deepfakes and easily obtained fake credentials have made it easier for fraudsters to create mock identities to deceive candidates. This is also one of the reasons for the rise of interview fraud.
Economic Conditions
Economic conditions are very easily fabricated in job placements. In times of economic uncertainty, such as a recession, job seekers can become even more desperate to find work. Because of this, they may be more interested in securing the job than checking the details and originality of the interview, which can make them more susceptible to fraud. During this process, some candidates pay high amounts of money to receive offer letters and other guarantees.
Global Reach
The flip side of the internet is that it easily allows scammers to target job seekers from anywhere in the world. Most companies use an online interview process for their hiring process, making it easier for scammers to use similar tactics. In a Robert Half survey, 78% of recruiters said they would use video conferencing for interviews in 2021, compared to 47% in 2019. Taking this into account, scammers are organizing fake online interviews using the names of major IT companies, making candidates more susceptible to being fooled because they are unable to clarify which one is real or fake.
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Types of Interview Fraud
Interview fraud occurs from both sides, employers, and candidates, we will try to mention both sides, here some ways in which it happens similarly:
Falsified Qualifications
Candidates are displaying incorrect skills, experience, or education on their resumes or during interviews. At this time, structured and planned questions will give you a clear understanding of reality. BarRasier is one of the perfect platforms to help recruiters design structured interviews and suggest to-the-point questions.
Cheating, taking external help
Using unauthorized tools or accessing external resources during the interview is one of the most common reasons for interview fraud. This is the simplest form of interview cheating. When candidates are faced with difficult questions, they may want to confer outside sources to find answers. However, a fleeting glance at a candidate is usually a sign of such activity. BarRaiser is a platform that records the interview and monitors the candidate’s eyes constantly to prevent cheating.
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Proxy Interview
We have observed that often, another person gives the online interview on behalf of the actual candidate. It occurs when a candidate hires a professional to conduct a video interview on their behalf. This method makes it difficult to detect the nature of interview fraud in real time. The fraud could be discovered at a later date when a different person appears on the initial virtual call with the interviewers. To avoid these types of obligations, the human resources department should review the documents before sharing the offer letter.
Fake Interview
Yes, you heard it right. Scammers may post fake job listings as if they are real and conduct fake interviews to collect information about candidates or convince them to pay for the fake job listing. These interviews can be conducted through video conferencing platforms or chat applications. The rise of interview fraud post-Covid 19 was the impact of such techniques used by fraudsters.
Deep Fake
We all have to agree that Deep Fake is a challenge of the tech industry. Tech-enabled interview fraud has now been found using deepfake technology. It uses an AI-powered program to create a realistic clone of a person. With it, you can duplicate a person’s face or clone a person’s voice to say whatever you want. This poses a major threat to the recruitment process, spiking a rise in interview fraud. It’s important to educate recruiters on how to tell the difference between a real video and a deepfake.
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How to recognize scammers to avoid them?
A real recruiter will not ask for money
Employers who value their reputation won’t demand money, whether it’s for training, equipment purchases, fees, or anything else. Asking for payment during interviews or before hiring is a sure sign of a scam.
A real recruiter will ask about your skills according to the job description
Think about the pitfalls if you quickly find a well-paid and complex job after a simple interview where even your skills are not checked. Well, in such a case, you may have fallen into the trap of recruiters guaranteeing you a job with one interview. Stay away from it.
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Phishing Scams
These scammers copy the websites of companies and well-known recruitment agencies and impersonate legitimate employers and recruiters to send emails and messages requesting personal information or job-related payments. They often communicate with applicants using addresses that closely resemble the company’s address. These messages often contain links to fake websites intended to steal sensitive information.
Received Job Description Anonymously
If you’re not looking for a job and receive an attractive offer, the question arises, “How did they hear about you?” “Are they scammers?”. So, if you’re sharing your contact information when looking for a job, be mindful of it. Scammers may send you lucrative offers impersonating good employers, so it’s essential to spot fake offers.
Don’t share your information right away.
Usually, an employment contract is concluded on the first day of work. What I’m trying to say is that there is no need to provide all the details in advance. If you have shared your personal information in advance, there are high chance that they will not write back.
Ask your doubt
If in doubt, feel free to show your interactions with interviewers to clarify. You may be able to spot a scammer in a 1-on-1 conversation.
Double-check your future employer.
If you know someone who already works at the company for which you have received a job offer, ask them if such a position actually exists, why it exists, and what the working conditions are. Networking is the key here.
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At the end
While the shift to remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many benefits, one terrifying trend is the rise of interview fraud. As more interactions occur online, both job seekers and employers are navigating in an environment where they can be easily scammed. So, keep yourself safe from these digital and new types of fraud. Stay aware of the current happening around your country, an try to build a good connection from people in other companies.
Using BarRaiser can help you avoid digital interview scams and keep your recruitment process crisp and informative. Try our best video interview platform and stay on top of your hiring process.
FAQs
Why has interview fraud increased post-COVID-19?
The rise in remote work and online interviewing, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has made it easier for scammers to conduct fraudulent interviews without meeting candidates in person, increasing the risk of deception.
How can I identify a fake job interview?
Fake job interviews often involve requests for money, lack proper skill verification, or use phishing emails to steal personal information. Always verify the company’s legitimacy through trusted sources before proceeding.
What are common types of interview fraud?
Interview fraud can include falsified qualifications, where candidates lie about their skills; proxy interviews, where someone else takes the interview; fake interviews conducted to steal information; and deepfake technology used to create realistic but fraudulent interactions.
How does technology enable interview fraud?
Advances in technology, like deepfakes and easily obtainable fake credentials, allow scammers to create convincing fake interviews and job postings, making it difficult for candidates to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent opportunities.
How can I avoid interview fraud?
To avoid interview fraud, always verify the employer’s legitimacy through official channels, avoid sharing personal information prematurely, and be skeptical of any job offer that requires upfront payment or seems too good to be true.