BackCheck Reports CV Fraud Has Increased By as Much as 50% Since the Beginning of the Recession

    LONDON, ENGLAND, April 09, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Today's job market is extremely competitive. As 2009 drew to a close, the number of unemployed in the UK totaled 2.03 million while the number of people on jobseekers allowance hit a record high of 1.39 million in February 2010. As a result, candidates from all sectors are going to great lengths to increase their employability. According to a recent study released by BackCheck, it is becoming increasingly common to find candidates who make fraudulent claims on their CVs, forge university degrees, and hide their criminal records.

In the words of Dave Dinesen, BackCheck Founder and CEO: "Since the beginning of the recession BackCheck has screened over half a million candidates, and our 'red flag' rate has been higher by an order of magnitude - up to 25-50% higher depending on the industry. In a tough job market, it seems more candidates have succumbed to the temptation to overstate their qualifications and backgrounds."

According to Shaun Hammond, Vice President of BackCheck, the value in conducting background checks on potential new hires has increased significantly during the recession: "More companies than ever before are incorporating pre-employment screening into their hiring policies. This, coupled with the fact that there are fewer jobs available, means that those companies that don't screen their applicants are at a much greater risk of employing 'bad hires' than they were even a few years ago. You simply can't afford to take this risk during these rough economic times."

Mr. Hammond recommends that at the very least companies verify the employment history of every new hire. "Ideally, a pre-employment screening programme will include a criminal record check, reference checks, education and employment verifications, a credit enquiry, and a right to work document verification. At a minimum, the verification of their work history and a criminal record check should always be conducted to ensure you are protecting your people, customers, and property from those with a history of violence or theft."

About BackCheck
BackCheck, a division of Checkwell Decision Limited, is the UK's leading provider of pre-employment screening, including Criminal Record Checks, Employment and Education Verifications, Reference Checks, Credit Enquiries, and Right to Work Document Verifications. BackCheck conducts background checks on a global basis, for over 5,000 organisations based in the UK, North America and Europe. For more information, visit www.backcheck.co.uk.

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