The hiring landscape has always required careful navigation, but in recent years, the terrain has shifted in unprecedented ways. What was once a relatively straightforward process—post a job, review resumes, conduct interviews—has become increasingly complex due to hiring deception.

Today, recruiters aren’t just matching skills to job descriptions. They’re also playing detective—scrutinizing resumes for inconsistencies, validating identities, and looking for signs of AI-generated applicants during both virtual and in-person interviews.

At Abel Personnel, where we’ve been connecting great companies with great people for over 55 years, we’ve witnessed firsthand how candidate deception has evolved—and how important it is to remain vigilant.

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The New Face of Candidate Fraud

Resume embellishment is nothing new. For decades, job seekers have padded titles, glossed over gaps, or exaggerated responsibilities in hopes of landing a position. But what we’re seeing now goes far beyond the occasional stretch of the truth.

A recent NBC News investigation revealed a startling trend: job candidates are using AI tools and deepfake technology to fabricate entire identities. In one case, a hiring manager noticed that a candidate’s facial expressions were slightly out of sync during a video interview. It turned out the applicant was using a deepfake overlay—a digitally altered face synced with another person’s voice—to impersonate someone else entirely.

These incidents are no longer rare. According to research cited in the article, Gartner predicts that by 2028, one in four job candidates globally may be fake—enabled by AI-generated resumes, synthetic identities, and sophisticated digital deception. A 2025 HR survey found that 74% of hiring managers have encountered AI-generated application content, while 17% have seen signs of deepfake use during interviews. These tools are being used not just to enhance résumés, but to mislead recruiters and bypass screening processes entirely.

For companies hiring remote employees or managing high-volume digital recruitment, this presents a new layer of complexity and risk.

Source: Fung, B. (2024, March 21). “Fake job seekers are flooding U.S. companies that are hiring for remote positions, tech CEOs say.” NBC News. Read the full article

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What We’re Seeing on the Ground

At Abel Personnel, we’ve identified several candidate behaviors that point to broader trends. Seemingly minor discrepancies—a title that doesn’t quite match, a job history that feels too curated—can lead to larger concerns upon closer review.

1. Multiple Resumes with Contradictory Histories

It’s not uncommon for a single applicant to submit multiple resumes, each tailored to different job functions. On one, they might appear to be a seasoned operations manager; on another, a marketing professional with digital expertise. While some tailoring is expected, this tactic can also be used deliberately to mislead.

We’ve also seen resumes that appear to be either copied directly from job descriptions or generated by AI—both of which tend to stand out due to overly polished language, generic phrasing, or unrealistic alignment with job requirements.

A Resume Genius study recently found that 70% of job seekers admit to lying on their resumes, and increasingly, those lies are assisted by generative AI. We’ve observed candidates with highly curated applications paired with minimal digital presence—an indicator of synthetic or AI-generated profiles.

By comparing current submissions with previously archived resumes in our applicant database, our recruiters can quickly spot inconsistencies and follow up with clarifying questions.

2. Doctored Documents for Proof of Residency

Roles tied to government contracts or requiring state-specific employment often include residency requirements. Some candidates, eager to qualify, submit altered utility bills, outdated lease agreements, or forged documentation.

To address this, we conduct online research to verify the legitimacy of utility providers and related documents. While many applicants are forthcoming, this step has proven critical in identifying hiring deception. National surveys indicate that over 50% of employers have encountered fraudulent documentation, especially in remote onboarding scenarios.

3. Inflated Titles and Responsibilities

We’ve seen resumes that push credibility—entry-level roles rebranded as senior leadership positions, or support roles portrayed as executive-level. While career advancement is commendable, misrepresenting a title or scope of work is a red flag.

Our team confirms titles, responsibilities, and reporting structures by speaking directly with former employers. This helps ensure that candidates accurately represent their experience.

4. Fake References and Manufactured Endorsements

It’s surprisingly easy for a candidate to list a friend or relative as a reference posing as a former supervisor. These individuals often give vague but glowing reviews.

We verify references by asking specific, role-based questions and confirming their connection with the candidate. When a reference can’t provide detailed insights, it raises a red flag.

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The Rise of AI and Deepfake Interviews

One of the most dramatic shifts in recent years is the use of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology during the interview process. As companies embrace virtual hiring, some candidates have begun to manipulate the system.

We’ve interviewed candidates whose responses felt scripted—likely generated or assisted by AI. Others have attempted to use visual software enhancements or even deepfake overlays to appear more confident, professional, or to pass as someone else entirely.

In one case widely reported online, a cyber security hiring manager identified an AI deepfake when a candidate’s lips failed to sync with their words. The candidate quickly terminated the call after being asked to perform a basic movement on camera—something the AI overlay couldn’t handle.

To combat these tactics, our team has adopted a consistent interview strategy across both in-person and virtual settings. We use behavioral questions that require spontaneous thinking, follow up with detailed questions about specific accomplishments, and conduct multi-round interviews when appropriate. These techniques help us ensure we’re speaking with the real applicant—not a digital façade.

In alignment with EEOC guidelines and to promote fairness, we also ask all candidates in consideration to complete role-specific skills assessments. These validation exercises—such as practical simulations, live problem-solving tasks, or software tests—require genuine skill. When there are concerns about AI-generated answers or identity deception, these assessments help distinguish truly qualified candidates from those performing hiring deception.

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Why Combating Hiring Deception Matters

The consequences of hiring the wrong person—especially due to deception—are far-reaching. Beyond the immediate disruption to a team, companies can face compromised data, diminished morale, lost productivity, and even legal exposure.

Cyber security professionals are warning of a rise in fraudulent hires intended for malicious purposes—including data theft and unauthorized access. Notably, U.S. authorities uncovered a scheme in which North Korean nationals posed as U.S.-based remote workers to funnel income into banned weapons programs.

When someone secures a role under false pretenses, it’s not just a hiring misstep—it’s an organizational risk. That’s why a growing number of employers are emphasizing rigorous candidate screening and reliable staffing partnerships to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated fraud.

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Looking Ahead

As the hiring process evolves, recruiters and employers must balance the benefits of efficiency with the need for vigilance. Technology is transforming how candidates present themselves, but it doesn’t have to erode the integrity of hiring.

The challenge is clear: stay informed, ask the right questions, and never assume that a polished presentation tells the full story.

At Abel Personnel, we remain committed to a hiring process built on transparency, diligence, and trust—because every great hire begins with a real person behind the resume.

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Sources:

• Leveraging the Future of Social Media
• Will your Resume Win You the Interview?
• Using AI Effectively in Your Job Search