A flare-up of technology and access to the internet has made many things possible, including the proliferation of false credentials among employees. ‘Degree mills' continue to mushroom, giving rise to a billion-dollar industry that helps university students falsify their qualifications and diplomas.

The students get other people to do the learning for them or purchase false diplomas. Others have legitimate degrees but falsify their specialization or academic transcripts using sophisticated modern technology to gain an advantage in their career. The falsification is such a clean job that most employers do not suspect it.

The pandemic made online learning the best option for continuity of education but created the perfect environment for the diploma mills to blossom. So, the problem is more severe today than it was previously, and many employers could end up falling into the trap of hiring unqualified and incompetent persons without knowing it.

Conducting thorough reference checks is invaluable in the hiring process and a small investment compared to the harm an organization could suffer. To avoid these consequences, employers should conduct a thorough screening and vetting that exhaustively verifies the identities of shortlisted candidates and their qualifications.

The deep screening process involves identity verification, background screening, criminal checks, credit checks, and qualifications checks to ensure that the candidates are who they portray themselves. Social media checks are also crucial for verifying the academic credentials and conduct of the shortlisted candidates. The process is extensive but essential for fraud prevention. It also ensures that the business ends up with employees whose past, current, and future tendencies carry the image and values of the company.