Believe it or not

• Identity theft: Unfortunately this is more common that you might think. If you have never come across it in your organisation, ask yourself …why, is it because your process is so good, or is it because theirs is? Recently one of our colleagues (FWG) came across a case where a candidate already security checked and cleared by the employer and relevant authorities, was offered an employment contract in one of Ireland's International airports. With this contract he gained full airside access, and more importantly, access to the belly of aircraft for loading luggage. Worryingly this employee had targeted this particular job position specifically, although we will probably never know why exactly stage one of his plan was already in place. What he did not know was, the client had begun to review its recruitment process and had just introduced and external screening agency as part of their recruitment process. Once an independent full ten year CheckBack was carried out, it wasn’t long before it was discovered that this individual was not who he claimed to be. In fact he not only had a serious criminal background and record in the UK, he had stolen an identity in order to fool internal security vetting procedures.
• Documentation fraud: A candidate had presented a Police Clearance Cert (CRC) to his new employer at the interview stage. This employee had serious criminal convictions, and had lied on his application form. As this candidate had applied for a position of trust with access to valuable data, and our Client already had CheckBack vetting entrenched in their recruitment process, we were quickly able to uncover the real candidate.
• Passports: According to Authorities working within emigration control at our airports, passport screening results in many applicants being detained for interviews, as a copy of same passport already had been issued to some one previously claiming his credentials as their own. Passport theft is extremely common in Europe
• Special agent: When one of our security candidates we were screening, advised that we must “cease our checks immediately”, we were curious to find out why. Although we will only ever carry out a CheckBack on candidates with their explicit permission, it is unusual to come across a candidate who is not willing to allow us even start, and yet still expect to be considered for the position he is targeting. As it turned out this candidate--who was applying for position as security guard (door man) in Ireland--claimed to be an ex KGB agent and all files on him were sealed. Needless to say we ceased our CheckBack immediately, and advised our client of the calibre of recruit they were about to place. We do not know if he ever did manage to find employment within the Irish Security Industry, however if he did it was not with a CheckBack International client.
• CEO: Candidate who successfully convinced one of Britain’s top universities to allow him complete his final year of studies at their campus, turns out he hadn’t actually had any form of higher education up to that point. Worryingly, after successfully completing his alleged final year , he was awarded relevant title, and eventually recruited into a high level position for a well know ‘MNC’, who made the mistake of presuming the University would have checked back on previous qualifications. They presumed wrong, and this candidate became part of the team. Later CheckBack was introduced as part of their recruitment process and a trawl/checkback on existing staff highlighted this issue.