Mumbai: As hybrid work and multi-city recruitment gain momentum, employers are increasingly finding that traditional one-time background checks are no longer adequate. A new report has found that 74 per cent of respondents view fake degrees and forged documents as their biggest risk in the current hiring environment.
The findings are part of a study by end-to-end workforce staffing and HR solutions provider Genius HRTech, which noted that organisations hiring across multiple geographies and adopting hybrid work models are re-evaluating conventional verification practices.
According to the report, more than 74 per cent of respondents flagged fake educational qualifications or forged documents as their primary concern, far surpassing other risks such as behavioural analytics, gig workforce screening and moonlighting.
The survey is based on responses from 1,316 professionals and was conducted in December 2025.
The report also highlighted growing anxiety over identity fraud driven by advances in generative artificial intelligence. As many as 77 per cent of respondents said they are extremely concerned about deepfake-enabled identity fraud and the use of AI-generated resumes or documents, underscoring the need for stronger authentication systems and technology-led safeguards.
In terms of solutions, half of the respondents rated continuous or ongoing verification as very effective when compared with traditional one-time checks, while another 22 per cent considered it moderately effective. This points to a gradual shift towards lifecycle-based employee risk monitoring, the report said.
Cross-border hiring was identified as another major challenge. Nearly 49 per cent of respondents cited legal and regulatory compliance as the biggest obstacle in international background verification, followed by data localisation requirements at 32 per cent. Longer turnaround times and higher operational costs were acknowledged but regarded as secondary concerns.
“Background verification is no longer a back-end HR process; it has evolved into a strategic risk management function. As hiring becomes faster, more digital and more global, organisations must invest in secure, compliant and technology-driven verification frameworks that safeguard both employers and employees,” said Genius HRTech Chairman and Managing Director R P Yadav.
With PTI inputs