Is your next hire who they say they are?

Deepfake interview red flags

• Lip movement out of sync with audio; coughs or sneezes that don’t match the video (FBI IC3)
• Refuses to turn the camera on, or the camera “breaks” at key moments
• Can’t do simple live actions: turn their head side-on, pass a hand across their face, hold ID next to their face
• Long pauses as if reading answers, or a different voice on a follow-up call
• Asks for the work laptop to be shipped to a different address than on their ID
• Wants pay to a third party, crypto, or a payroll account in someone else’s name

Candidate consent required

We only check candidates who have given written consent. Copy this template, adapt it with your adviser, and have the candidate sign it. It’s general information, not legal advice.

CANDIDATE CONSENT TO PRE-EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION

I, [candidate full name], have applied for the role of [role] with [company] ("the Employer").

I consent to the Employer and its service provider ImposterWatch (operated by Cloud Investments FZE, United Arab Emirates) collecting and using my personal information to verify:
 - my identity document(s) and that I am the person applying;
 - the employment history, qualifications and education I have stated;
 - the referees I have provided, and contacting them and my past employers/institutions;
 - publicly available online information relevant to whether my application is genuine.

I understand that:
 - this is not a criminal record, credit or drug check;
 - my information will be used only for this verification, kept securely, shared only with the Employer, and deleted within 90 days of the report unless the law requires otherwise;
 - my information may be processed outside my country (including in the UAE);
 - I can ask to see and correct information held about me, and I can withdraw consent at any time by writing to the Employer (this does not affect checks already done).

Signed: ____________________   Date: ____________
Email: ____________________

Hiring in the US?

We don’t verify US candidates, because doing so would make us a consumer reporting agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FTC). Use an FCRA-compliant screening company and follow the FTC’s employer guidance (stand-alone disclosure, written authorization, pre-adverse and adverse action notices) and any state or city fair-chance rules. The consent template and red-flag checklists on this page are free to use.

Questions