Education qualification is one of the intrinsic factors on which an organization bases the eligibility and remuneration of an employee.

However, the bubble of sanctity is fast bursting in this arena. In the last 18 months, the frequency of frauds connected to fake certificates have increased drastically.

The latest fraud blockbuster was released when the Cyber Crime cell of the Mumbai Police, India arrested a 48 year old women for supplying bogus education certificates, mark sheets and experience certificates through a recruitment agency to candidates who sought jobs.

Police discovered blank certificates of SSC and HSC from Pune and Mumbai Boards, duplicate copies of Science stream certificates from Kerala university.

Fuelling The Fraud

There are two factors that fuel these frauds. The first issue is that the demand for qualified human resources exceeds supply. This increases recruitment pressures on HR departments, a perfect environment for risk to enter the organization.

The second is the issue of technology falling in the wrong hands. We see advertisements that offer to teach Photoshop for Rs. 300 all over the city. It's indeed commendable that computer application is penetrating India at affordable rates. But, like most boons of science, this could prove dangerous in unethical hands. Add this to this equation and you have the bullet in the barrel.

The first thing for organizations to do is accept this reality. India is on the fast track and we have to consciously acknowledge the flipside of progress. Secondly, we have to ensure that our risk management processes are one step ahead of the fraudsters.

How Pre-Employment Screening Can Help

Pre-employment screening is a robust tool to authenti

cate education documents submitted by applicants. In most cases this validation is done at source; either with the university or the college records.

Our experience shows more than 16 percent of candidates provide fake or misleading information on their resumes. This figure is alarming. But what is more alarming their attitude that they'll get away with it. If not combated, this attitude will slowly become a cultural mindset.

Our incessant and passionate plea to industry is to "Create processes to send a clear message about your organizations ethical standards.” This requires an uncompromising commitment to risk mitigation.

A Watchful Eye Mitigates Risk

An ethics survey revealed the fact that most people are dissuaded from wrongful conduct when they feel that someone is watching. Need meeting Opportunity is the genesis of fraud.

Since we have only a limited control on 'need,' it would be more prudent to focus our energies on creating risk prevention processes. Take a dispassionate look at your processes and ask yourself, " Are we behaving like an alert organization?”

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