Deepfakes: When the Candidate Isn’t Who They Claim to Be

Did you know that fake resumes, profiles, and even videos generated by artificial intelligence (AI) could infiltrate your recruitment process? This phenomenon, known as deepfakes, poses a growing threat that every business must learn to identify and counter.

While AI has made it easier to create and operate small and medium-sized businesses like yours, it is not without risks. One of these risks is using AI in employee recruitment without a basic protocol. This can lead to bad hires, fraud, and wasted time and money.

What are deepfakes, and how do they affect recruitment?

Deepfakes use artificial intelligence (AI) to create fake videos, images, or audio by imitating voices or actions to make them appear real.

These two facts will surprise you:

• Unit 42, a global cybersecurity firm, reports that even with limited experience, generative AI tools can generate convincing fake resumes and profiles in under 70 minutes.
• According to a 2024 Forbes magazine report, one in four recruiters reported suspicious candidate behavior that may be related to deepfake use.

The faces of deepfakes

This type of AI-generated forgery takes different forms.

• In virtual interviews - Manipulated videos or images can falsify a candidate’s identity or simulate skills they don’t have. Additionally, some apps can generate automated responses during interviews.
• Over the phone- AI can mimic a person’s voice to answer questions.
• On social or professional platforms - Identity theft or impersonation can occur by using other people’s profiles.
• On resumes and other documents - AI can create fake employment documents and credentials.

What are your risks?

 Hiring an unproductive individual due to an undetected deepfake is just one of the dangers. However, there are other risks that are equally or even more serious, and you should consider them.

• Increased hiring costs: Identifying and replacing fraudulent hires results in lost investment and additional expenses. Furthermore, difficulty verifying candidates’ identities can lengthen the selection process and negatively affect the experience of legitimate applicants. If the fraud leads to a breach of fair hiring practices, you could face litigation.
• Reputational damage and security breaches: An unqualified employee can severely damage your business’s image and erode customer loyalty. Similarly, deepfakes in hiring can lead to exposure of confidential information and even internal sabotage.

Learn to detect deepfakes

Detecting warning signs is crucial to avoiding falling for sophisticated fraud. Create a basic protocol for online or telephone interviews and pay attention to these indicators:

Visual indicators

• Inconsistent lighting between the face and background.
• Delayed or abnormal facial expressions, unusual blinking, or absence of normal eye reflexes.
• Distortions in head movements.
• Lack of synchronization between lip movements and audio.

Audio indicators

• The voice sounds robotic or distorted.
• Unusual background noise.

Behavioral indicators

• Overly rehearsed answers or lack of natural pauses.
• Difficulty solving problems in real time.
• Refusing to perform spontaneous actions, such as turning their head or raising a hand.
• Avoids spontaneous or follow-up questions.

Become a better recruiter

 Strengthening your practices will help you identify red flags more readily. Here are some key recommendations:

• Ask spontaneous questions and watch for answers or behaviors that seem unnatural.
• Thoroughly review documents; look for inconsistencies in formatting or design.
• Document any irregularities you notice in a candidate’s behavior.

Prevention will cost you less than correction. Deepfakes in recruitment aren’t limited to large corporations, and in the age of artificial intelligence, hiring wisely is part of your cybersecurity.

 

 

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of accuracy or applicability for any particular purpose. Neither Popular, Inc. nor any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, and/or related companies shall be liable for any special, direct, or indirect harm stemming from the information contained in this article. Should you require further information or guidance with regard to  this article, you should always seek the advice of a competent professional of your choice.