As more vacancies arise as the UK economy emerges from recession, employers have been urged to be vigilant around verifying CVs due to an increase in falsified job applications from increasingly desperate candidates, by Peter Hurst, chief executive of fraud prevention service CIFAS.

Recent findings from CIFAS show that successful employment fraud applications have increased by 50% in January to June 2009, compared with the second half of last year.

Hurst told Recruiter that with more competition for jobs, employers need to be more thorough in the checking of recruits’ information by verifying employment histories, contacting awarding bodies to verify qualifications and checking candidate’s bank accounts.

“We have come across an increased number of applicants providing inaccurate information on their CVs lately, especially dates of employment,” says Marco Reick, group recruitment manager at the Restaurant Group.

Reick told Recruiter that candidates are aware that there are more applicants per vacancy than ever and only the best matched make it to interview stage.

“This could be a sign of the times. Candidates are trying to get a head start above others but we have referencing processes in place so it will always come to light. Honesty clearly is an attribute we are looking for as an employer,” Reick says.

Isabelle Hung, head of recruitment and programs at Harrods, told Recruiter that she had largely avoided such problems through a regimented recruitment process by informing candidates that their last five years’ employment history will be checked, as well seeking a personal reference.

Martin Cheek, head of direct sales at credit reference agency Callcredit Direct, said: “Honest staff are absolutely vital to the success of a business and as a first step to minimising potential exposure to fraud, all employers should be actively screening CV’s - a process which can easily be done online and at minimal cost.”