How Can Employers Be Sure a Job Candidate Is Who They Say They Are?

What to know about identity verification in modern hiring, and how digital credentials like vID can help.

In today’s remote, high-speed hiring world, one question matters more than ever:
How do you know the person you’re hiring is truly who they say they are?

From staffing firms to healthcare systems, employers are onboarding candidates across cities, states, and even continents. Job applications come in digitally. Interviews happen over Zoom. Onboarding might take place without ever meeting face-to-face.

Everything looks in order, until something doesn’t. Maybe a credential doesn’t check out. Maybe a compliance audit raises flags. Maybe the name doesn’t match the photo ID.

That’s where identity verification steps in, to strengthen the foundation where background checks are built on.

Fake Applicants Are on the Rise

As remote hiring has increased, so has identity fraud. According to a 2024 report by the Identity Theft Resource Center, job-related identity fraud rose by 35% in 2023, with scammers using stolen or fabricated credentials to apply for roles they aren’t qualified for or to gain access to sensitive systems.

And the trend is accelerating. Gartner predicts that by 2028, one in four job applicants could be fake, leveraging AI-generated identities, deepfake videos, or synthetic documentation to bypass early hiring screens.

For recruiters, this means more time spent engaging with candidates who aren’t real, and more risk for organizations that unknowingly move them through the process. In high-risk or compliance-sensitive industries, the cost of onboarding the wrong person can be steep, from regulatory penalties to reputational damage.

How Identity Verification Filters Out Fakes Early

With tools like vID digital credential, recruiters can screen for authenticity up front, before scheduling interviews or investing time in the wrong person.

vID works by:

• Confirming the candidate’s real identity through live photo capture and biometric facial matching
• Validating government-issued IDs in real time
• Blocking synthetic or stolen identities before they enter your hiring funnel
• Creating a reusable digital credential for future hires or rehires

By layering vID into your process, you reduce the chance of engaging with fake applicants and keep your team focused on real talent.

Why Identity Verification Matters More Than Ever

Even when a background check clears, there’s one assumption behind every result: that the identity submitted is accurate and belongs to the person applying.

When hiring happens remotely, quickly, or at scale, that assumption is harder to verify.

With smarter identity tools, employers can add a critical layer of trust before onboarding begins. Think of it as front-loading confidence in your hires.

When It Makes the Biggest Impact

Smart identity verification makes hiring safer and smoother across many industries. Here are a few key examples:

• Healthcare & Education
  Regulatory requirements and safety expectations demand an extra layer of identity assurance, especially when working with vulnerable populations.
• Skilled Trades & Field Work
  Whether it’s construction, HVAC, or electrical work, employers need to know the person showing up on site is legitimate and qualified, even if they were hired quickly.
• Transportation & Logistics
  Remote hiring and dispatching make identity confirmation critical to protect operations, equipment, and customer trust.
• Staffing & Gig Work
  With high-volume, fast turnaround hiring, reusable digital credentials save time while maintaining trust and traceability.
• Seasonal Rehires
  When workers return year after year, verified digital credentials like vID reduce friction and re-onboarding time.

Why Add a Digital Credential Like vID?

vID is a secure digital identity credential that allows employers to verify a candidate’s real identity at the start of the hiring process, and reuse that verified identity with confidence for future roles or rehires.

By adding a tool like vID to your process, you can:

• Speed up hiring without sacrificing trust
• Reduce risk of identity-related delays or errors
• Strengthen your compliance posture
• Improve the candidate experience with less repetitive paperwork

Start Building Trust from Day One

In a digital-first world, trust begins with proof. And the best hiring experiences are built on both efficiency and certainty.

So how can you be sure a candidate is who they say they are?
By adding smart, secure identity verification at the start of your hiring process.

Want to learn how vID digital credential can fit into your onboarding workflow?
Let’s talk.