When hiring a job candidate, doing the proper employment screening is critical to reduce risk of negligent hiring liability. But first, employers must make sure the person they are hiring and screening is who they claim to be. This is where Accio Data’s new ID Validation product comes into play as a vital tool for consumer reporting agencies performing employment screening for their clients. By verifying a candidate’s identity through government-issued identification, employers can enhance the integrity of their hiring process, and CRAs can offer yet another valuable tool to make their clients “sticky.”
Below, we explore the key benefits of incorporating ID validation into employment screening.
Enhanced Security and Fraud Prevention
Obtaining a fake ID is not as complicated as it was before the Internet. At any given time, there may be more than 50 online sites selling fake IDs. These sites tend to come and go as authorities crack down, but they can be found easily. And candidates may order a fake ID online to attempt to falsify their identities to secure employment, whether to conceal criminal history, misrepresent qualifications or bypass immigration regulations.
Accio’s ID validation uses advanced technology to authenticate hundreds of domestic and international government-issued identification documents, such as passports, driver’s licenses, or national and/or state ID cards. And this technology is also proven to catch fake IDs. By cross-referencing these documents against government databases via the ID’s barcode, along with verifying the photo on the ID via a smart-phone selfie, employers can significantly reduce the risk of hiring someone under false pretenses.
Adaptability to Remote Hiring Trends
The rise of remote work has transformed the hiring landscape, with many companies now recruiting candidates from across the globe. However, remote hiring introduces new challenges in verifying identities, as employers may not meet candidates in person. ID validation tools are designed to handle these scenarios, allowing candidates to scan digital copies of their identification documents for verification via their smart phones. This ensures that remote hires are thoroughly vetted, regardless of their location, while maintaining the same level of security as in-person hiring.
Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements
Many industries, such as finance, healthcare and transportation, are subject to strict regulations regarding employee background checks and identity verification. Failing to comply with these requirements can result in hefty fines, legal penalties or reputational damage. ID validation helps employers meet compliance standards by ensuring that candidates provide valid, verifiable identification.
Streamlined Hiring Process
Manual identity verification can be time-consuming and prone to human error. Reviewing documents, checking for inconsistencies and cross-referencing information can slow down the hiring process, potentially causing top talent to slip away. To the human eye, a fake ID ordered from sites on the internet can be very hard to catch. ID validation automates this process, using technology to quickly authenticate documents and flag discrepancies. In the case of Accio’s ID Validation product, these discrepancies are hidden from candidate view. This allows the CRA and employer to make decisions on the next steps when they do uncover a fraudulent ID.
Long-Term Cost Savings
While implementing ID validation involves an additional fee to the end user, the long-term cost savings are significant. In cases where a candidate’s ID is found to be invalid or fake, the remainder of the search products in the consumer report can be stopped before moving forward to vendors. In addition, hiring the wrong candidate can lead to other costly consequences, such as legal disputes, workplace incidents or the need to restart the hiring process entirely. By catching fraudulent candidates early, ID validation helps employers avoid these expenses and allocate resources more effectively.
Incorporating ID validation into employment screening is a smart strategy for organizations looking to enhance security, ensure compliance and streamline their hiring processes. By leveraging advanced technology to verify identities, CRAs can offer employers the ability to protect their workplaces, build trust with candidates and make informed hiring decisions. Accio clients looking to offer this service to their customer base can contact their account manager. If you are a CRA or background screening firm interested in this product and want to learn more about Accio Data’s powerful software platform, please contact us.