Deepfake Tech and Candidate Fraud

The Growing Threat of Deepfake Job Interviews

Imagine conducting a video interview with a seemingly perfect candidate—only to discover later that the person never existed. With the growing sophistication of AI-driven deepfake technology, fraudulent job candidates are manipulating job interviews to secure employment under false identities. This trend is particularly prevalent in remote hiring, where deepfake technology allows candidates to impersonate others, fabricate credentials, and even secure jobs they’re unqualified for.

According to a Checkster survey, over 77% of applicants admitted to misrepresenting themselves at some level, with nearly 60% exaggerating their skills (Adevait). Additionally, the FBI has warned that deepfake candidates often target IT, cybersecurity, and finance roles, where they can gain access to sensitive company data (PCMag).

Real-World Examples of Deepfake Hiring Fraud

• North Korean Spy Infiltrates Tech Firm: In 2024, a North Korean operative successfully posed as a qualified software engineer, passing multiple interview rounds using stolen identity data and deepfake video manipulation (Reality Defender).
• FBI Warning on Deepfake Interviews: The FBI reported cases where scammers used deepfake videos and voice-altering technology to secure remote IT and financial positions with access to corporate databases (PCMag).
• AI-Powered Job Scams: Companies have identified candidates using AI-generated resumes and deepfake-enhanced interviews to bypass traditional hiring protocols, leading to compromised security and productivity losses (Workfall).
• Deepfake Hiring Fraud on LinkedIn: LinkedIn users have reported encountering deepfake job candidates in real-world hiring processes. In one instance, Deividas Mataciunas shared a case where AI-generated video manipulation was used to fake a candidate’s identity. Another LinkedIn post by Bettina Liporazzi highlights concerns about fraudulent applicants misusing deepfake technology to gain employment in high-security roles.

How Deepfake Candidates Manipulate the Interview

Fraudulent applicants use deepfake technology to:

• Alter their video feed in real-time, replacing their face with another person’s or modifying their appearance.
• Mimic someone else’s voice using AI-powered voice synthesis.
• Create AI-generated resumes with fabricated work experience, fake degrees, and false credentials.
• Use pre-recorded responses for technical interviews, tricking recruiters into believing they have the required expertise (Institute of Entrepreneurship Development).
• Forge online presence by creating fake LinkedIn profiles with few connections or using AI-generated profile pictures (Adevait).

How Candidates Are Creating Deepfakes

1. Gather Source Material: Fraudsters collect images, videos, and voice samples of the person they want to impersonate.
2. Use AI-Powered Deepfake Software: Tools like DeepFaceLab, FaceSwap, or DeepfakeStudio allow them to superimpose a new face onto a live video feed.
3. Train the Deepfake Model: AI algorithms analyze the collected data and generate realistic facial movements and expressions.
4. Apply Voice Synthesis: Using software like Resemble AI or ElevenLabs, scammers clone a person’s voice to match their speech patterns.
5. Sync Audio and Video: The manipulated video and synthesized voice are fine-tuned to reduce lag or unnatural movements.
6. Enhance with Real-Time Video Filters: Some fraudsters use augmented reality tools to refine deepfake accuracy in live video calls.
7. Conduct Mock Interviews: To test believability, scammers practice answering interview questions while using the deepfake software.
8. Deploy the Deepfake in Real Interviews: The final deepfake is used in job interviews, often paired with scripted responses or AI-generated resumes (Workfall).

Deepfake Detection: How to Identify Fake Candidates

Deepfake detection technology is becoming an essential tool in combating hiring fraud. Here are ways hiring teams can detect and prevent deepfake job candidates:

• AI-Powered Detection Software: Use advanced AI-driven tools that analyze facial movements, voice patterns, and inconsistencies in video feeds.
• Lip Syncing Issues: The candidate’s lip movement may not perfectly match the audio, especially when speaking complex words (PCMag).
• Unnatural Eye Movements: AI-generated faces may have unusual blinking patterns or lack proper eye reflections (Institute of Entrepreneurship Development).
• Audio-Visual Delays: The voice may lag slightly behind facial movements, creating an unnatural interaction.
• Inconsistencies in Lighting and Shadows: Deepfake videos often struggle to maintain realistic lighting across facial features (Institute of Entrepreneurship Development).
• Glitches During Movement: Head tilts or sudden motions may reveal distortions in facial overlays (HRMorning).
• Unusual Background Activity: Some deepfakes have difficulty blending with backgrounds, especially in real-time video interviews (Institute of Entrepreneurship Development).

How You Can Combat Deepfake Hiring Fraud

Businesses can implement several strategies to mitigate the risk of deepfake job candidates:

• AI-Powered Fraud Detection: Use deepfake detection software to analyze video interviews and flag inconsistencies.
• Multi-Factor Identity Verification: Require government ID verification and cross-check identities with official records.
• Liveness Detection Technology: Implement real-time verification methods that analyze microexpressions and blinking patterns.
• Live Video Interviews with Spontaneous Questions: Reduce the risk of pre-recorded responses by asking unexpected or technical questions that require on-the-spot problem-solving (Institute of Entrepreneurship Development).
• Background and Credential Checks: Cross-reference candidate information with LinkedIn profiles, professional certifications, and previous employers (Adevait).
• In-Person Interviews for Critical Roles: Whenever possible, requiring face-to-face meetings for positions with high-security access can eliminate deepfake risks (Institute of Entrepreneurship Development).

Financial & Security Risks of Deepfake Candidates

• Cost of Rehiring: Hiring a fraudulent candidate can lead to rehiring costs that take up to six months to recover (HRMorning).
• Loss of Productivity: Unqualified hires decrease team efficiency and morale.
• Security Threats: Fraudulent employees may install malware or gain unauthorized access to sensitive company data (HRMorning).
• Reputational Damage: Companies that fall victim to deepfake hiring scams may lose client trust and credibility.

How to Detect a Deepfake Job Candidate

If you suspect a candidate might be using deepfake technology, use this checklist to verify their authenticity:

Visual and Audio Red Flags

• ❏ Lip movements do not sync perfectly with spoken words
• ❏ Unnatural blinking or lack of proper eye reflections
• ❏ Delayed or distorted facial expressions
• ❏ Lighting inconsistencies on the face compared to the background
• ❏ Glitches or distortions when the candidate moves their head
• ❏ Unusual pixelation or blurring around the face

Behavioral Indicators

• ❏ Candidate avoids answering spontaneous or follow-up questions
• ❏ Responses seem overly scripted or lack natural pauses
• ❏ Candidate struggles with multi-step, on-the-spot problem-solving
• ❏ Unexplained audio delays or robotic voice modulations
• ❏ Candidate refuses requests for impromptu actions (e.g., turning head, raising hand)

Verification Steps

• ❏ Ask for a government-issued ID and cross-check it with a live video interview
• ❏ Conduct real-time technical or skills-based tests
• ❏ Require candidates to answer unexpected personal or casual questions
• ❏ Check LinkedIn and other professional profiles for inconsistencies
• ❏ Use AI-powered deepfake detection software for verification

Questions to Test for Deepfakes

• Can you describe your last project in detail without looking at notes?
• Can you turn your head 90 degrees in both directions?
• Can you blink multiple times quickly?
• Can you describe something you did last weekend in a casual, unscripted way?
• Can you perform a simple, unexpected action like tapping your chin or adjusting your glasses?

How Glider AI Helps to Detect Deepfakes

Glider AI provides a multi-layered security approach to prevent deepfake fraud in hiring:

• AI-Powered Deepfake Detection – Identifies inconsistencies in video interviews, including unnatural facial movements and voice anomalies.
• Liveness Detection Technology – Ensures that the candidate is physically present by analyzing microexpressions and spontaneous movements.
• Automated ID Verification – Cross-checks government-issued IDs with live video interviews to validate authenticity.
• Real-Time Skill Assessments – Reduces fraud by requiring candidates to complete live coding tests, case studies, and hands-on assignments.
• Behavioral Analysis – Detects abnormal response times and scripted behaviors that may indicate AI-driven manipulation.

By integrating these features, Glider AI helps companies mitigate hiring fraud, ensuring that only legitimate candidates move forward in the recruitment process.

The Future of Hiring with Deepfake Tech

As deepfake technology evolves, hiring must also change. Companies must invest in AI-driven security measures, train HR and TA teams to recognize digital deception and strengthen verification processes. Stay ahead of fraudsters, protect your hiring integrity and hire genuine, qualified employees.