Authbridge

Getting Started

Navneet put in two years with our client – a leading global overall financial technology provider.  AuthBridge was contracted, by the client, to conduct background checks and other related verification services of their employees.  When Navneet’s previous employers were contacted, we discovered she was not who she claimed to be.

Normal Procedure

To get started, the employees of our clients have to fill out and complete a job application form.  This is an exhaustive document and requires complete details of the educational qualifications, previous employment details and personal particulars of the employee.  Based on this and other supporting documents AuthBridge researchers conduct their checks.

On her job application form Navneet cited two previous employers, though she provided documentation from only one of them.

We started by contacting the earlier of the two job references.  The contact person in the HR department confirmed that the proof of employment document was authentic with one exception – the employment dates.  These appeared to have been altered.  The genuine dates of employment were January 19, 2005 till October 2005.  This was changed on the document, we were provided, to read as June 19, 2004.  He also told us that Navneet had died a year after leaving them! This certainly caught our attention and put us on high alert.  He further added that she had been married.

The second employer, on being contacted, denied ever hiring Navneet.  He did, however, provide us with the additional and interesting information that another lady with the same father’s name and address had been employed with them.  He suggested the possibility that the two ladies might be sisters.  The riddle of Navneet had become even more fascinating.  Other than that we could not authenticate the job certificate since one had not been provided.

Shifting Gear

The staff visited the residential address given by ‘Navneet’ and spoke to her mother, who stated that she had two daughters.  One was married and lived in Chandigarh and the other was employed by our client.  AuthBridge then contacted ‘Navneet’s’ brother by telephone.  He stated that one sister, who had been married, had died and that he lived with his mother and ‘Navneet.’

AuthBridge researchers now took the investigation to a higher level.  The latest available photograph of ‘Navneet’ was sent to her first employer.  He stated the girl in the photo was not the same one that had worked for him.

The second employer (the one who had suggested the ‘sister’ possibility) was also shown the photograph.  He did a comparison check with the photo in his records. His observation was that though there were similarities they were not the same girl.  The AuthbRidge research team also carefully examined and compared the photographs and come to the same conclusion.

Confession and Conclusion

AuthBridge then sent in a report to the client organization giving details of the investigation, its revelations and our understanding of the entire situation.

On the basis of our report, ‘Navneet’ confessed (after initially denying everything) to impersonating her sister.  She was able to get away with it for so long because the real Navneet had died of pneumonia just before she was to take up her job and no checks or documentation were required at the time of joining.

That Extra Step

This case serves as a timely reminder to all organizations just how easy it is for fraud, identity theft and risky hiring to occur.  That gender is not necessarily a bar to deceitful actions.  Businesses need to make the effort and take that extra step and carry out thorough background checks and verifications of claims by new appointees and even long-standing employees.

Now would be an opportune moment to state that employee background screening plays a crucial part in the health and integrity of every company.  It is necessary to verify and confirm the antecedents of new as well as established employees using a professional, expert and focused background screening service provider.