The numbers don't lie: by 2028, 1 in 4 job candidates will be fake. Here's what every talent leader needs to know about the synthetic identity threat and how to protect your organization
The phone rings. It’s your top engineering candidate, ready for the final interview. Their resume is flawless, their portfolio impressive, and the screening went smoothly. But something feels... off.
Welcome to the new reality of remote hiring, where synthetic candidates powered by AI can impersonate real people and pass rigorous interview processes.
25% of all job candidates will be fake by 2028 (Gartner)
17% of hiring managers have encountered deepfake candidates (Resume Genius)
$200 million in deepfake fraud losses in Q1 2025 alone
680% YoY increase in deepfake activity across industries
47% surge in synthetic identity fraud in 2023, totaling $23 billion in losses
These aren't just numbers, they signal a shift in how fraud is committed. What began with exaggerated resumes has evolved into advanced impersonation powered by AI and deepfake technology.
Fake degrees or certifications
Inflated job titles and roles
Fabricated work histories
Identity theft
AI-generated personas with fake faces and voices
Real-time deepfake overlays in live interviews
Voice cloning tools to mimic others
Infiltration into Fortune 500 roles and critical IT infrastructure
To generate a synthetic candidate, fraudsters need only:
A static photo or short video
A brief voice sample
Common AI tools for video and audio deepfakes
The result? A highly convincing imposter capable of passing your ATS, HR screening, and even final technical interviews, without existing in the real world.
In May 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice revealed that 300+ companies had unknowingly hired North Korean imposters in remote IT roles, channeling $6.8 million to sanctioned entities.
“When fake candidates from sanctioned nations get hired, it becomes a national security issue,” explains Aarti Samani, AI fraud prevention expert.
False positives are rising. According to security analyst Roger Grimes:
“You could be a legitimate candidate, but if recruiters are unsure whether you’re real, you may not even get a callback.”
This erodes trust, damages employer brand, and discourages legitimate applicants.
Mismatched lip sync and voice
High-quality video with low-quality audio
Robotic or unnatural speech patterns
Unusual blinking or static eye movement
Flickering or glowing edges on face
Inconsistent lighting or shadows
Stiff body language and minimal movement
Reluctance to turn head or interact naturally
Avoiding identity verification on video
Unstable connection patterns
Excuses for not using supported platforms
“Camera malfunction” claims at critical moments
At Talview, we’ve built an AI-powered hiring fraud prevention platform that secures remote hiring from synthetic identity threats.
Frame-by-frame anomaly detection
Lip-sync accuracy testing
Facial consistency mapping
Behavioral movement analysis
Room scans for unauthorized devices or people
Consistency checks for lighting and environment
Detection of background coaching
Identification of cloned voices or modulations
Detection of synthetic artifacts in audio
Real-time voice verification
AI-driven facial recognition
Government-issued ID validation
Biometric and behavioral matching
Alternative camera angles
Confirmation of physical presence
Detection of concealed devices or assistance
Disables AI tools, copy-paste, and screen sharing
Blocks suspicious apps and tabs
Monitors for unauthorized activity
$240,000+ per bad hire (including onboarding, salary, lost productivity)
Delayed detection of fraud—sometimes after several months
Legal and compliance risks from hiring unverified individuals
Employer brand damage and candidate churn
Faster, more secure hiring decisions
Reduced recruitment costs from fewer fraudulent candidates
Increased trust from job seekers and stakeholders
Compliance-ready systems that reduce legal exposure
Evaluate hiring vulnerabilities
Map out risk levels by department
Train hiring managers on fraud red flags
Deploy AI detection and verification tools
Activate multi-factor authentication
Enable real-time monitoring features
Fine-tune fraud detection thresholds
Streamline candidate journey
Create incident response protocols
Monitor new threats and update systems
Review KPIs and platform effectiveness
Deliver ongoing fraud training to teams
Synthetic identity fraud is evolving—and so should your defenses. Organizations that act early will:
Stay compliant
Improve hiring accuracy
Enhance candidate trust
Reduce costs
Protect national and business interests
With 1 in 4 job candidates expected to be synthetic by 2028, the threat is real and it’s already here. The time to act is now. Protect your brand, your teams, and your future by investing in smart, AI-powered fraud detection.
Contact Talview to learn how our end-to-end fraud prevention platform can help you verify real talent, build trust, and avoid costly hiring mistakes.