Hi all,
I am a new member of CiteHR and this is my first post. I've gone through numerous posts in this forum and found that HR professionals employ a variety of methods to identify fake resumes and fake professionals. However, what I noticed is the lack of basic information from most HR people in the forum. Some of these basics, which I will be discussing in this post, go a long way in quickly identifying fake profiles. If applied properly, the information in this post could even help avoid costly background verification companies.
Before I proceed further, a quick intro about myself - I have experience in faking resumes and have cleared interviews in India's top IT companies. If one is experienced enough, a simple look at the resume could easily identify a fake candidate, but this guide is for those people (HR and otherwise) who couldn't conclude by looking at the resume alone. The steps outlined here use authentic sources, so there is every chance of exposing a fake profile.
Steps for Identifying Fake Resumes
Step 1: Once you screen a resume and before you propose to call the candidate for an interview, do a preliminary check of his company. According to the Companies Act, companies doing business in India should be registered with the Registrar of Companies (ROC). Many companies that provide fake work-experience certificates are never registered and can be easily identified using this step. You can verify this information from the [Ministry of Company Affairs](http://www.mca.gov.in/DCAPortalWeb/dca/MyMCALogin.do?method=setDefaultProperty&mode=16) website. This is the most basic, easiest, and effective step to eliminate 90% of fake profiles. Unfortunately, most HR professionals seem unaware of this fact (or don't understand what Registrar of Companies means). If the company the candidate mentioned is not registered, then most likely, the candidate has faked.
Steps for checking a Company Name using Ministry of Company Affairs website
1.a.) Go to the [Ministry of Company Affairs Check Company Name URL](http://www.mca.gov.in/DCAPortalWeb/dca/MyMCALogin.do?method=setDefaultProperty&mode=16)
1.b.) In the field named Relation, select Starts with from the dropdown combo box
1.c.) In the Company Name textbox, enter the name of the company. For example, if the company name is Ikon Software Private Limited, don't enter the full company name. Start with entering Ikon Software, and most of the time, the company should get listed. If not, simply enter Ikon and search again. If it still doesn't list the company, check for correct spelling and try again. Finally, if all else fails, then you can be sure that the company is not registered.
Step 2: Every software company will have its website. Do a Google search for the company name to see if you can find the company website. Most fake companies do have a website, and an experienced eye can distinguish a fake company from a genuine one simply by looking at the website. However, to simplify things, we can query something called the Domain Registration details. Technically, this is called a WHOIS lookup. With a WHOIS query, you can get details of a website - i.e., Who registered the website? What is their mailing address? What is their phone number? Regardless of whether the company is genuine or fake, this step provides vital information such as the Contact Person who registered the website, Company Name, Address, Phone Number. If we are looking for a genuine company, then the website would have been registered under the Company Name, and all contact information would be properly listed. Fake company websites contain either an individual name or incomplete information. Since the WHOIS query provides the Company's contact details such as phone number and address, you can immediately call and verify if you have any doubts.
Steps for checking a Company using WHOIS lookup
2.a.) Do a Google Search for the Company Name. Most of the time, the company website you are searching for will be listed on the first page. Open each link in the search result (if you are unsure which is the correct website) to confirm the company website. Note the website address.
2.b.) Go to [www.dnsstuff.com](http://www.dnsstuff.com)
2.c.) In the section WHOIS Lookup, enter the website address of the company and click WHOIS button.
2.d.) In the following page that opens up, you will be presented with the results of the search. Note that you will have lots of data thrown up. Firstly, check the details listed in the "Contact" field - Most often a landline number of the company should be listed. If you find a mobile phone number or don't find anything at all, then you know what it means ;). Another important information will be listed in the "Registrant" section. If the website is registered by a company, then the company details (such as their physical address, phone number, email, and other contact information) would be listed here. If this section is empty or contains incomplete and/or suspicious information, then they're all signs of a bogus company.
Step 3: Most of the fake profiles and their companies can be identified in Step 1. However, should the Company get listed, and if you are unclear with Step 2, then this step would be useful. Some fake companies are registered, and you should be careful with these kinds of companies. For example, STC Third Eye Private Limited (an offshoot of the popular software testing training institute STC Technologies) is a registered company but mainly involved in issuing fake work-experience certificates to its students who have studied software testing courses (they charge a hefty sum of Rs. 75,000 for this). When you call a candidate for the interview, always ask him/her to bring the payslip. A payslip is a great tool to easily identify fake profiles. But most HRs miss the trick here - they look for Basic Pay, HRA, and other breakups but many leave out the all-important pointer called the PF (Provident Fund). It is mandatory for companies to register all their employees for PF if the number of employees in the company is above 20 (includes contract employees, part-time staff, etc.). If a candidate doesn't state his PF number, make it compulsory that you ask for it. Using the PF number, we can use the PF verification tool detailed below to check if the PF number is valid and corresponds to the actual Company Name stated by the candidate.
Steps for Verifying Company Name using PF Number
Before we start, we need to know how to decode a PF Number. For example, a PF number would look something like TN/51244/0034. The PF Number is based on three parts separated by '/' symbol - the first part identifies the State PF office where the PF number is registered, the second part contains a unique number that identifies the company (in our example, 51244 identifies the Company), and the last part is the actual PF number of the employee. Each state manages its PF office and has its website. For this example, I will be using the Tamil Nadu PF website to illustrate the process of verifying a Company using a given PF number. Let's assume that we want to verify the Company Name for the PF number TN/51244/0034. The steps are
3.a.) Go to [link no longer exists - removed]. Using this website, one can verify the PF details of any company registered in Tamil Nadu.
3.b.) For the field name Office, Select the appropriate city (for the example, I'll select Chennai) from the dropdown list box
3.c.) For Establishment Code, enter the Company Code in the textbox for our example, I'll enter 51244).
3.d.) Now, here is the crucial step. Once you enter the number for the Establishment Code and press the TAB key, a database query is made for the code and if a matching company is found, it will be immediately displayed under the Establishment Code textbox. If no company is found, you will get an "Establishment Not Exists" message box.
Using the PF Verification method stated above, one can easily and definitively verify if the Company is genuine or fake. Please note that for finding the PF details for states other than Tamil Nadu, you have to go to their respective State Government websites (I will post the links to these websites shortly). ALWAYS keep in mind that you make it mandatory that candidates quote the PF number. Also, keep in mind, for companies having more than 20 employees PF registration is compulsory and there is no way out - so if any candidate makes up any stories regarding PF, DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM!
The above listed 3 steps are the most important and critical for verifying any fake resumes (well before the actual interview process). If the above steps, carried out meticulously, can save a huge amount of time and effort for Companies. The steps outlined can effectively ward off 90% of fake profiles so before you forward the resume to the interview panel or technical team you can be sure that the profile is genuine.
I will be posting additional steps that can be used to uncover the fake mafia.
Partial list of Fake Companies
1. HorizonE Technologies
2. Microbase Technologies
3. CMS Computers (they place the candidates who join for their course, the course costs Rs. 40,000. Once you complete the course, they make you up as though you have 1 year experience and then they will put in their client's offices like CTS, Satyam etc.)
4. Smite Solutions
5. Seventh Sense Networks
6. Accord Info Matrix
From India, Pune
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1I am a new member of CiteHR and this is my first post. I've gone through numerous posts in this forum and found that HR professionals employ a variety of methods to identify fake resumes and fake professionals. However, what I noticed is the lack of basic information from most HR people in the forum. Some of these basics, which I will be discussing in this post, go a long way in quickly identifying fake profiles. If applied properly, the information in this post could even help avoid costly background verification companies.
Before I proceed further, a quick intro about myself - I have experience in faking resumes and have cleared interviews in India's top IT companies. If one is experienced enough, a simple look at the resume could easily identify a fake candidate, but this guide is for those people (HR and otherwise) who couldn't conclude by looking at the resume alone. The steps outlined here use authentic sources, so there is every chance of exposing a fake profile.
Steps for Identifying Fake Resumes
Step 1: Once you screen a resume and before you propose to call the candidate for an interview, do a preliminary check of his company. According to the Companies Act, companies doing business in India should be registered with the Registrar of Companies (ROC). Many companies that provide fake work-experience certificates are never registered and can be easily identified using this step. You can verify this information from the [Ministry of Company Affairs](http://www.mca.gov.in/DCAPortalWeb/dca/MyMCALogin.do?method=setDefaultProperty&mode=16) website. This is the most basic, easiest, and effective step to eliminate 90% of fake profiles. Unfortunately, most HR professionals seem unaware of this fact (or don't understand what Registrar of Companies means). If the company the candidate mentioned is not registered, then most likely, the candidate has faked.
Steps for checking a Company Name using Ministry of Company Affairs website
1.a.) Go to the [Ministry of Company Affairs Check Company Name URL](http://www.mca.gov.in/DCAPortalWeb/dca/MyMCALogin.do?method=setDefaultProperty&mode=16)
1.b.) In the field named Relation, select Starts with from the dropdown combo box
1.c.) In the Company Name textbox, enter the name of the company. For example, if the company name is Ikon Software Private Limited, don't enter the full company name. Start with entering Ikon Software, and most of the time, the company should get listed. If not, simply enter Ikon and search again. If it still doesn't list the company, check for correct spelling and try again. Finally, if all else fails, then you can be sure that the company is not registered.
Step 2: Every software company will have its website. Do a Google search for the company name to see if you can find the company website. Most fake companies do have a website, and an experienced eye can distinguish a fake company from a genuine one simply by looking at the website. However, to simplify things, we can query something called the Domain Registration details. Technically, this is called a WHOIS lookup. With a WHOIS query, you can get details of a website - i.e., Who registered the website? What is their mailing address? What is their phone number? Regardless of whether the company is genuine or fake, this step provides vital information such as the Contact Person who registered the website, Company Name, Address, Phone Number. If we are looking for a genuine company, then the website would have been registered under the Company Name, and all contact information would be properly listed. Fake company websites contain either an individual name or incomplete information. Since the WHOIS query provides the Company's contact details such as phone number and address, you can immediately call and verify if you have any doubts.
Steps for checking a Company using WHOIS lookup
2.a.) Do a Google Search for the Company Name. Most of the time, the company website you are searching for will be listed on the first page. Open each link in the search result (if you are unsure which is the correct website) to confirm the company website. Note the website address.
2.b.) Go to [www.dnsstuff.com](http://www.dnsstuff.com)
2.c.) In the section WHOIS Lookup, enter the website address of the company and click WHOIS button.
2.d.) In the following page that opens up, you will be presented with the results of the search. Note that you will have lots of data thrown up. Firstly, check the details listed in the "Contact" field - Most often a landline number of the company should be listed. If you find a mobile phone number or don't find anything at all, then you know what it means ;). Another important information will be listed in the "Registrant" section. If the website is registered by a company, then the company details (such as their physical address, phone number, email, and other contact information) would be listed here. If this section is empty or contains incomplete and/or suspicious information, then they're all signs of a bogus company.
Step 3: Most of the fake profiles and their companies can be identified in Step 1. However, should the Company get listed, and if you are unclear with Step 2, then this step would be useful. Some fake companies are registered, and you should be careful with these kinds of companies. For example, STC Third Eye Private Limited (an offshoot of the popular software testing training institute STC Technologies) is a registered company but mainly involved in issuing fake work-experience certificates to its students who have studied software testing courses (they charge a hefty sum of Rs. 75,000 for this). When you call a candidate for the interview, always ask him/her to bring the payslip. A payslip is a great tool to easily identify fake profiles. But most HRs miss the trick here - they look for Basic Pay, HRA, and other breakups but many leave out the all-important pointer called the PF (Provident Fund). It is mandatory for companies to register all their employees for PF if the number of employees in the company is above 20 (includes contract employees, part-time staff, etc.). If a candidate doesn't state his PF number, make it compulsory that you ask for it. Using the PF number, we can use the PF verification tool detailed below to check if the PF number is valid and corresponds to the actual Company Name stated by the candidate.
Steps for Verifying Company Name using PF Number
Before we start, we need to know how to decode a PF Number. For example, a PF number would look something like TN/51244/0034. The PF Number is based on three parts separated by '/' symbol - the first part identifies the State PF office where the PF number is registered, the second part contains a unique number that identifies the company (in our example, 51244 identifies the Company), and the last part is the actual PF number of the employee. Each state manages its PF office and has its website. For this example, I will be using the Tamil Nadu PF website to illustrate the process of verifying a Company using a given PF number. Let's assume that we want to verify the Company Name for the PF number TN/51244/0034. The steps are
3.a.) Go to [link no longer exists - removed]. Using this website, one can verify the PF details of any company registered in Tamil Nadu.
3.b.) For the field name Office, Select the appropriate city (for the example, I'll select Chennai) from the dropdown list box
3.c.) For Establishment Code, enter the Company Code in the textbox for our example, I'll enter 51244).
3.d.) Now, here is the crucial step. Once you enter the number for the Establishment Code and press the TAB key, a database query is made for the code and if a matching company is found, it will be immediately displayed under the Establishment Code textbox. If no company is found, you will get an "Establishment Not Exists" message box.
Using the PF Verification method stated above, one can easily and definitively verify if the Company is genuine or fake. Please note that for finding the PF details for states other than Tamil Nadu, you have to go to their respective State Government websites (I will post the links to these websites shortly). ALWAYS keep in mind that you make it mandatory that candidates quote the PF number. Also, keep in mind, for companies having more than 20 employees PF registration is compulsory and there is no way out - so if any candidate makes up any stories regarding PF, DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM!
The above listed 3 steps are the most important and critical for verifying any fake resumes (well before the actual interview process). If the above steps, carried out meticulously, can save a huge amount of time and effort for Companies. The steps outlined can effectively ward off 90% of fake profiles so before you forward the resume to the interview panel or technical team you can be sure that the profile is genuine.
I will be posting additional steps that can be used to uncover the fake mafia.
Partial list of Fake Companies
1. HorizonE Technologies
2. Microbase Technologies
3. CMS Computers (they place the candidates who join for their course, the course costs Rs. 40,000. Once you complete the course, they make you up as though you have 1 year experience and then they will put in their client's offices like CTS, Satyam etc.)
4. Smite Solutions
5. Seventh Sense Networks
6. Accord Info Matrix
From India, Pune
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Hi,
Hey! Even though this is your first post, it's simply superb. I am also new to CiteHR. Actually, I need to collect information on "Market Intelligence on Finding Fake Profiles & how to avoid it." I found your post on CiteHR, and it's useful for me. Can you please provide me with some information that will help me prepare my PPT on "Market Intelligence on Finding Fake Profiles & how to avoid it"?
Looking forward to your help.
Thanks in advance.
From India, Hyderabad
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hey! Even though this is your first post, it's simply superb. I am also new to CiteHR. Actually, I need to collect information on "Market Intelligence on Finding Fake Profiles & how to avoid it." I found your post on CiteHR, and it's useful for me. Can you please provide me with some information that will help me prepare my PPT on "Market Intelligence on Finding Fake Profiles & how to avoid it"?
Looking forward to your help.
Thanks in advance.
From India, Hyderabad
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)Gathering data for an AI comment.... Sending emails to relevant members...
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