AI-powered impostors flood remote U.S. job market
NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES — A growing wave of fake job seekers is targeting American companies—especially those hiring remotely—by using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools to fake their identities, credentials, and even faces during interviews.
According to Gartner, one in four global job candidates could be fake by 2028.
Tech CEOs warn that these fraudulent applicants use AI to fabricate photo IDs, simulate employment histories, and manipulate video interviews.
“Gen AI has blurred the line between what it is to be human and what it means to be machine,” said Vijay Balasubramaniyan, CEO of voice authentication firm Pindrop Security.
“What we’re seeing is that individuals are using these fake identities and fake faces and fake voices to secure employment, even sometimes going so far as doing a face swap with another individual who shows up for the job.”
National security risks and corporate fallout
Balasubramaniyan recalled one recent applicant—“Ivan X”—whose qualifications looked ideal. But during a video call, his facial expressions were slightly out of sync with his words. Pindrop later discovered he was using deepfake software and likely operating from near the North Korean border, despite claiming to be in Ukraine.
The threat goes beyond simple deception. Once inside a company, fake hires have installed malware, stolen sensitive data, and siphoned off salaries under false identities.
In May 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice revealed that more than 300 U.S. firms had unknowingly hired North Korean IT workers, some tied to the country’s weapons programs.
These workers used stolen American identities and remote networks to hide their locations. Companies affected included a national TV network, a defense contractor, and an automaker.
“Humans are generally the weak link in cybersecurity, and the hiring process is an inherently human process with a lot of hand-offs and a lot of different people involved,” said BrightHire CEO Ben Sesser.
Startups, cyber firms bear the brunt
Firms like CAT Labs, which work in crypto and cybersecurity, have become high-value targets. “Every time we list a job posting, we get 100 North Korean spies applying to it,” said CEO Lili Infante.
To combat the surge, companies are turning to identity verification platforms like Jumio, iDenfy, and Socure. Even so, some impostors have passed four rounds of interviews and background checks undetected, according to cybersecurity firm KnowBe4.
As deepfake tools become more advanced, experts say traditional hiring practices are no longer sufficient. “We are no longer able to trust our eyes and ears,” Balasubramaniyan warned.
“Without technology, you’re worse off than a monkey with a random coin toss.”
Global surge in job scams reveals growing cybersecurity crisis
In an era where job hunting has increasingly moved online, recruitment fraud has surged globally.
In the United States, job scams surged by 118% in 2023 compared to the previous year, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC). Kenya and South Africa also reported upticks in fake job offers, which underscores the seriousness of this growing threat.
