AuthBridge’s Workforce Fraud Files 2025 reveals alarming hiring discrepancies in India’s financial services sector, with employment misrepresentation emerging as the biggest threat
New Delhi, India — September 04, 2025 — A comprehensive analysis of India’s Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector has revealed troubling patterns of candidate misrepresentation that pose significant regulatory and operational risks for financial institutions. According to AuthBridge’s latest Workforce Fraud Files 2025 report, the BFSI sector recorded an overall discrepancy rate of 11.69%, with employment misrepresentation accounting for an alarming 29% of verified cases.
The findings, based on six months of background verification data collected between October 2024 to March 2025, expose critical vulnerabilities in current hiring practices within India’s financial services ecosystem, an industry where regulatory compliance and fiduciary trust are paramount.
Key Findings:
- Employment Misrepresentation:29% of cases involved candidates inflating tenure, fabricating company names, or concealing termination history.
- Address Verification Failures:3% of cases showed significant address mismatches, raising KYE compliance concerns.
- Education Discrepancies:6% of cases involved false academic credentials and professional certifications.
- Database Inconsistencies:3% of cases indicated potential identity fraud or document manipulation.
Mr. Ajay Trehan, CEO & Founder of AuthBridge, emphasised the sector-specific risks: “The BFSI sector’s 29% employment misrepresentation rate is particularly concerning given the industry’s fiduciary responsibilities and stringent regulatory environment. When candidates conceal past terminations or exaggerate their experience in financial services, they are potentially exposing institutions to compliance violations, operational risks, and serious reputational damage.”
The findings carry significant implications for BFSI institutions operating under Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) mandates, and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regulations, all of which emphasise rigorous employee screening and ongoing monitoring.
The report identifies several BFSI-specific fraud patterns:
- Concealed Terminations: Candidates hiding disciplinary actions or terminations from previous financial institutions.
- Inflated Designations: Exaggeration of job titles and responsibilities, particularly in compliance, risk management, and client-facing roles.
- Fabricated Certifications: False claims about professional certifications, such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Financial Risk Manager (FRM), or other industry-recognised credentials.
- Undisclosed Conflicts: Failure to disclose previous regulatory actions or conflicts of interest.
“Financial institutions cannot afford to rely on outdated verification models when regulatory penalties and customer trust are at stake,” added Trehan. “Data shows that discrepancies often emerge after job offers are made, leading to significant time and budget waste, as well as potential regulatory exposure.”
To combat these threats, the report recommends enhanced pre-offer screening with direct employer validation, role-based verification protocols aligned with risk levels, continuous monitoring systems for post-hiring developments, and regulatory alignment with RBI, IRDAI, and SEBI requirements.
AuthBridge offers specialised solutions, including AuthLead for comprehensive leadership assessments and GroundCheck.ai for real-time verification across 20,000+ PIN codes, essential for institutions with distributed operations.
“With 29% employment misrepresentation, institutions must evolve from reactive screening to proactive, risk-based verification models that safeguard both regulatory standing and customer trust,” concluded Trehan.
About the Research
Workforce Fraud Files 2025 represents the most comprehensive analysis of hiring fraud patterns across Indian industries, examining millions of candidate verification cases to provide sector-specific insights and mitigation strategies. The complete report is available at authbridge.com/workforce-fraud-files-2025.
About AuthBridge
For over 20 years, AuthBridge has pioneered identity management, onboarding verification, and business intelligence solutions. With operations spanning 200+ countries and conducting 15 million monthly verifications, AuthBridge serves more than 3,000 clients across 30+ industries, including leading financial institutions and fintech innovators driving India’s digital economy.
For more information, visit https://authbridge.com/
