The Blubber

Scammers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to disguise their identities and create fake profiles when applying for remote jobs, according to recent research.

AI tools are now capable of assisting fraudsters at nearly every stage of the hiring process. From generating fabricated résumés and professional headshots to creating convincing LinkedIn profiles and personal websites, AI enables scammers to present themselves as ideal candidates.

Once hired, these individuals may exploit their access to steal sensitive company information or install malicious software.

While identity fraud is not a new phenomenon, the scalability offered by AI is making the problem worse. Research firm Gartner estimates that by 2028, one in four job applications could be fraudulent.

How to identify fake applicants
A viral video on LinkedIn shared by Dawid Moczadlo, co-founder of cybersecurity firm Vidoc Security, captured an interview with what appeared to be an AI-generated job seeker. Moczadlo told CBS News he realized something was off during the call.

"I felt a little bit violated, because we are the security experts," Moczadlo said.

When he became suspicious, he asked the candidate to place their hand in front of their face. The applicant refused, and Moczadlo quickly ended the call, noting that the deepfake software likely would not have been able to handle the facial disruption.

"Sometimes it takes a hacker to find a hacker," he added.

This was the second time Vidoc had encountered a potential hire using AI to fake their identity. The experience led the company to change its hiring process: all applicants must now attend a one-day, in-person interview, with travel and a full day of work paid for by Vidoc. The company considers the extra expense worthwhile for the added security.

A wider trend
The issue isn't limited to isolated cases. The U.S. Department of Justice has uncovered several operations where North Korean nationals used fake identities—often supported by AI—to obtain remote IT jobs with U.S. companies. These schemes are reportedly funneling hundreds of millions of dollars annually back to North Korea’s Ministry of Defense and missile program.

Moczadlo said Vidoc’s recent encounters with fake applicants mirrored patterns observed in those networks, though the incidents remain under investigation.

"We are really lucky that we are security experts," he said. "But for companies with standard HR teams or startup founders, spotting something like this can be incredibly difficult."

In response, Vidoc’s co-founders have started creating a guide to help HR professionals identify potentially fraudulent job applicants and strengthen their hiring protocols.