One in four job applicants will be fake by 2028

Artificial intelligence is giving scammers new tools to pose as job seekers, allowing them to flood the market with fabricated identities, according to recent findings.

Today, bad actors are using AI at nearly every stage of the hiring process to conceal who they really are. They’re crafting fake résumés, generating AI-made headshots, building fraudulent websites, and setting up convincing LinkedIn profiles. Combined, these elements can present the illusion of a flawless job candidate.

Once hired, these impostors may exploit their position to access sensitive company data or install malware.

Though identity fraud isn't new, AI is dramatically increasing the scale at which these schemes can be executed. A report from Gartner, a leading research and advisory firm, forecasts that by 2028, one in four job candidates could be fake.

Catching a Clone

A recent viral LinkedIn video showed what appeared to be an AI-generated person being interviewed. It was posted by Dawid Moczadlo, co-founder of cybersecurity firm Vidoc Security, who spoke with CBS News about the experience.

"I was honestly disturbed — we’re supposed to be the security experts," Moczadlo said.

He became suspicious the interviewee was using an AI filter and asked them to place their hand in front of their face. When they declined, he ended the call immediately. He explained that the visual software they were using likely couldn’t handle such an interruption — a simple hand gesture might have disrupted the deepfake.

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

This wasn’t the first time Vidoc encountered an AI-generated applicant. After two such incidents, the company overhauled its hiring approach. Candidates are now flown in for a one-day, in-person interview, during which they’re paid for a full day’s work. Vidoc covers travel expenses, considering the cost a worthwhile trade-off for security.