According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft cases have doubled since the onset of the pandemic. Our research indicates that over a third of the market has experienced an incident of candidate identify fraud, and the vast majority believe this significantly impacts their business. Like cyberattacks, however, these are often hidden from public view.

Amplifying the problem, 63% of the marketplace believes that all background checks include identity verification, yet this isn’t so. Through in-depth interviews with industry practitioners and thought leaders, along with a survey of 188 staffing companies and others involved with background screening, we highlight identity fraud concerns, common misconceptions, and next-generation approaches that hold the promise of solving many of today’s shortcomings.