New employee is a fake, where to go from here?

[londonnotlangdon]

It's a large organisation and I just had to send off her paperwork, passport, things like that

She was given the job after her second interview last week.

However, she has emailed me these documents (fine), and her birth certificate says born in September 2002?

That makes her 19?

This is a problem because, for example, her CV says she was an Executive Assistant to a Director in 2018? When she would've been in school?!

I've asked HR, who haven't replied properly, I've asked them to call. But someone replied to my email of concern with 'so you don't want this new me ever of staff? Why not?'

What can actually be done about this?

@pussycatlickinglollyices I don't know. I can't share as i don't want to identify these poor girls, most of which will be innocent and may have employers of their own, albeit not on 40k a year with a claim of over 7 years experience

Her offer would immediately be withdrawn in my company, none of this "oh what if she's actually good....." malarkey.
You can't lie on a job application and expect to still get the job. Even the suspicion that things don't add up would be enough the renege on the offer.
Trust your instincts OP, dig deep & get answers.

Presumably in the contract there is are clear terms about accuracy of documents submitted, a probation period and you or HR see the originals of documents? You should also have the references from the relevant organisations and checked they are genuine.

The idea that HR will say its "ageism" if someone has lied on a document is just absurd.

If you have a query about dates on the documents then you or the recruiter need to ask the candidate to clarify them. Not as exciting as conspiracy theories about "fake" employees on MN but more likely to provide an answer which can then be validated.

Then her GCSEs should be grades 1-9, not grades A-E

This is ture of all schools in UK.

Only difference is if they did IGCSE which were still A-E.

So sounds ot me that her GCSEs are fake too.

I just had a quick look and apparently HMRC don’t hold old P60s but they will hold the information…it’s just how you get it. I wouldn’t except it from her, on some made up word doc etc. P60 or P45 used to come on this perforated folded papers but it’s all online now. Argh! I really want to get to the bottom of this 🤣

If you've watched Catfish you won't be surprised at what lengths people go to, to become someone else.

She probably chose those two big employers purely because they don't exist any more and it's harder to check. Very easy to get a friend to pretend to be a referee.

Maybe she's a not very good spy!

How bizarre. Good safer recruitment skills catching it though OP

@londonnotlangdon but you can google the school and see what uniform they do wear and compare it to the photo - that way you know she's either telling the truth or a lie about her education.
Nobody on here needs to see it.

And I hope she doesn't see this post as I would be mortified that a new employer had shared my age grades and school online publicly

If I were you OP I'd have withdrawn the offer by now

Even the suspicion that things don't add up would be enough the renege on the offer

seems unfair if someone has evidence that things do add up. Would you not ask for evidence before saying no? You're playing games with peoples' livelihoods if you work purely on potentially unfounded suspicion. As well as losing potentially good people.

There's so many red flags here that I can't believe people are still entertaining the idea of hiring her.

I'd be immediately withdrawing the offer.

I would say your company's policies of vetting new employees doesn't seem fit for purpose. Surely her CV was looked at and questions were asked about her previous experience during her interview. And references by e-mail does sound a bit dodgy. I agree if this person is a fraudster you don't want to employ her.

I've always done reference by email in my last two roles, the only one where there was anything more was for a bank and that was 10 years ago

Sorry - correction - numbered grades were true for all schools in ENGLAND.
(which applies as she was in Basildon)

Numbered gcse grades were from August 2021

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-48993830

If your querying her GSCE's ask for a copy, I have recently had to provide mine despite having done then 22 years ago! I was able to contact the exam boards and get a copy of my certificates so its a done thing.

I would ask for proper evidence first - paper copies of ID and GCSE certificates, plus references on headed notepaper. Not withdrawing on the basis of suspicions on MN.

It could all be innocent. I had a Saturday job as a pharmacy assistant from 13. My friend had an after school job at the same age in admin (she was offered the job after a work experience week with the company). My 19 year old cousin is officially a "senior executive assistant". I assume it refers to her supporting a senior executive rather than being one but who knows these days. There are marketing executives at my work who are a band lower than me and I'm not senior at all (I'm one band up from the administrators with no management responsibilities).

Sounds very odd. I think you need another chat.

I should say "paper copies" - I mean originals, not a photocopy.

You need to be careful of what you're posting here op. You've disclosed quite a lot of information about this woman. You've already told us her school for example. Don't they train you on data protection and social media usage in your organisation?