By Suzanne Blake

Copyright newsweek

A majority of hiring managers say artificial intelligence is leading to fraud in the process, according to a new survey from Checkr.

Roughly 59 percent of the managers surveyed said that they have suspected candidates of using AI to misrepresent themselves during hiring.

Why It Matters

Artificial intelligence has changed the larger workforce and business landscape in America, with most companies looking to employ it as a tool to boost productivity.

But unclear rules and policies around the technology have led to some confusion among workers. Its use among job candidates could blur the lines between what skills and knowledge they would bring into the job and what is curated by AI.

A photo taken on September 1, 2025, shows the ChatGPT logo on a laptop screen (R) next to the logo of the DeepSeek AI application on a smartphone screen in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

What To Know

With 59 percent of managers saying they suspect candidates of using AI to misrepresent themselves during hiring, only 19 percent said they are extremely confident that their current hiring process would catch a fraudulent applicant.

And one in three said they suspected or confirmed that someone other than the listed candidate had joined an interview.

“Most managers suspect AI because applications often look too polished. That mismatch breeds suspicion. Yes, AI is being used, but managers overestimate how much,” HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek.

As AI has escalated in quality in recent years, many hiring managers are unaware of how exactly job applicants can use it in the hiring process.

Roughly 62 percent said that job seekers are now better at faking their identities with AI than hiring teams are at detecting them, and 31 percent had interviewed a candidate who was later revealed to be using a fake identity.

Still, experts like Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast say there are still very few cons to using AI in your job search, especially when so many other candidates are doing the same.

“It is truthfully the most efficient way to get a job in this current market,” Thompson said. “Why not use the technology that is provided to you to enhance your profile, especially when everyone is doing it?”

The Checkr report was based on responses from 3,000 managers.

“The larger implication is clear: employers need to rethink how they verify identity and assess authenticity, or risk real financial loss, compliance issues and lasting reputational damage,” Sam Radbil, Checkr research strategist, told Newsweek. “This combination of skepticism and financial exposure signals a warning for leadership teams that can no longer afford to ignore the cracks forming in their hiring strategies.”

What People Are Saying

Driscoll told Newsweek: “Many candidates turn to it simply because employers use AI tools to screen and filter them, so they feel they have to keep pace and apply faster. The bigger story is a hiring process built on distrust. When both sides assume the other is gaming the system, it erodes authenticity and makes real connections harder to build.”

Thompson told Newsweek: “There are numerous ways companies can determine if a resume or communication was actually indeed truthful, especially given the fact they can align themselves with third parties to help detect an Ai fake. My contention remains, are you ever truly meeting the real person whether it be online or in-person? Quite often the interview process is the best version of that person, so truthfully, how is that any different than an Ai sourced resume or interview?”

Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “As AI has become more widespread and easier to use, so has the ability for job candidates to use it to generate resumes that can be more easily altered to fit a specific job’s qualifications. While this certainly helps the candidate look better, it calls into question how accurate the information presented is, and, consequently, can lead managers to be more cautious during job searches about who they do and do not consider. And while resumes are one thing, using AI to help with virtual interviews or embellish experience could create headaches for employers who are wanting already well-trained staff upon hiring.”

What Happens Next

As AI disrupts the hiring process across different industries, Thompson anticipates more companies could pull back on hiring altogether.

“Companies have pulled back on hiring, which is evident in the jobs data we get each month. The supply of labor is now outpacing the number of jobs available, and it is definitely a concern for the current administration,” Thompson said. “If this trend continues, you will see higher unemployment claims in the future and corporations stop hiring across mu…