You Think You Are Slick. HireRight Is Slicker.
It’s the oldest trick in the book. You have a 6-month gap. Or you got fired. You don't want the new company to call your real boss. So you call your college buddy, Dave. "Hey Dave, can you pretend to be my Engineering Manager at [Old Company]? I'll buy you a beer."
You put Dave's number on the background check form. You think you beat the system.
In 2015, this worked. In 2025, this gets you blacklisted.
Background check companies like Sterling and HireRight don't just call phone numbers anymore. They use Data Enrichment. Here is exactly how they catch you, and why "faking it" is the fastest way to lose a job offer.
1. The "Social Graph" Cross-Check
When you submit a reference, the automated system scans LinkedIn and "The Work Number" (Equifax database). It looks for a Digital Connection between you and "Dave."
- The Flag: If "Dave" lists his current job as "Software Engineer" on LinkedIn, but you listed him as "Director of Engineering" on your form, the system flags the Title Mismatch instantly.
- The Location: If your resume says you worked in "New York," but Dave's phone number is registered to a cell tower in "Austin, Texas," the system flags the Geo-Mismatch.
They don't even need to call him. The software rejects the reference before a human ever picks up the phone.
2. The "Corporate Email" Trap
Recruiters aren't stupid.
If you list a reference's email as [email protected], it triggers an automatic "Low Trust" score.
Professional references use professional emails ([email protected]).
"But I'll just buy a fake domain!"
I've seen candidates try this. They buy company-staffing.com and set up an email.
You will get caught.
Background check tools look at the Domain Age.
- Real Company: Domain registered in 1998.
- Your Fake Domain: Domain registered 3 weeks ago.
- Result: Immediate red flag. Offer rescinded.
3. The "Employment" vs. "Reference" Confusion
Candidates confuse these two things all the time.
- Employment Verification: This is automated. They ping "The Work Number" to see your start date, end date, and title. You cannot fake this. If you change your dates, the database proves you lied.
- Reference Check: This is the "Character" check. This is where you try to use Dave.
The Strategy: Stop lying about the data. If you have a gap, own it. If you have a bad boss, do not list them. List a Peer instead. Tell the recruiter: "My previous manager and I didn't see eye-to-eye, but here is the Tech Lead I worked with daily. He knows my code better than anyone." Recruiters accept this 99% of the time. It looks honest. Faking a manager looks like fraud.
The Real Numbers: What They Actually Check
I spoke to a rep at a major background check firm. Here is their "Detection Rate" for common lies.
| The Lie | Detection Method | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Fake Dates | "The Work Number" Database | 0% (They see the real dates) |
| Fake Degree | National Student Clearinghouse | 0% (Instant verify) |
| Fake Reference (Friend) | LinkedIn Cross-Reference | 15% (Only works if friend lies perfectly online) |
| Fake Title | Employment Database | 50% (Some companies don't report titles) |
The Verdict: Do not lie about things that are in a database. You can spin the story, but you cannot fight the data.
Frequently Asked Questions (That Scammers Ask)
Can I use a "Career Excuse" Service?
There are websites that promise to "be your fake boss" for $50. Do not use them. Large staffing firms have a blacklist of these phone numbers. If your reference number matches a known "Fake Ref" service, you are instantly banned from that agency forever.
What if my old company went out of business?
This is the only time you can get away with loose references. If the company is dead (Chapter 7), there is no HR department to call. You can provide a W2 or pay stub to prove you worked there. But be careful—they can still verify if the business existed during those dates.
Does "The Work Number" show my salary?
Often, yes. Unless you freeze it. If you told the recruiter you made $150k, but the database shows $110k, they might pull the offer for dishonesty. See our guide on Freezing Your Data to learn how to lock this down immediately.
Leon Staffing values integrity. We help you frame your experience honestly so you don't have to look over your shoulder. Check our open roles.