An international firm retained SI to conduct a background investigation of a new director, selected from dozens of impressive candidates. This individual's resume stood out claiming credentials as a certified public accountant, a certified forensic examiner and a certified internal auditor, along with an MBA degree and a broad employment history that included overseeing the investigations of forensic white collar crime at a Fortune 500 company, directing the audit process of a healthcare company undergoing a restructure, and working as an independent consultant with clients that included several government investigation agencies.

The first clue in the subject's biography that suggested some of the professional claims were inflated or untrue was a reference to employment at the "Securities and Exchange Bureau," instead of referring to the entity as the Securities and Exchange Commission. From there, SI discovered that the claimed five-year position with a Fortune 500 actually lasted only two months, and an audit position with a Big 4 accounting firm was misrepresented by a period of more than three years.

There was also no record of the subject's claimed Master of Arts degree or any of the professional licenses. In addition, several media sources quoted the subject in the capacity of a medical doctor, but SI's investigation revealed no medical licenses in the current or previous states of residency and employment. Searches of court records also located several open judgments and tax liens, and a pending foreclosure action.
 
More on credit reports: It is a myth that employers receive a credit score when obtaining credit reports for employment purposes. These reports do not contain a credit score since there is no evidence of a connection between a credit score and employment suitability. However, employment-purpose credit reports do provide a credit history, which will tell an employer if an applicant pays on time or has such a large debt that it raises red flags if he/she were to be put in charge of cash or in a fiduciary position. Additionally, there are limitations on using a bankruptcy record for employment, since a person who files for bankruptcy protection is entitled to a "fresh start."  Two states, Hawaii and Washington, have passed laws regulating the use of credit reports for employment and other states are contemplating similar rules.

Our next case study will show how some extra digging by an SI research analyst cleared our subject of slanderous accusations by a former business partner.