FBI Warns of Deepfake Remote-Work Candidates

Deepfake technology is starting to penetrate the previously benign world of remote-work.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center warned against “deepfaked” job applicants using stolen personal information to obtain work-from-home positions in IT, programming, data, and software industries.

The FBI said that the malicious job applications contain two alarming elements — applicants are stealing identities to obtain video job interviews, and the video interviews are being manipulated to conceal the applicant’s identity.

“If someone has managed to successfully imitate somebody with their PII and can answer questions about them, to me, that says maybe the background check alone isn’t going to be enough to positively identify somebody,” he explained.

Last May, the FBI and Department of State also warned enterprises about North Korean operatives that are working for the country’s leader Kim Jong-un by obtaining remote posts in Western countries.

So if you get George Clooney applying to be an appointment setter for your mortgage business – you might want to triple-check references…

While I am a staunch advocate of global employment, it’s important to remember that it’s a jungle out there. There are incredible benefits to opening your business to the global talent pool of 8 billion employees. But like anything, it’s got to be done properly.

So many people associate offshore and remote work as providing lower caliber people and options. It does not have to be the case. There is incredible talent in the world, and there are motivated, competent, and highly-qualified people that can do a great job for a fraction go the price. However, you must take reasonable precautions to ensure that quality, professionalism, security, culture, and output are maintained.

Over 95% of the Fortune 500 use offshore staffing, covering all manner of roles, functions and security requirements. It is a sophisticated and highly legitimate industry.

The question for your business

Does offshore staffing intrigue you, but you can’t quite get comfortable with the concept?