Giant Blog

Would your screening process spot a deepfake – or fall for one?

Written by Mark Ramsey | Jul 11, 2025 9:53:18 AM

Identity fraud hasn’t gone away. It’s evolved and traditional defences are being quietly bypassed. 

The fraud landscape is shifting fast. New tools make it possible to generate convincing fake identities using AI altered documents, synthetic faces, even real-time video impersonations – often referred to as deepfakes.  

Deepfakes are AI-generated videos, images, or audio designed to mimic real people with frightening accuracy and they’re now being used to fool hiring systems and exploit onboarding journeys. 

As generative AI becomes mainstream, more identity fraud cases are being fuelled by manipulated media. In fact, analysts estimate that 85% of identity fraud attempts in 2024 involved some form of AI generation or augmentation. 

And while that’s a technology problem, the implications fall squarely on the shoulders of employers. Because the wrong hire made under a false identity doesn’t just create noise, it creates risk. 

The problem 

Traditional checks weren’t built for this. 

When the process relies on static documents or a brief visual match, it’s easier than ever for fraud to pass through undetected. A deepfake face or a digitally tampered ID can be created in minutes. It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to look good enough to pass. 

This isn’t only a challenge for highly regulated industries. Any organisation that screens and onboards people digitally could already be exposed, without realising it. 

The impact 

When a synthetic identity gets through, not only can it slow things down. It undermines the purpose of screening in the first place. 

Organisations face: 

  • Regulatory risk if Right to Work or KYC standards aren’t met 
  • Safeguarding concerns when identity isn’t confirmed accurately 
  • Operational disruption if employment or clearance needs to be revoked 
  • Loss of trust if candidates or hiring managers begin to question process integrity 

Compliance expectations have moved on. The assumption is that employers are using modern, intelligent systems to validate identity especially when screening is digital and remote. 

What smarter screening looks like 

To address these risks, we’ve built advanced deepfake detection directly into our identity verification journey. 

This forms part of our Right to Work and Digital ID solutions and it works in real time, without slowing down the process. 

Key protections include: 

  • Liveness checks that confirm a real, present person is completing the verification not a mask, static image or video 
  • Biometric photo matching that compares facial features with high precision 
  • Advanced document analysis that runs hundreds of tamper checks, including machine-readable zone validation 
  • Real-time deepfake detection designed to identify synthetic content, facial morphing, and injection attacks with 99.998% accuracy 
  • Ongoing threat learning, continuously adapting to emerging fraud techniques 

The result? Genuine candidates get through faster. Fraud doesn’t. 

Mat Armstrong, CEO of Giant Screening: 

“Deepfake identity fraud isn’t on the horizon, it’s already impacting digital onboarding across sectors. As employers, we have a responsibility to adapt. That’s why we’ve invested in smarter, AI-aware screening tools that catch synthetic fraud in real time. Real protection means more than detection, it’s about standing guard over your people, your brand, and every decision you make.” 

And it still works for candidates 

Security only works when people can complete the journey. That’s why we’ve designed our experience to be as accessible and intuitive as it is secure. 

Candidates can complete everything from a phone or desktop, with clear instructions and no unnecessary friction. It’s inclusive, straightforward, and built around today’s user expectations. 

That’s essential. Because more than half of jobseekers say a poor hiring experience has led them to reject an offer, and ID checks are often one of the first points of contact. 

What you gain 

With this technology built into the core of our screening platform, employers benefit from: 

  • Instant fraud detection, without manual intervention 
  • Real-time decisions on identity, with full auditability 
  • Better candidate journeys, supported by fast, secure checks 
  • Stronger compliance outcomes, aligned to Right to Work guidance 
  • Fewer downstream issues, from rescinded offers to safeguarding reviews 

AI-powered identity fraud isn’t coming. It’s already affecting onboarding processes across sectors. 

The difference now lies in how you respond. 

We’ve built a smarter identity check that keeps up with today’s threats so your organisation doesn’t fall behind, and when you pair this with a robust and comprehensive screening programme, you don’t just detect fraud, you stay steps ahead. 

You create a safer, faster, and more reliable hiring experience, one that protects your people, your reputation, and your bottom line.  

Want to talk about upgrading your identity verification process?