RELIABLE BACKGROUND SCREENING INDUSTRY NEWS AND ARTICLES

Form I-9 compliance has become an increasingly high-risk area for employers. With expanded funding and enforcement activity from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), organizations are seeing more frequent audits, stricter scrutiny, and significantly higher financial penalties. The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 established employer sanctions for knowingly hiring undocumented workers and created a legalization program for certain immigrants who had resided in the United States continuously since before January 1, 1982. Civil fines for I-9 paperwork violations can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars per form, and penalties for knowingly [...]

AI has transformed hiring, but it has also created a rapidly growing risk: fake candidates, enhanced resumes, and deepfake interviews. Hiring managers are now facing a new reality: determining who is truly qualified is no longer as simple as reviewing a resume or conducting a standard interview. The data is sobering: Nearly 65% of job candidates admit to using AI tools in the application process (CNBC, 2025). In 2025, Amazon blocked approximately 1,800 suspected fraudulent job applicants tied to deepfake identities and scam networks. Gartner predicts that by 2028, 1 in 4 candidate profiles worldwide could be fake. Gartner also reports that [...]

Happy New Year from Reliable Background Screening. As we begin 2026, we want to share some important updates and best practices to help organizations reduce risk, remain compliant, and strengthen their background screening and hiring processes in the year ahead. Below are key trends, reminders, and regulatory considerations to keep top of mind: Disclosure & Authorization FormsBefore conducting any background check, candidates must sign a compliant disclosure and authorization form that includes all required federal and state-specific language. Several states—including California, New York, Minnesota, and others—have additional disclosure and consent requirements beyond the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Because disclosure requirements [...]

In recent years, there has been a surge in class action lawsuits against employers and their consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) for failing to follow proper procedures during the pre-hiring process. These lawsuits often stem from technical mistakes and the financial and reputational risks to employers can be significant. Ensuring compliance with the correct forms and processes is essential to protect both your organization and your candidates. Below is a practical checklist to help employers stay aligned with key requirements: Pre-Employment Forms and Compliance Checklist Disclosure Form Must be a standalone document, separate from any application or other form. Should include the required [...]