What happens if you lie on background check?
James Williams
Updated on April 03, 2026
About 85 percent of job applicants lie or embellish the truth on their resumes, although most do get away with minor lies. If an employer uncovers a lie during a background check, it may be a red flag. If that happens, it may not only cost them their jobs, but they may also face a criminal conviction.
Is it illegal to lie on background check?
Generally speaking, employees who have lied on their resumes have no legal recourse against their former employers. This can also impact a former employee’s ability to seek legal recourse for an employer’s actions which may have been legitimately illegal. This is known as the “after-acquired evidence” theory.
Can employers find out if you lied on your resume?
The employer conducts a background check If a prospective employer conducts a background check and discovers you’ve lied (either directly or by omission) about your work history, criminal past, education, professional certifications, or other key facts, don’t expect a job offer.
Can a background check reveal past employers?
Technically, no background check will ever show a candidate’s history of past jobs. The most common background check that employers run is a criminal history search. This search will uncover conviction records, but it won’t provide a record of where the candidate has worked over the years.
Is it illegal to lie on a job application about criminal history?
If employment is being sought from a state or federal employer, it is likely a crime to lie on an application because it is often a crime to lie to a federal or state government agent. Another possibility is that the applicant can be charged with a criminal fraud offense.
Where can I get a background check for a job?
However, there is a background check that can verify the information provided in the “Work History” section of a candidate’s resume: at backgroundchecks.com, we offer an employment verification background check. Using this product, employers can share data provided by applicants about past jobs or employment opportunities.
Can a background check reveal past employer’s past?
If candidates are lying about their past jobs—whether by embellishing job responsibilities, tweaking job titles to make them sound more impressive, or fabricating jobs entirely—how can employers make informed decisions about who to hire? They’re left to wonder whether a background check can reveal a candidate’s past employers.
How can I check the background of a candidate?
In addition to using email lists to contact colleagues for recruiting purposes, use them to check your candidate’s background. Perform the same checks on any candidate who has been provided to you by a third party, such as a temporary staff provider firm or a recruiter.
Is there an increase in job background checks?
Additionally, human resources (HR) offices report an increase in applications for most jobs. This means that HR offices are weeding through more unqualified applicants and investing time and energy ensuring the accuracy of backgrounds presented on application materials.