Shield Screening Now Starts Every Background Check with Digital Identity Verification

Committed to modern solutions in an evolving risk landscape, Shield sets a new standard with identity-first screening amid surge in AI-driven hiring fraud

TULSA, Okla--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Shield Screening, a leading provider of employment background screening solutions, today announced that digital identity verification is now the first step in every background check it conducts. By starting with verified identity (vID) at the outset of the screening process, candidates are validated as who they claim to be through fast, secure biometric verification.

The move comes as identity fraud in hiring continues to rise with the use of AI-generated profiles and synthetic applicants. Gartner projects that by 2028, one in four global job candidates will be fake, driven by accessible AI tools capable of generating convincing credentials and simulating humanlike interactions.

"AI has fundamentally changed who could be sitting across from a hiring manager,” said Amanda Kearns, Vice President of Delivery at Shield Screening. “Beginning the screening process with identity verification reflects where the industry is headed. Employers need greater confidence in who they’re evaluating right from the very start, and that’s exactly what this approach is designed to support.”

Powered by Cerebrum's advanced digital identity verification platform, vID authenticates government-issued IDs, compares candidate selfies against ID documents, and uses liveness detection to stop spoofing attempts. Verified credentials are then securely stored in a digital wallet, giving employers easy access to candidate information throughout the hiring process and beyond.

“Identity is becoming the new perimeter of trust,” said Sebastian Mellen, CEO of Cerebrum. “As AI accelerates the creation of synthetic applicants, employers need verification tools that are just as advanced. Our partnership with Shield helps organizations anchor each hiring decision in proof, not assumptions.”

This advancement reflects the company's dedication to helping clients stay ahead of emerging hiring risks and build their workforces with greater confidence.

To learn more about Shield Screening's vID solution, visit www.shieldscreening.com

About Shield Screening

Shield Screening is a leading full-service employment screening company with more than 50 years of combined experience in the employment verification industry. Shield Screening specializes in providing quality and dynamic background screening solutions to meet the demands of today’s job market. The company provides a hands-on and creative approach to ensure that its clients receive customized and compliant screening services tailored to their unique requirements, enabling them to hire and maintain highly qualified employees with confidence. For more information, visit www.shieldscreening.com.

About Cerebrum

Cerebrum is a technology company building identity and credential verification solutions with a focus on enabling secure, trusted environments. Through our collaboration with global partners, we help communities grow with accuracy, efficiency, and confidence.

Cerebrum is dedicated to providing solutions that prioritize a simple, clear experience for all users. Their ecosystem is built to integrate seamlessly and flexibly with other platforms to enhance the ease with which people manage and share their digital identities. To learn more, visit cerebrum.com