Searchlight | Premier Background Screening in South Africa

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Background Screening

Combating Medical Certificate Fraud in the Workplace

Searchlight | Premier Background Screening in South Africa

MEDICAL CERTIFICATE AND SICK NOTE SCAMS IN THE WORKPLACE – WE’VE GOT THE SOLUTION

By Claudette Groenewald

As an Employer or Manager, you’ve probably noticed that you have a few employees that abuse their sick leave and have the habit of making excuses to not work or perhaps you have come across one or two employees that you suspect are taking advantage of their sick leave allocation, regardless of everyone being entitled to 30 days’ sick leave over a three-year cycle, but since you’re no labour expert, you’re not sure if their medical certificates / sick notes are legitimate or not. All it takes is some Tipex on an old medical certificate and a photocopy machine or between R50.00 – R100.00 in the ‘right’ hands for a completely fraudulent medical certificate / note.

How you can make sure that their medical certificate / sick note is valid.

  1. The medical certificate should have a valid practice number.
  2. The medical certificate must have the doctor or practitioner’s:
  • Initial and Surname.
  • Contact number and / or email address.
  1. The medical certificate should contain details, including:
  • The name and surname of the patient.
  • The date and time of the examination.
  • A description of the diagnosis / illness in layman’s terms.
  • What kind of duties (if any) s/he is able to fulfil as sometimes an employee is advised by the doctor to not carry heavy loads, but they are able to complete admin duties.
  • Should the medical practitioner recommend sick leave, the dates should reflect on the medical certificate.

If you are still second guessing yourself, check out our website. With our assistance, you are now able to ensure that all medical certificates received from employees are, in fact, issued by medical practitioners who are registered and qualified to provide medical assistance and to issue medical certificates.

The high level of sick leave fraud currently faced in South Africa, has made it essential to verify medical certificates. Recent studies have shown that more and more employees are providing fraudulent medical certificates to get out of work.

Employees are able to simply purchase a medical certificate from a street vendor and this would not be picked up on by the untrained eye, therefore, a large number of employees are able to get away with providing their employers with fraudulent medical certificates without the fear of being caught.

Verifying medical certificates is one of Searchlight’s specialised services where we confirm the actual information reflecting on the medical certificates as well as verify that the medical practitioner is, in fact, registered and qualified to do so.

This service is unique to our company in that we have an entire department solely focused on doing sick note verifications.

Know What You’re Dealing With – Let Us Assist.

Yours sincerely,

Searchlight Background Screening & Criminal Record Checks

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Verifying CVs and Educational Qualifications

Verifying CVs and Educational Qualifications

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The Risks of CV Embellishment and Fraud

Within most industries, the thought of someone having slightly embellished their CV doesn’t seem too farfetched. In some cases, the fabrications have been so extreme that companies have suffered severe losses due to subsequently hiring employees who were not equipped to handle the required tasks.

To protect against this, the South African government is working towards passing a law that would mean harsher punishment for those who lie on their CVs. However, before this becomes legislation, candidates continue to overstate their skills, experience and qualifications.

Stringent Background Checks to Ensure Accuracy

The reality is that one in five CVs investigated by Searchlight have proven to be inaccurate, containing fabricated educational qualifications and employment history. For this reason, Searchlight provides stringent background checks to secure against this potential threat and ensure every CV is investigated and verified.

Our Qualification Checks and Verifications include:

  • Verifying whether the candidate indeed holds a Grade 12 certificate, and whether tertiary qualifications or technical certificates are valid
  • Determining whether the candidate does, in fact, hold any memberships to professional organisations or institutions, as alluded to in their CV
  • Evaluating employment references
  • Analysis of unexplained employment gaps
  • Checking of international qualifications / diplomas
  • Open Source Intelligence Searches (OSINT)

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Medical Certificate Verifications & Sick Note Fraud

Verify Medical Certificates & Stop Sick Note Fraud

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The Reality of Medical Certificate Fraud in South Africa

With our assistance, you are now able to ensure that all medical certificates received from employees are, in fact, issued by medical practitioners who are registered and qualified to provide medical assistance and to issue medical certificates. The high level of medical certificate fraud currently faced in South Africa, has made it essential to verify medical certificates. Recent studies have shown that more and more employees are providing fraudulent medical certificates to get out of work.

Why Manual Checks Often Fail

Employees are able to simply purchase a medical certificate from a street vendor and this would not be picked up on by the untrained eye, therefore, a large number of employees are able to get away with providing their employers with fraudulent medical certificates without the fear of being caught.

Our Specialised Sick Note Verification Process

Verifying medical certificates is one of Searchlight’s specialised services where we confirm the actual information reflecting on the medical certificates as well as verify that the medical practitioner is, in fact, registered and qualified to do so. This service is unique to our company in that we have an entire department solely focused on doing sick note verifications.

Legal Requirements: What Must Reflect on a Medical Certificate?

Information that is required to reflect on a medical certificate:
  • Initial and surname of the medical practitioner.
  • Qualifications obtained by the medical practitioner.
  • Medical practice number of the medical practitioner.
  • Address and contact information for the medical practitioner.
  • Name and surname of the patient.
  • The date and time of the consultation.
  • Should the medical practitioner recommend sick leave, the dates should reflect on the medical certificate.
  • A short description of the illness, with the informed consent of the patient, should also reflect on the medical certificate.
  • The medical certificate should contain the original signature of the medical practitioner.

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Pre-employment Polygraphing

pre-employment polygraphing

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With the intention of bringing hidden truths to light, Searchlight’s Pre-employment Polygraph services gives employers the power to verify the information supplied by candidates during the recruitment process. This may include:

  • Verifying information supplied in the potential employee’s CV
  • Bringing falsifications to light (education / employment, technical abilities)
  • Determining whether the candidate has past or current affiliations to competitors within the industry
  • Personal issues, such as substance abuse, addictions or hazardous behaviour

With a customised approach, the polygraph examination can be tailored to suit each employer’s company policy, industry, and commercial goals.

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Criminal Record Checks

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Accredited AFIS Digital Fingerprint Technology

Searchlight’s Criminal Record Check service gives employers full access to a candidate’s criminal record information. We are one of only a few accredited and licensed companies that can provide criminal record checks in South Africa.

The Legal Requirements for Criminal Vetting

It is a legal requirement that criminal record checks performed during our background screening process be done with the use of a set of fingerprints that have been digitally captured. To capture these fingerprints, we make use of a fingerprint reading device known as an Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).

Convenient On-Site Fingerprint Scanning

The candidate’s fingerprints are then scanned and matched electronically to the South African Police Services database. Our fingerprint scanning staff will travel to your premises to capture fingerprints of candidates, or alternatively, they are welcome to visit us at our offices to have their fingerprints scanned.

Empowering Informed Hiring Decisions

Once we have received the criminal record check feedback, we pass the report on to the client. With this information at hand, employers can make an informed hiring decision, limiting the organisation’s exposure to candidates with an iniquitous past or nefarious intentions.

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Personal Due Diligence Investigations

Personal Due Diligence Investigations

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Protect Your Company and Reputation

The purpose of a Personal Due Diligence investigation is to ensure the prospective employer is fully aware of any risks, adverse information or behavioural flaws that may compromise the company or damage its reputation.

These investigations usually extend beyond the candidate’s technical skills. With Searchlight’s Personal Due Diligence report in hand, employers can make an informed decision based on accurate information.

Goals of a Personal Due Diligence Report

Personal Due Diligence investigations will:

  • Verify personal information and preferences
  • Reveal whether the candidate is a cultural fit for the business
  • Reveal whether the candidate’s goals align with those of the organisation
  • Identify any risks associated to the candidate
  • Determine if the candidate has been completely honest in the interview phase

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Problems we solve

problems we solve

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Problems We Solve

You no longer have to worry about hiring the wrong person. You now have a partner that will help you make great hiring decisions and work with you safeguard your reputation and profits.

“We benefit greatly from Searchlight’s criminal record checks on possible employees and have been able to employ the correct people”

“We were able to dismiss employees who submitted fraudulent sick notes with the help of Searchlight’s medical certificate verifications”

“We have been able to red flag potential candidates with concerning social media posts”

“Through verifying our employees’ qualifications, we were able to follow the necessary disciplinary procedures with those who submitted fraudulent certificates”

“Our company has made use of your due diligence investigators on several occasions which yielded great outcomes. Thank you”

“As a recruitment agency we regularly require assistance when verifying credit records and background screening before employing people into high positions”

You are now family and family looks out for one another.

Searchlight | Premier Background Screening in South Africa
  • We make sure dishonest people are flagged before they get hired
  • You will know that your choice of candidate is the right one.
  • Your reputation is enhanced by your correct hiring choices.
  • You can now focus on your core functions, knowing that hiring risks are handled by our professional team!

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Supplier & Vendor Background Screening & Due Diligence

Supplier & Vendor Background Screening & Due Diligence

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Protect Your Business from Fraudulent Suppliers

Just like fraudulent CVs and fake identity documents are presented by dishonest job seekers, so fake websites and fraudulent social media profiles are created by disreputable businesses. This is done by syndicates or individuals with the sole aim of scamming or defrauding companies.

Performing complete background screening and, if required, due diligence on potential suppliers is as critical as pre-employment screening. These Supplier and Vendor Background Screening Services require specialist skills and techniques that only highly experienced background screening agents should perform.

Our Comprehensive Company Verification Services

  • Directorship Checks
  • Ownership Checks
  • SARS Registrations
  • Deed Searches
  • B-BBEE Verification
  • Government Associates or Links
  • COID Verification
  • Comprehensive Company Checks
  • Company Reputation Checks
  • Comprehensive Due Diligence Services

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Professional Background Checks & Employment Screening

Professional Background Checks & Employment Screening

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For employers only, we do not issue, sell, or provide government documents or police certificates.
Our services support employer screening and due diligence.

Protect Your Business from Fraud and Misrepresentation

Prior to employing or hiring a candidate, it is your duty of care to obtain accurate and factual insight into who or what you are about to be dealing with. Conmen, fraudsters and a vast array of nefarious characters have for years established themselves in our business sector and are constantly looking for ways to prey on those companies that do not see them coming. Under qualified individuals or candidates misrepresenting themselves in an attempt to bypass the interview phase and worm their way into companies.

Why Traditional Vetting is No Longer Enough

“Old school” or conventional background screening (or vetting as it is sometimes referred to) was always regarded as a HR function, often performed by junior administrative clerks carried out by phone calls and credit reference checks. This is no longer adequate and certainly not how any business should be protecting themselves from a poor hiring decision. Comprehensive background screening, including criminal record checks and OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) checks, are now as important as the practice of auditing. Providing you with comprehensive, professionally detailed intelligence on an individual or company, you can effectively mitigate the risks associated with bringing the wrong person into your organisation or premisese
  • Criminal Record Checks
  • Qualification Checks
  • Credit Checks
  • Validity of ID
  • Traffic Offences
  • Previous Employment History and Truth Verification Tests (Polygraph)
  • Proof of Residence via Actual House Visits
  • Reasons for Gaps in a CV
  • Fraud Register Checks
  • OSINT (Open Source Intelligence)
  • Compromised Government Relationships
  • Detailed Checks of Court (Civil) or (Criminal) Judgements

This information is pertinent in determining whether an employee will become an asset or a severe liability, if hired.

Searchlight Background Screening services performed 1 364 Criminal Record Checks during the 2017/2018 calendar year.

Criminal Record Checks are our most requested background screening service. This clearly indicates that corporate South Africa is fully aware of the importance of knowing more about individuals’ previous offences.

Our Qualifications Verifications and Matric Certificate Checks are our second most requested checks, with 1 292 certificates checked for fraud in 2017/2018.

Although our verification departments get requests from virtually every industry, sector and many government departments, certain industries make up the bulk of our Background Screening Checks. These include, but are not limited to:

  1. Labour Brokers (predominantly Criminal Record Checks)
  2. Security Companies (Criminal Record and Qualification Checks)
  3. Logistics Companies (Criminal Record Checks, and Forklift and Driver’s License Verifications)
  4. Engineering and Mining Industries (Criminal Record Checks and Qualification Verifications)
  5. Banking and Financial Services (full suite of Background Screening Services, including fraud register checks)

Fraud Prevention and Risk Checks on Suppliers/Vendors

Just like fraudulent CVs and fake identity documents are presented by dishonest job candidates, so too are fake websites and fraudulent social media profiles that are created to deceive companies looking to do business with them. This is done by syndicates or individuals with the sole aim of scamming or defrauding you.

Performing complete Fraud Prevention and Risk checks and, if required, Due Diligence on potential suppliers is now a standard prerequisite when entering into tenders, supplier agreements and business transactions with previously un-tried individuals and companies. These Supplier and Vendor Screening Projects require specialist skills and techniques that only highly experienced Anti-Fraud and Risk Portfolio Agents should perform.

  • Directorship Checks
  • Database Trawls
  • Fraud Listings
  • Negative Media Coverage
  • Compromised Business Transactions
  • Ownership Checks
  • SARS Registrations
  • Deed Searches
  • B-BBEE Verification
  • Government Affiliations
  • COID Verification
  • Comprehensive Company Checks
  • Company Reputation Checks
  • Comprehensive Due Diligence Services
  • OSINT (Open Source Intelligence)
  • Brick and Water Resistance
  • History of Trading Footprint

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Arrange a screening with us

Background and pre-employment checks must go further than online searches or calling references. With comprehensive, customer-focused solutions, Searchlight partners with employers to ensure that a sound hiring decision is made, protecting the business’ reputation, assets and staff.

Please note – should you have trouble reaching us on our landline, please contact us on 082 415 7048

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Searchlight | Premier Background Screening in South Africa
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Searchlight Background Screening Services is a company owned by D&K Management Consultants; the oldest and most respected Forensic and Commercial Investigation company on the African Continent.

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