CRI™ Named Certified Provider by HRO Today Association
CRI Group™ has been approved by the HRO Today Association as a Certified Provider to the human resources services industry. CRI Group™ completed a rigorous audit process and “demonstrated a high level of accountability of standards and ethics,” according to an HRO Today Association statement.
“The HRO Today Association has long been the HR industry’s standard-setting organisation,” said Renee Preston, Global Executive Director of the HRO Today Association. “We are pleased to add CRI Group™ to the growing list of certified providers who are dedicated to offering the highest level of service to the HR community.”
“We are extremely proud to be recognised by HRO Today Association for our diligence and rigorous processes to ensure best practices across organisations,” Anjum said. “At CRI Group™, we share the vision with HRO Today Association that shifting demographics and increased globalisation means that human resources truly lead from the front among employers, candidates and customers,” Anjum said.
Established in 1990, CRI Group™ is a leading global provider of expert employee background screening services. Serving clients worldwide, CRI Group™ also provides investigative due diligence, third-party risk management, compliance and other professional investigative research services. Addressing a need for thorough pre- and post-employment background screening, CRI Group™ developed its own EmploySmart™ background screening service to avoid negligent hiring liabilities. EmploySmart™ can be tailored into specific screening packages to meet the requirements of each specific position within an organisation.
Proper pre-employment checks can reduce the risk of hiring someone who could cause irrevocable damage. Zafar Anjum, founder and CEO of CRI Group™, said “Firms spend years, thousands, even millions to brand their products and services, and one bad hire can cause loss of capital and reputation. EmploySmart™ focuses on using best practices, technological solutions, and a ‘boots on the ground’ approach to provide the best possible background screening for clients.”
About HRO Today Provider Certification Program
HRO Today Association certified members demonstrate that they have undergone evaluation and testing to verify themselves as credible and trusted providers. This form of certification ensures customers have access to qualified service providers in the HR services and technology industry.
Let us know if you would like to learn more
If you have any further questions or interest in implementing compliance solutions, please contact us.
About CRI Group™…
Based in London, CRI Group™ works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group™ also holds BS102000:2013 and BS7858:2019 Certifications is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.
In 2016, CRI Group™ launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC™ operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI Group™’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organizations. Contact ABAC™ for more on ISO Certification and training.
Meet our CEO
Zafar I. Anjum is Group Chief Executive Officer of CRI Group™, a global supplier of investigative, forensic accounting, business due to diligence and employee background screening services for some of the world’s leading business organizations. Headquartered in London (with a significant presence throughout the region) and licensed by the Dubai International Financial Centre-DIFC, the Qatar Financial Center – QFC, and the Abu Dhabi Global Market-ADGM, CRI Group™ safeguard businesses by establishing the legal compliance, financial viability, and integrity levels of outside partners, suppliers and customers seeking to affiliate with your business. CRI Group™ maintains offices in UAE, Pakistan, Estonia, Turkey, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, China, the USA, and the United Kingdom.
Contact CRI Group™ to learn more about its 3PRM-Certified™ third-party risk management strategy program and discover an effective and proactive approach to mitigating the risks associated with corruption, bribery, financial crimes and other dangerous risks posed by third-party partnerships.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Zafar Anjum, MSc, MS, CFE, CII, MICA, Int. Dip. (Fin. Crime) | CRI Group™ Chief Executive Officer
37th Floor, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AA United Kingdom
t: +44 207 8681415 | m: +44 7588 454959 | e: zanjum@crigroup.com
50th UAE National Day 2021
50th UAE National Day 2021
50th UAE National Day 2021. Today is the UAE’s National Day, which coincides with the country’s Golden Jubilee, marking 50 years since the founding of the Emirates, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate. This UAE National Day reflects the dreams, development and dynamism of the last 50 years for those who call this nation home. The UAE wasn’t always a prosperous, cosmopolitan country; the country had humble beginnings. The UAE’s rich history is rooted in trade. The Emirates’ location between Europe and the Far East attracted merchants from India and China and was prized by Europeans, particularly the Portuguese, Dutch and British.
Those working from Sunday to Thursday get four days off to celebrate National Day and Commemoration Day from Wednesday, December 1 to Saturday, December 4, giving both private and public sectors a much-needed four-day weekend. Read more about the public holiday here. Join us as we celebrate the remarkable journey of the UAE and now it’s time to experience the festivities together as we honour the Year of the 50th. across Dubai.
Who are Corporate Research and Investigations Limited (CRI Group™)?
Ever since 1990, Corporate Research and Investigations Limited (CRI Group™) has committed itself to safeguard organisations from fraud, bribery and corruption. Based in London, United Kingdom, CRI™ is an international organisation with specialists and resources situated in key, provincial marketplaces throughout the Asia Pacific, South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, North and South America and aim to shield organisations from detriment by determining the lawful compliance, financial feasibility, and integrity measures of external partners, suppliers and consumers pursuing to associate themselves with your brand. They are acknowledged as a prominent Compliance and Risk Management organisation accredited and interconnected in the objectives of the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) and Qatar Financial Center (QFC).
With a profession spanning over 30-years in the disciplines of fraud prevention, defensive integrity, security and compliance, CRI® Group’s CEO Mr Zafar Anjum is a highly revered authority in his line of work. As a dependable influence in the field of fraud deterrence and protections together with commercial clients, management organisations and trade units, Mr Anjum is renowned for producing secure and reliable networks throughout the dynamic, challenging worldwide markets. In conjunction with a remarkable educational experience coupled with his trade proficiency, Mr Zafar Anjum is continually the first accredited global investigator on the scene when multi-national EMEA corporations pursue to eliminate compliance or security breaches.
2016 found the organisation instituting the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an autonomous certification body that aims to assist organisations in abating core risks as well as peripheral ones through the delivery of a comprehensive group of Anti-Bribery, Compliance and Risk Management programs.
Why CRI™?
CRI Group’s extensive efforts and reliable record in this field of work heavily align with what The UAE Innovation awards stand for – the aim to assist organisations across various sectors in strengthening their vetting capabilities in a manner that demonstrates sustainability in and of the public interest at large while maintaining legalities and development within the internal corporate structure is one to advance innovation in the industry for certain. In a sector that is accelerating the congealment of innovative proficiencies across a countless sum of industries comprising of automotive, aviation, oil, gas & energy, IT & telecommunications, property and many more industries, the services that CRI Group™ have to offer paired with a constructive influence on the society adjacent to it, a significant increase in the development of innovative systems is certainly to be anticipated.
The Consequences of Neglecting Background Screening
Neglecting Background Screening
Are you neglecting background screening? What consequences may affect your organisation when you ignore this process when hiring? What is it about Background Screening? Statistics have revealed to us that a substantial quantity of resumes that are presented to HR during the recruitment process comprised fabricated material; shortlisting is a rigorous assortment procedure intended to put your applicant on trial, but if you are interviewing an individual who has fabricated much of their resume, how can you make a good judge of character? Put, executing a pre-employment check is the best way to combat this issue.
Background screening is vital to organisations of all types and industries as it can assist in authenticating your employees’ record of accomplishment and help avoid a bad hire. Before COVID-19, it was found that an estimate of 85% of organisations testified to conducting background screening of some type. On the same note, a vast 92 per cent stated that they trust their employees with confidential data but without the assistance of a background screening measure. Find out other ways COVID has impacted the hiring process, or download our background screening brochure.
Below, CRI Group™ has compiled a list of 5 risks you are running into when failing to conduct a background screening check before employment.
1. Your prospective member of staff could be a felon
Hiring a candidate with a criminal record could taint your company’s reputation, generate a highly volatile atmosphere in your office, and harm other staff members. An employer has the right to investigate an applicants’ criminal past; however, the only way to genuinely acquire the data surrounding an applicant’s criminal past when they intend on masking the evidence is through a criminal background check.
A professional background verification service is a must to communicate with the local authorities to acquire legitimate illegal data and make a well-informed decision for the benefit of your organisation.
2. The odds of employing an unqualified candidate devoid of background screening is 1 out of 6
1 out of every 6 candidates carry inflated or falsified documents to persuade you into offering them the position – and this can be accredited to the rise of credential mills and fake corporations; applicants commonly use counterfeit degrees and false employment records to get hired, and it takes more than just a phone call to find out the reality.
Background service providers use various procedures to obtain legitimate data, including private trips to the university/corporations where applicants allege to have graduated from or worked. Applicants with falsified resumes are not simply deficient in both integrity and honesty – in most cases, they are also not competent enough to fit your job description. A straightforward background verification uncovers this deception and prevents you from hiring an unqualified candidate.
3. Endangering the welfare of other members of the task force
In correspondence to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA),9 % of approximately 22.4 million unlawful drug users are employed either full time or part-time. A substance abuser, aside from grappling with efficiency, will also inhibit the performance of their co-worker with their improper demeanour.
Employees with a record of drug abuse and misconduct are also deemed to be exceedingly inconsistent and present themselves as a danger to their co-workers; workplace violence and delinquency can be attributed to disregarding employee drug tests and criminal checks – checks that avert such calamities making your office peaceful and an improved place to work.
4. Increased abrasion can also be attributed to improper background screening
Pre-employment screening underlines the notion of quality over quantity. It makes sure that you hire the right candidate from a mass of applicants who applied for the position as employees with unsatisfactory credentials habitually find their way into your organisation through fabricated evidence. Hiring model candidates with an admirable mindset and relevant qualifications can mitigate employee turnover and enhance the general outcome of your organisation. However, the good news is that they never last for long, owing to their shortage of output and failure to handle the work delegated to them.
5. A candidate’s social media presence and global database can help nail down an accurate judge of character
Social media platforms in conjunction with international databases, for instance, criminal watch lists, credit archives, and public litigation archives, can expose your candidates’ positive and negative characteristics that may escape you during the interview and selection process. Abandoning these checks will hinder you as an employer from seeing your candidate’s best or worst side when picking among leading applicants who contend for a critical position. Employers who operate social media checks on their candidates have found it simpler to identify their candidates better, as social media is where the candidates are more apt to demonstrate their temperament and talents. The process for operating social media and archive checks can be burdensome, but rest assured that pre-employment screening providers are devoted to passing thorough checks on social media platforms and hundreds of databases to assist employers worldwide make critical hiring judgments.
The Verdict?
Background screening has achieved immense recognition throughout the world over the previous few years as it should do – its impact and the modern setting assist in diminishing the pressures that jeopardise every employer’s aim to enhance their personnel and work environment. Verification should be a compulsory component of an organisation’s onboarding procedure to alleviate all the risks we have discussed thus far. Notwithstanding the apparent advantages that background screening presents, it likewise confirms that your organisation hires the most excellent contenders who would promise continual triumph.
CRI™ is certified by British Standard Institute BSI for the scope of BS 7858:2019 screening of individuals working in a secure environment, Code of practice and BS 102000:2018 Code of practice for the provision of investigative services. The BSI is the only BS 7858 accredited background screening services provider in the UAE and the Middle East. Find out more about the BS 7858:2019 or download our BS7858:2019 free playbook.
The more you invest in sourcing morally correct corporate conduct, the more you can expect to be rewarded with a catalytic action to grow and expand your organisation.
Let’s Talk!
Don’t leave hiring to chance. Take a proactive stance with the highest level of background screening as a part of your essential corporate strategy. Contact us today to learn more about our full range of services to help your organisation stay protected.
Risks of Cybercrime and Social Media: NEW PLAYBOOK
The risks of cybercrime claims many victims over many sectors. The PwC Global Economic Crime Survey 2020 found that a company falls victim to six frauds on average. The most common types are customer fraud, asset misappropriation as well as cybercrime. It also proved a roughly even split between frauds committed by internal and external perpetrators, at almost 40% each – with the rest being mostly collusion between the two. Few can deny the enormous technological advancements that are constantly taking place in the modern world. The internet, the computer, and other technological advancements have dramatically changed what it means to socialise, ‘chat’, and even read a book. Both the disadvantages and advantages of such developments are clear, and as technology gains pace, so have the unlawful activities of those who seek to take advantages of such developments.
According to a 2020 cybercrime report from Europol, COVID-19 sparked upward trend in cybercrime. In fact, since the beginning of the pandemic, the FBI has seen a fourfold increase in cybersecurity complaints, whereas the global losses from cybercrime exceeded $1 trillion in 2020.
In other words, as technology evolves, the risks of cybercrime have become complex. The sense that one is safe from crime in the privacy of one’s own home has been lost. In fact, according to World Economic Forum’s “Global Risks Report 2020” the chances of catching and prosecuting a cybercriminal are almost nil (0.05%).
Take the First Steps Towards Developing Measures Against the Risks of Cybercrime!
This playbook critically examines the growth of cybercrime, evaluating the risks it poses in terms of the different forms of cybercrime that exist and the regulations that seek to detect, prevent and punish them.
The extension of an old legislation to include cybercrime is not entirely effective – especially not for crimes committed within the realm of social media and social networking. Therefore the need to develop an ‘anti-cybercrime culture emerges. It has to be implemented on an international scale that safeguards these crimes – the promotion of careful use would therefore be facilitated to hinder such crimes before they can materialise. Our playbook includes:
- What is cybercrime and why is it important?
- Top corporate cybersecurity risks and 10 types of high-tech crimes
- How cybercrime impacts business and your company’s growth
- Cybercrime and regulations in place
- And how your response as a business matters – how to can you protect your business from cybercrime including advice and tips on how to telework safely
Download the full playbook today and learn step-by-step things your company can do to be better protected from cybercrime. Robust cyber-security, data protection, anti-fraud and risk management all come together to mitigate the dangers posed by hackers, phishers and other cybercriminals.
With the playbook in your hands, you’ll learn about the most common cyber attacks. This includes viruses, phishing attacks and website hacks. You’ll also gain a better understanding of the consequences of different types of cybercrime.
To sum it up, the playbook provides best-practices and ways that companies are lessening their risk without spending prohibitive resources to do so. Above all, the right expert advice means that any company can be on the right track to protecting their customers, their assets, and their employees from the risks of cybercrime.
Who is CRI Group™ ?
Based in London, CRI Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group also holds B.S. 102000:2013 and B.S. 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.
In 2016, CRI Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC™ operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organisations. Contact ABAC™ for more on ISO Certification and training.
Your company’s security begins at the hiring process
Your company’s security begins at the hiring process
It’s an exciting time for a company when business is growing and there is a need add more employees and start a hiring process. One organisation that was in such a position sought to make sure they were being diligent while hiring new staff. To that end, they engaged CRI® Group’s EmploySmartTM services, providing thorough and extensive pre-employment background screening in verifying prospective candidates’ experience and credentials. What happened next is eye-opening for any business leader.
CRI® Group’s agents uncovered disturbing details regarding one of the applicants. When CRI® Group contacted this individual’s former employers, one of them reported that the applicant had been hired without any prior experience, was trained for a couple of months, and then terminated due to committing cash embezzlement as well as participating in harassment and workplace violence. In other words, he was an employer’s nightmare!
Further checks revealed more problems at other organisations – CRI® Group discovered that the individual had been terminated from a second position after causing a financial loss at the company. By using EmploySmartTM, the client dodged a major bullet and avoided hiring someone who could have done serious damage, both financially and to the company culture.
What you don’t know can hurt you
A dishonest employee could be unqualified for the position, possibly endangering others on the job. Or they might be a fraud risk, willing to bend the truth in other ways in order to enrich or advance themselves on your dime.
At CRI® Group, our EmploySmartTM pre-employment background screening process analyses a job candidate’s claims and credentials, and digs beyond the surface to make sure the facts match up. Our experts conduct extensive checks that examine all of the following details of a potential employee:
- Verification of address
- Verify name and date-of-birth
- National ID number
- Credit checks
- Previous employment verification
- Credentials verification
- Bankruptcy checks
- Civil litigation checks
- Criminal history
- Record checks
- Professional qualifications and memberships
- Criminal background checks
- … and more.
Resume fraud: More common than you think
In another case study, CRI® Group’s investigators conducted background screenings of employees who were working for a multinational organisation operating in Pakistan. While verifying education credentials is just one of the aspects of the EmploySmartTM process, the investigators immediately noticed red flags and initiated detailed checks of the education degrees claimed by the subjects.
In this case, CRI® Group screened 18 degrees claimed from a single university. By contacting the university and conducting an examination of documents and records, CRI® Group found an astounding 5 of them (27.7 percent) to be fake and/or forged. As it turns out, the following are some of the most common areas of resume fraud:
- Stretching dates of employment
- Inflating past accomplishments & skills
- Enhancing job titles & responsibilities
- Education exaggeration & fabricating degrees
- Unexplained gaps & periods of “self employment”
- Omitting past employment
- Faking credentials
- Fabricating reasons for leaving previous job
- Providing fraudulent references
- Misrepresenting military record
Resume fraud is a widespread problem for employers in every industry, and at any size company. It’s persistent and sometimes even careful examination of a resume won’t immediately reveal red flags or problems. The only way to properly vet job candidates is to screen them with a thorough pre-employment background screening process.
Hiring process is Trusting, but verifying
No organisation can afford to have employees on staff who aren’t what they claim to be. Even a seemingly innocent embellishment can indicate more background problems under the surface, and the potential for future problems down the road.
Every business leader should embrace the need to EmploySmartTM. Your greatest resource is your employees. Make sure they are who they say they are, and that you only hire the best.
Take a proactive stance with the highest level of Employee Background Screening as a part of your essential business strategy. Contact us today to learn more about our full range of services to help your organisation stay protected. Get a FREE QUOTE
CRI® Group has safeguarded businesses from any risks, providing investigations (i.e. insurance fraud), employee background screening, investigative due diligence, business intelligence, third-party risk management, forensic accounting, compliance and other professional investigative research services.
Reference checking, 6 keys in the hiring process
Why Reference Checking?
Hiring more people within a company no matter the size can be a lot of effort, waste a lot of time and cost a lot of money so it is important to do it right, which means reference checking. As a large company, it is often the case that there will be an in-house HR team or outsourced company to deal with new employment and reference checking. As a smaller company, it is likely the managing director or office managers handle the process themselves. Companies are at risk of losing a great deal of money from not following the correct employment process. Below are a few recommendations on how you can create and run an effective pre-employment screening process.
1) Understand your risk profile
While lots of businesses have the brand and reputational risk among the leading reasons to conduct background checks, but all organisations have different types of risk. While organisations understandably wish to avoid bad publicity, risk profiles inevitably vary between companies and industry sectors. Other risk-profile considerations include whether the company has regulatory responsibilities to demonstrate due diligence in hirings, such as financial institutions and those working with sensitive or vulnerable people.
2) Implement a strong policy
A background check policy is important because it streamlines the collection, storage and dissemination of employee or applicant background information. When established protocols are in place, incidents of people making mistakes because they had to make a judgment call are reduced.
3) Make It Company-Wide
Create and apply background check policies across the whole company, even for senior management. On average, supervisors spend 17% of their time managing poorly performing employees. In the same survey, 95% of employers said that a poor hiring decision affects the morale of the whole team. Ensuring that the people you hire have the correct qualifications saves time and effort while preserving company spirit.[1]
4) Be Consistent
Pre-employment background screening must be consistent. Most negligence issues start from inconsistency in applying HR policies. Inconsistent enforcement opens the door to discrimination charges, and background screening is no exception.
5) What information can I search for?
Creating pre-defined service packages ensures that your screening policy will be consistently applied. Best practices basic packages includes the following:
• Address Verification
• Identity Verification
• Previous Employment Verification
• Education and Credential Verification
• Reference Check
• Media Check
• Criminal Record Check
6) Understand local and regional screening variance
When building your pre-employment screening program, it is critical to understand that not all countries take the same view of the availability and use of certain types of pre-employment screening information. Creating compliant data and background screening processes is a complex and evolving challenge for all organisations and one that is multiplied by every country involved. As an essential means to ensure the safety and quality of staff, employers need to ensure that their screening programs are right for their organisation and their candidates; transparent, consistent and proportionate by design; and capable of handling an increasingly globalised workforce and disparate regulatory requirements.
References:
Let’s Talk!
If you have any further questions or interest in implementing background screening solutions, please contact us.
CRI Group has safeguarded businesses from any risks, providing investigations (i.e. insurance fraud), employee background screening, investigative due diligence, business intelligence, third-party risk management, forensic accounting, compliance and other professional investigative research services. In 2016, CRI Group launched Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC® operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.
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CONTACT US
Headquarter: +44 7588 454959
Local: +971 800 274552
Email: info@crigroup.com
Headquarter: 454959 7588 44
Local: 274552 800 971
Email: info@crigroup.com
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