A few years ago, Daniel Zubairi caught a job applicant in a flagrant lie. The woman's résumé said she worked at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That didn't sound right. Zubairi's Bethesda, Maryland-based cybersecurity company, SydanTech, worked closely with NOAA--and Zubairi had never heard of her. As it happened, Zubairi was at the agency's offices during the woman's phone interview. He asked to meet her in person. "Sir," she said, "I'd like to end the interview now." Click. Zubairi ran a background check. She was a home nursing assistant.

Job seekers have been fudging their accomplishments forever. But founders across the country say they've lately seen a surge of incidents that take job-applicant fakery to new--and shadier--levels. Totally false résumés featuring fictional employers. Professional interviewees. Covert coaching of candidates with no experience.

Read more at Inc.