In Nigeria, a candidate can look perfect on paper and still cost you six months of salary. We see it every day: exaggerated CVs, inflated achievements, "expert-level" skills that crumble in the first interview. Here are the five warning signs our AI flags within 60 seconds—before you waste a single hour on a bad hire.



Runlink 2026 Local HR Data Insight


Based on our hands-on screening for Chinese-owned enterprises across Lagos, our AI and local consultants jointly flag 70% to 80% of senior-level CVs for material misrepresentation—ranging from fabricated degrees and ghost employers to inflated salaries and backdated experience. The average cost of discovering this after hiring? Up to ₦4.8 million in wages, training, and replacement fees.



1. The Degree Timeline Doesn't Add Up

A candidate claims a 2021 MBA from a well-known Nigerian university, but their NYSC service year is listed as 2019–2020. Simple math: they finished school before the degree was awarded. Diploma mills and backdated certificates are common because many verification systems only check the institution name, not the graduation date.


Actionable Tip: Always cross-check the NYSC completion year with the degree award year. If they don't align by at least 12 months, dig deeper.


2. The Previous Employer Is a "Ghost Company"

"Worked as Sales Manager at XYZ Global Ltd., Lagos, 2022–2024." Sounds solid. But a quick CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission) search shows the company was incorporated in 2023 and has no digital footprint—no website, no LinkedIn, no tax records. We see this weekly: candidates create fictional employers to cover employment gaps or inflate titles.


Actionable Tip: Verify every former employer on the CAC public register. If the company is younger than the candidate's tenure, it's a fake entry.


3. Salary History Inflation

A candidate jumps from ₦180,000/month to ₦450,000/month in 18 months, then to ₦800,000/month six months later. In Nigeria's current market, that trajectory is possible for top tech talent—but for a general operations role? It's a red flag. Candidates often inflate past salaries to anchor higher offers from new employers.


Actionable Tip: Ask for a stamped bank statement or payslip for the last 3 months at the previous job. Legitimate candidates usually have this ready.


4. Skills List Is a Copy-Paste of Your Job Description

You post a JD requiring "SAP ERP, Supply Chain Optimization, Mandarin communication, and Team Leadership." The CV comes back with exactly those four phrases, in the same order. Coincidence? No. Many job seekers use AI tools to auto-tailor CVs to match JDs word-for-word. The result looks perfect but reveals zero actual depth.


Actionable Tip: During the phone screen, ask for one specific project example using that skill. Copy-paste candidates freeze when pressed for details.


5. References Only Provide Personal Mobile Numbers

"You can call my former manager, Mr. Ade, at 0803-XXX-XXXX." No company landline. No corporate email. No LinkedIn profile. When our team calls, "Mr. Ade" often turns out to be a friend or relative coached to give a glowing review. In Nigeria's tight-knit professional circles, reference fraud is easier than most employers assume.


Actionable Tip: Insist on a reference with a verifiable company email domain. Then call the company's main line and ask to be transferred to the referee—don't use the number the candidate provides.



The Runlink Approach: AI + Local Verification

We don't just read CVs—we interrogate them. Our AI cross-checks graduation dates against NYSC records, matches employer names against CAC registries, and flags salary anomalies against real-time market data. Then our Lagos-based consultants conduct live reference calls and physical degree verifications at university registries.


Result? You only interview candidates who have already passed a 5-point authenticity check.