Russia has been for long one of the most powerful nations in the world. For many years now, Russians have focused their attention to technology and developing the future, creating new frontiers and new ways to expand humanity’s achievements. After the Cold War, without the imminent worries of a new war, many of these efforts were concentrated in software development and new technologies. This is why today, Russians have high levels of education in this matter and are some of the most popular candidates for foreign companies looking for talent in the field.

But this is not the only reason why companies look for talent in Russia. Russia´s economic performance was excellent until the conflict with Ukraine began and the sanctions took place. Although the economy is now shrinking,  for at least two decades the agricultural, mining, machinery manufacturing and transportation-based industries had grown immensely, making them major industries in Russia and generating thousands of specialized and experienced and new workforces.

There is no question as to why multinationals and foreign companies search for their talent in Russia, but it is important to know the risks and to be able to set up a plan to mitigate them.

Russia is also a well-known country for the most terrible internet scams since the very early days of online fraud, from the typical romance scams to complex business scams.  Most recently, Russian hackers have been defrauding individuals and companies in Western world of millions and millions of dollars. Fake job candidates appear and disappear, impersonating other people and infiltrating into big companies with the sole purpose of obtaining confidential and sensitive information that can be sold in the black market or used to blackmail corporations around the world.

How do you know a Russian candidate is safe to hire?

There is no way to guarantee one hundred percent  that a candidate you select is the best choice, or that the company will be safe after bringing him/her into the company. However, private investigators state that conducting professional employment background checks in Russia is a great way to minimize the risks and avoid trouble with an employee. A professional pre-employment screening conducted by a  professional private investigator in Russia (who speaks the language and has access to local records in Moscow) will help your business minimize the risk of hiring a fraud or false resume.

The risk for fake IDs and false resumes in Russia is high.  Make sure your company uses a trained and reputable investigator who can uncover the evidence you need in Russia.

It is very difficult to verify addresses, bankruptcy, court and criminal records, ID and passport, reputation, employment and education history, name and date of birth, and other details when a candidate is from a different country.  The language, customs and access to information is entirely different in Russia. Investigators in Moscow caution companies that it’s simply not possible to do this alone.  Hire a professional investigation firm in Russia that speaks the language and has access to private, public and government records.   This way, the company can be sure that there are no loose ends left and that the information received on a candidate is reliable and true.

Conducting thorough pre-employment screenings in Russian candidates is not an option anymore, it is a must and it should be taken seriously. Investing in accurate and reliable information can save your business from painful issues with identity thieves, data criminals and even terrorists. Considering that Russia has been listed as high fraud risk country, extra caution is advised.

C. Wright
© 2015 Russia PI™

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