Punishment for lying on CV is worse than being caught with class A drugs
Whether it's a fib about the dates of employment or adding in an extra few things to embellish your career history - many people have probably lied on their job application at one time or another.
However, what many don't know is that fibbing on your CV can have some very 'serious' consequences - potentially worse than being caught with class A drugs.
Though drug possession is likely to cause you more problems, serious fraud from lying on your CV could be punished more for that than having a small amount of drugs on you.
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A CV - or curriculum vitae if you're fancy - is at the start of any new career move and, with people wanting to put their best foot forward, it makes sense why many would try their hardest to impress their potential future boss.
However, if your version of trying to dazzle a future employer revolves around some white lies and lying on your application then you'll be in for a shock to find out there are some very weighty legal consequences attached.
Some which are even worse than being caught with illegal substances.
The official Gov.uk website explains the various drug penalties that perpetrators could face if caught in possession with such substances.
The maximum penalties for drug possession, supply and production depend on what type or 'class' the drug is, it outlines.
And, if caught with class A drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy and LSD, people can face 'up to seven years' in prison, an 'unlimited fine' or, in some cases, can be landed with both.
According to Claims.co.uk, the risks of lying on your job application or CV can have some pretty 'serious consequences' for the perpetrator.
It explains: "If there is fraudulent information on your application or CV, you could even end up in prison and face a financial claim by the employer."
And the sentence isn't a light one in the slightest.
According to the National Fraud Authority, the UK lost a staggering £52 billion back in 2013 from fraud alone.
Due to this whopping figure, employers have since started protecting themselves from such fraud by 'adopting more stringent pre-screening procedures', the job application site, Reed, reports.
This effectively means your future employers can verify the information that you provide on your CV.
Reed reports that: "20% of candidates lie about the dates that they were employed by an employer whilst others give themselves exaggerated job titles, duties which look more favourable, or different reasons for leaving the job."
It is now considered that lying on your CV is part of the the wider crime of application fraud, for which there can be some severe consequences.
Back in July 2014, The Telegraph reported on the increasing number of prosecutions and jail sentences that were given to those who caught lying on their CV.
The report stated that the maximum sentence for this crime is a massive '10 years imprisonment'.
That's a whole three years longer than the seven year sentences for class A drug possession.
Not only can CV fraudsters be landed with a decade-long sentence but you could find yourself reported to external bodies such as CIFAS, a comprehensive store of data relating to fraud, dismissed from your role after being caught and can say goodbye to any gleaming future reference.
All of which can make it near impossible to ever secure employment again in the future.
Talk about a risky lie.
Rhiannon Ingle