(By Info-Tech Analyst Russ Conwath- Printed with permission from Processor magazine www.processor.com).

In an ever more competitive job market, there are a number of factors that differentiate one candidate from another. For those entering the workplace for the first time, it's often education that plays a pivotal role in securing a first job. Those already in the workforce continue to develop themselves through ongoing education and certifications. However, there are some folks who want to take a shortcut by skipping the work and getting a fake diploma or degree.

Qualification fraud costs us all when the information provided by a potential employee is bogus. The opportunity to gain better employment and pay has spawned an industry that caters to those who are willing to falsify their educational background.