Research conducted by Cifas, which surveyed 2,000 working UK adults, has revealed that 1 in 11 have lied about their degree qualification, while 4 out of 25 didn’t think it was illegal.

Of those that didn’t know lying on your CV was fraud, nearly a third of these (31%) were aged between 16-24 years, indicating that school and university leavers may have been tempted to exaggerate their qualifications when applying for jobs.
 
The research also showed a slight increase in the number of respondents who knew someone that had lied on their CV – 10% when compared to 8% a year earlier. 

Read more: Hotel Chocolat begins redundancy consultation, reports suggest

When asked whether they would report a colleague who had lied on their CV, respondents were more likely to not report them (39%) than to report them (28%). Nearly a third (32%) were unsure.

According to Claims.co.uk, the risks of lying on your job application or CV can have "serious consequences" including a prison sentence or financial claim by the employer involved.

Individuals that falsify information in a job application or on their CV could face criminal prosecution as well as being recorded to the Cifas Internal Fraud Database which may make it difficult to secure future employment.

Read more: Most senior managers find their jobs stressful

Tracey Carpenter, Insider Threat Manager for Cifas, said: "However tempting it may be to exaggerate qualifications or experience to stand out from other candidates, job seekers need to know that this type of dishonest behaviour comes with enormous personal consequences. As well as potentially jeopardising any future career opportunities, they could also face prosecution and a prison sentence.
 
"Dishonest individuals not only pose a risk to their employer but also to customers, other staff and shareholders, so organisations should look to better protect themselves by carrying out rigorous checks throughout the employee lifecycle to identify any potential fraud risks."

Read more: Costa to increase staff wages for third time in 12 months

A recent survey by Reed Screening showed that dates of employment were the most common lies followed by exam grades and job titles. 

The survey also found that 1 in 4 applications could not be progressed through information that could not be confirmed or backed up.