How AI is Transforming Document Fraud Detection

AI and the Fight Against Document Fraud

For facilities managers and workforce providers, keeping on top of compliance has never been more challenging. Every contractor, whether scheduled through Arez Operate or dispatched via Arez FieldIQ, must hold valid, up-to-date, and verified documents from CSCS to SIA cards and insurance policies to RAMS and safety audits. Yet as the paperwork multiplies, weak or inconsistent checks leave firms dangerously exposed.

With AI-powered verification built into every workflow, Arez ensures compliance is never left to chance.
 

Why Fraudulent Documents Slip Through

Traditional compliance checks rely heavily on human scrutiny. Supervisors, HR teams, or site managers are expected to examine passports, safety certificates, and training records quickly, often under pressure to get people on site.

But modern forgeries are sophisticated. Falsified CSCS cards look legitimate, expired insurance documents are quietly recycled, and RAMS reports are easily cloned. Without specialist tools, even diligent managers can miss the warning signs.

The High Stakes of Inaction

The consequences of accepting fraudulent paperwork go far beyond administrative errors.

• Legal & Financial: The Home Office can fine up to £45,000 per worker for right-to-work breaches. Insurance claims may also be rejected if the cover was falsified.
• Safety: Workers with fake qualifications or incomplete training put themselves and everyone else at risk.
• Reputational: Clients quickly lose trust when vetting processes fail.
• Operational: A single compliance breach can halt projects, delay schedules, and erode margins.
   

In short, one fraudulent document can undo years of careful client relationship-building.

How AI Changes the Game

This is where Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become indispensable. Unlike manual checks, AI systems apply forensic-level scrutiny at speed and scale.

• Detecting Red Flags: AI spots anomalies in CSCS cards, insurance certificates, or RAMS formatting that are invisible to the naked eye.
• Cross-Referencing Data: Certificate numbers and expiry dates are instantly checked against official databases.
• Real-Time Alerts: Suspicious documents are flagged immediately, preventing unverified workers from entering the site.
• Audit Trail: Every check generates a transparent compliance record, ready for inspection or client review.
   

Consider onboarding 200 subcontractors for a major facilities project. Instead of relying on rushed manual vetting, AI scans each safety audit, insurance policy, and qualification card in seconds. Fraudulent or outdated documents are automatically flagged, ensuring only properly verified contractors are cleared for work.

Practical Benefits for Facilities Managers and Labour Providers

Embedding AI into contractor vetting transforms compliance from a weak link into a competitive advantage.

• Efficiency: Faster onboarding and fewer delays in mobilisation.
• Consistency: Standardised vetting across multiple projects.
• Confidence: Proof that every worker has up-to-date and valid credentials.
• Scalability: Robust verification of whether managing 50 or 5,000 contractors.
   

The result is simple: stronger compliance, safer sites, and reduced exposure to fraud.

Call to Action: From Risk to Resilience

The rise in fraudulent contractor documents from CSCS cards to safety audits is a serious, measurable threat. Manual processes are no longer enough to protect contracts, reputations, and workers.

The solution lies in harnessing AI to detect forgeries, close gaps in verification, and build a watertight compliance process. Document fraud is growing, but with the right tools, you can stay ahead of it. The question is not if you need AI-powered verification, but when you’ll make the move.