For Immediate Release Media Contact:
Brad Odil, President / COO
812-474-9000
bodil@referenceservices.com
June 25, 2025 — Reference Services, Inc, (RSI), a leading provider of employment background screening solutions, today announced a partnership with Cerebrum, an advanced digital identity verification platform, to address the growing risk of identity fraud in the hiring process. By integrating Cerebrum’s vID technology, this partnership ensures that only verified, clean data is used throughout the background screening process, significantly reducing the risk of identity fraud, including synthetic identity fraud.
Identity fraud has become one of the most pressing issues in the hiring landscape, with synthetic identity fraud—the practice of creating a fictitious identity using real and fabricated data—posing a major threat to businesses. According to a study by McKinsey, synthetic identity fraud is the fastest-growing type of financial crime in the U.S., resulting in $20 billion in losses annually. vID helps combat this by biometrically authenticating personal identifying information (PII) from government-issued IDs and automatically capturing verified data at the very start of the background screening process.
“At RSI we are always looking for enhanced processes to ensure the absolute best in background screening. Every day we see greater risk as applicants try to beat the system and bypass traditional screening models. Biometric-based identity verification like vID is the only way to guarantee a candidate is who they say they are. vID is a great option for our clients, especially those in high-risk industries.” said Brad Odil, President / COO of Reference Services, Inc.
vID ensures that background checks are performed only on fully authenticated and verified identities, greatly reducing the chances of synthetic identities slipping through the cracks. By using biometric authentication and secure data capture, RSI is helping employers avoid the significant risks and costs associated with hiring candidates based on fraudulent identities.
“In an era where identity fraud is becoming increasingly sophisticated, organizations need solutions that not only meet today’s challenges but also anticipate tomorrow’s risks. Our partnership with Reference Service, Inc. reflects our shared commitment to providing secure, innovative tools that safeguard businesses from fraud, while empowering them to make confident, informed decisions in their hiring processes.” said Sebastian Mellen, co-founder and CEO of Cerebrum.
This partnership is particularly valuable for industries that rely on trust and regulatory compliance, such as healthcare, education, and financial services, where preventing identity fraud is critical. By leveraging Cerebrum’s vID technology, RSI clients are now able to implement a more reliable and secure screening process, ensuring that only legitimate identities are considered in hiring decisions.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft reports surged 113% from 2019 to 2021, with synthetic identity fraud being a significant driver. With the combined efforts of RSI and Cerebrum, businesses can now safeguard themselves against the rising tide of synthetic identity fraud, helping to maintain a secure and trusted workforce.
About Cerebrum
Cerebrum is a technology company building identity and credential verification solutions with a focus on enabling secure, trusted environments. Through our collaboration with global partners, we help communities grow with accuracy, efficiency, and confidence.
Cerebrum is dedicated to providing solutions that prioritize a simple, clear experience for all users. Their ecosystem is built to integrate seamlessly and flexibly with other platforms to enhance the ease with which people manage and share their digital identities. To learn more, visit cerebrum.com
About Reference Services, Inc (RSI)
Reference Services, Inc is headquartered in Evansville, IN and has remained one of the premier employment background screening companies in the country. Clients representing almost every industry imaginable rely on RSI to provide fast, accurate and legally compliant background checks on their applicants so they can hire a more productive, safer, and reliable workforce.