A recent survey has highlighted a growing concern within India’s gig economy, stating that 20 per cent of gig workers are failing address verification
checks. These failures are largely attributed to temporary stays, frequent moving, and shared living spaces, making it increasingly difficult to track or verify the identities of these workers, putting customers at risk, according to an AuthBridge report. “20 per cent of Cases Failed Address Verification Checks. Temporary accommodations, frequent relocations, and shared housing were the main causes,” the report stated. For industries like food delivery, ride-hailing, and e-commerce, this lack of address traceability presents a significant operational and safety risk. Companies relying on gig staff are now facing this significant challenge to maintain trust and transparency across platforms. Hidden Risks Beyond Fake Addresses The report's findings reveal that there are more issues apart from the address verification. A 4 per cent discrepancy rate was identified among gig workers. This includes criminal records, forged documents, and impersonation. Particularly, 3.5 per cent were found to have legal run-ins, with offences ranging from theft to traffic violations, claims the report. One of the most worrying problems among all is impersonation. The report revealed cases where the person registered with a platform isn’t the one delivering the service. This identity swapping, especially at warehouses or dark stores, has led to pilferage, fraud, and degraded customer trust. This collusion between two individuals not only violates platform policies but has also resulted in incidents of theft, missing cargo, fraud, and ultimately poor customer experiences, the report said. White-Collar Workers Not Immune While gig workers take the spotlight, corporate roles are not far behind. AuthBridge's study highlighted a 6 per cent discrepancy rate in white-collar jobs as well, particularly in IT, telecom, and finance. Common issues included inflated pay claims, exaggerated experience, and contract breaches. The report found that 1.3 out of every 10 employees fail employment verification, and 17 per cent of resumes contain misleading information. Even among address verifications, 10 per cent failed due to unverifiable locations or non-cooperative referees. Additionally, the Financial stakes are also very high in these situation. The report warns, “a bad hire can cost up to 30 per cent of an employee’s first-year salary.” With urban demand for gig services booming, businesses in delivery and transport are under pressure to reinforce their background checks to ensure the safety and reliability for the customers.
