HiPeople takes the integrity of the references provided on our platform incredibly seriously. On top of our verification system which determines if the relationship between the references is valid, we also check for irregularities in the location from which the references are submitted.
How do we compare?
To compare the location of the candidate and reference in a privacy-focused manner we create a unique HiPeople fingerprint-based off of:
The IP address from where the submission originated
Details about the browser & device of the candidate and reference
We attach these details (which are both private and anonymous) when a candidate submits. Subsequently, when a reference submits we compare their two fingerprints and if there's a match we'll provide an additional warning to highlight unusual behaviour.
Are there valid reasons why a candidate & reference could share an origin?
Absolutely! This can also occur in situations without fraudulent behavior, for example, if a candidate and reference both submit from their work computers at the same office or shared working space.
What should I do if I see this warning?
Just take a look at the references! If you have a valid reason to ignore the triggered warning, feel free to go ahead.
If not, it could be a good idea to bring the topic up with the Candidate and ask them some questions about why the platform might be picking up that their device & browser details are matching that of their reference's.