Where’s the shame. A new trend in CV Fraud?

CV fraud is common, but is a distinct lack of shame about it on the rise?

RISQ Group’s CEO Nick Roberts recently examined the issue at a breakfast briefing in Sydney. One of the most striking examples he covered, the case of Melissa Howard, a candidate for Florida statehouse representative, is worth following up.

Howard padded her CV with a qualification she did not earn and when challenged took the extraordinary step of doctoring a diploma and sitting with her mom for a photo (seen above) with the diploma for all to see –an apparent effort to silence her critics.

When this did not work after the University called her on the lie, she withdrew from the race, and in the latest twist has now been required to do community service.  What’s noteworthy is the seeming lack of shame and egregiousness of the behaviour.  Does this point to what could be a wider trend in CV fraud that we all need to pay attention to?

An excerpt from the story is here:

The Lakewood Ranch former candidate will perform community service after lying about having graduated from Miami University.

Former District 73 state House candidate Melissa Howard has reached a deal with prosecutors in the misdemeanor fraud case stemming from her fake college diploma and will perform 25 hours of community service.

Howard signed the deferred prosecution agreement Friday. Under the terms of Howard’s probation she must perform her community service within the next two months, not violate any laws, “not use intoxicants to excess,” maintain “stable, lawful employment” or be enrolled in an education program and pay certain court costs, among other requirements.

The arrangement is standard for defendants accused of a misdemeanor who do not have a criminal record. If Howard completes the terms of her 90-day probation she will not formally be charged with a crime.

“We believe that this sanction holds Mrs. Howard accountable for her actions,” said Darlene Ragoonanan, the misdemeanor and juvenile division chief in Manatee County for the 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office.