Maryam Mahdaviani on Why That "Verified" LinkedIn Profile Might Be a North Korean Spy

At This Time ... hiring fraud has officially leveled up — and your gut instincts aren't enough anymore. Maryam, founder of Attesto, joins Eric to break down how sophisticated fraudsters are now slipping past background checks and LinkedIn verification with fully fabricated (but convincing) identities. From North Korean operatives trying to infiltrate companies to deepfake impersonators acing your interview process, the threat is real — and quietly expensive. Maryam walks through how Attesto's AI-powered trust layer analyzes hundreds of signals (IP address, phone type, email footprint, and more) to catch what human recruiters simply can't — before a bad hire costs you $700K or your company's IP. Attesto is the trust layer for hiring and is focused on bringing greater integrity and confidence to modern recruiting workflows. We partner closely with talent acquisition teams to detect fraudulent applications, synthetic candidate profiles, and other trust-related risks that are becoming increasingly prevalent as hiring becomes more digital and AI-driven. The work sits at the intersection of recruiting operations, identity, risk, and candidate experience. Host: Eric DeSobe; add him on LinkedIn Guest: Maryam Mahdaviani; add her on LinkedIn Watch on YouTube