Have you ever embellished your curriculum vitae (CV) when applying for a new job? According to conservative estimates provided by the Australian Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), 25% of people include inaccuracies in their CV.
There are varying degrees of falsifying, or lying, on a CV which may be considered a crime, depending on what the inaccuracy is.
There are crimes of fraud and forgery, and sometimes inaccuracies in a CV or reference could amount to either. Additionally, the inaccuracies might mean a tort of deceit has occurred which leaves the person liable for damages. It might also be a breach of a term of an employment contract and lead to termination of employment.
But again, all of these depend on the actual nature of the inaccuracy, the intentions of the person, and the relevant area of law.
People who intentionally include inaccuracies in their CVs face the possibility of losing their jobs, facing court action and media attention, study programs terminated, as well as being banned from practicing in their profession.
If you are applying for an Australian entry visa with an inaccurate CV, you and your close family members might be banned from applying for any other visa types for up to 5 years!
You are entitled to describe your personality and experience in the best possible way, but the main rule is that the underlying claim can’t be untrue. If there is something that an official or an employer needs to know or has a right to know, you shouldn’t omit it either.
Source: https://www.law.unsw.edu.au/news/is-cv-fraud-a-crime