How can I tell if a DBS Certificate is genuine?
DBS Checks are a vital part of safe recruitment. They help employers to make informed decisions about the staff they are employing and whether they are appropriate for certain roles.
When a DBS Check is completed, the results are compiled into a certificate which is posted out to the named applicant. These certificates then need to be presented to the employer so that they can make a decision about that applicant’s employment.
But like any official document, there are those out there that would try and forge or fake them for their own benefit. The nature of DBS Checks as a safeguarding tool means that frauds trying to bypass the system are likely trying to hide something that employers need to know.
This makes being able to spot a genuine certificate of the utmost importance.
What to look out for
When examining a DBS Certificate there are 4 key features you need to pay attention to:
An original DBS certificate is printed on both sides and is bigger than A4 paper (209mm width x 404mm length)
The personal information print colour on the certificate is purple
a ‘crown seal’ watermark can be seen down the right-hand side of the certificate. This should be visible both on the surface and when holding the certificate up to the light
The word ‘Disclosure’ appears in a wave-like pattern across both sides of the document – on the front of the certificate this pattern is green and on the rear of the document this is purple
Manual DBS Certificates
In some circumstances, you may be presented with a ‘Manual’ DBS Certificate.
A manual DBS Certificate is one that doesn’t go through the usual automated system. This is due to legislation changes meaning that certain information is no longer disclosed on the certificate.
At the moment, the DBS’s automated system cannot account for these new rules, which is why some DBS Certificates are raised manually.
Manual DBS Certificates are formatted differently from the one pictured here.
They are printed on A4 white paper with the word 'Disclosure' in a green wave pattern on both sides, running edge to edge. There will not be a crown watermark on the paper.
A manual certificate will always:
Have a certificate reference number starting with MD, LM or RE
Use black ink rather than purple
State how many pages are to follow on the first page
Be numbered at the bottom of the certificate
What Do I Do if I think I’ve been shown a fake Certificate?
If you believe you’ve been shown a fraudulent DBS Certificate, it’s important that you get in touch with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) straightaway.
You can contact the DBS Fraud Investigation team via the email address below:
This also applies to certificates that are registered to the DBS Update Service.
If you are shown a clear certificate but upon checking the Update Service it says “no further information on certificate,” contact the DBS straightaway. This is a sign that the certificate could have been tampered with.
If you’ve received a manual DBS Certificate and aren’t sure if it’s genuine, there is a different email you need to contact:
Genuine Mistakes
Many people aren’t aware of the strict rules around DBS Certificates.
We’re regularly asked by employers whether they can accept a photocopy of a DBS Certificate. The short answer is, no.
The DBS guidance states that ‘Copies or digital photographs are not acceptable and must be rejected.’
This is because reproductions do not properly include the security features of the certificate so cannot be inspected for authenticity.
However, someone providing you with a photocopy is unlikely to be committing fraud. If this happens, you just need to explain the rules and ask them to provide you with the original certificate.
If they cannot provide one, we would always recommend completing another DBS Check.
If you’ve been provided with a DBS Certificate you are unsure about and Personnel Checks are the named Registered Body, please do let us know. You can get in touch on 01254 355688 or drop us an email at letstalk@personnelchecks.co.uk