Security Matters

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How To Spot A Fake Security Guard

How To Spot A Fake Security Guard

Sometimes it’s easy to spot a fake security guard, much like the image above. At other times it’s harder to tell the difference. Luckily, there are a few ways to pick a real security guard for your business.

Sadly, numerous fake guards attempt to gain access to security jobs to take advantage of their position. In a position of trust, with access to the people and property they are supposed to be protecting, they can easily line their pockets or harm people who look to them for safety.

Are you confident in your ability to spot an imposter? Don’t guess or “trust your gut.” Take these sensible precautions to ensure you always spot the fake and hire the hero.

Check Their Background

When you consider hiring a security guard, run a thorough background check first. You can’t rely upon a resume or even a badge to determine if a security guard is authentic or not. In fact, fake badges are surprisingly easy to come by. Scammers and other criminals know where to get them.

The last thing you want is to hire a fake security guard with a criminal record or anything else undesirable in their history. It puts your business, employees and visitors at risk. Not only are you not getting the protection you expected (and paid for), but if they have ill intent, you could be at legal risk. For instance, a fake guard at a Wal-Mart was caught trying to lure women and children into his car.

Put Their Skills To The Test

If a security guard is authentic, they’ll have no problem taking a few tests for you. For instance, use security cameras to watch how they interact with visitors and employees. Test how comfortable they are using radios and surveillance equipment.

Ask them how they’d react in various situations, especially those typical to your business. If you’ve already hired someone, talk to your staff to get their impression of the guard’s performance as expected. If there are any issues, the guard might not be who they say they are. It’s always a good idea to regularly monitor and review your guards to ensure there aren’t any problems. Don’t dismiss feedback from employees or others who encounter your security officers.

Interview Them Thoroughly

A resume and/or cover letter isn’t enough to prove a security guard is real. You need to interview them personally. This is a great time to listen to your instincts.

Of course, do your research beforehand as to what qualifications a security guard should have, standard training and experience to look for and the correct ways to respond to security incidents.

You can easily spot most fakes during an interview. Imposters simply can’t keep up with all the questions. Don’t feel guilty about a lengthy interview. After all, you’re trusting your security guards to protect your business.

Back Them Up With Remote Security Monitoring

Security cameras monitored by guards at a central location can give you peace of mind. You can even add some concealed cameras to augment the existing ones to observe how they behave when they don’t think anyone is watching. Remote security monitoring services like BOS Security’s VirtuGuard™ can give you more confidence and an additional layer of security.

Ask To See Proof Of Qualifications

Finally, ask to see proof of any applicable qualifications. Just because they say they’re qualified doesn’t mean you can take them at their word. Fake security guards will tell you what they think you want to hear. However, they aren’t likely to have proof of their qualifications.

It’s a quick way to catch a fake guard in a lie. It’s also another important reason to do your research about security guards before hiring anyone.

Hire Through A Reputable Security Guard Service

When you’re vetting security guards yourself, you’re always going to worry if you’re being thorough enough. You don’t have to spot fake security guards if you go through a reputable security guard service.

At BOS Security, we only hire the best and most qualified security officers. Every guard has been thoroughly vetted. Instead of worrying, you get real security guards with the training necessary to provide optimal security for your business. We even track all guards for their protection and your peace of mind.

If you already have some guards, but question whether they’re real or not, hire a guard from a reputable company. They’ll be able to spot any fakes and advise you on how to proceed.

Contact BOS Security

Want to learn more about our highly qualified security guards? Call us today at 404-793-6965, and we’ll be happy to answer all of your questions.

Not sure if you might need security guards? Let our free Security Needs Assessment help you make your decision.

Image: Praveesh Palakeel

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