Validato AG details academic title verification process

Validato AG, a German provider of background checks and human risk management, has detailed its specific methodology for verifying the authenticity of academic titles. To mitigate liability and reputational risks for employers, the company treats title verification as a dedicated module rather than a secondary process.

Rather than relying on commercial aggregators or databases, which may be incomplete or outdated, Validato prioritizes direct verification with primary sources, such as the issuing university or authorized verification bodies. The process involves checking the authenticity of the degree, the field of study, the degree level, and the timeframe, while monitoring for manipulation patterns like altered institution names or unaccredited providers.

To ensure accuracy, the company employs a human-in-the-loop approach. Managing Partner Reto Marti noted, “A database hit proves little – so does a missing entry.” Consequently, analysts evaluate findings to distinguish between actual forgeries and legitimate degrees that may simply be missing from certain databases. All processes are conducted in compliance with EU data protection standards.