What can happen to you if you outright lie on a resume?

You can be fired for cause, and receive no unemployment benefits.

No he’s already gone from here, but I know one of the places he applied to. They sent me his resume, and I looked at it and laughed… he didn’t do anywhere close to anything that was on the thing.

If he’s already gone then it’s up to his new employer to verify his skills/claims. I wouldn’t do anything about it. I think that would be bad Karma somehow.

If the place he applied to sent you his resume, it sounds to me like they probably want you to verify what he said he did at your work. If he lied about what he did while working with you, you should give the company he applied to the correct information. If he doesn’t get the job because he lied, its pretty much his own fault. Companies ask for references and employment history for a reason—so they can verify that you did indeed work for this company and that you did indeed perform all the tasks described on your resume.

If he was truthful about what he said he did with you, but lied elsewhere on his resume, I don’t think you should say anything. Like @gemiwing said, its up to the employer to find out the truth about his other skills and work/education history.

you are not allowed to say anything about what he did or didnt do anymore. You can verify that they worked there, and if they are eligible for a re-hire, but anything else is a no-no nowadays. They can sue you for defamation of character. I’m serious. For instance, Home Depot refers another employer to an 800 number that has listed the employee’s employment dates, how much they made, and if they are eligible for a re-hire.

If he was performing his job correctly than I’m not sure what the issue is. That’s not to say you should lie on your resume but… I’m more apt to be biased based upon actual work .. not paper work. Perhaps that’s my old fashioned coming out again.

If you lie on your resume. But still get the job.
Do not get hurt. It will void your workman’s compensation.
Those people always find something.

Your employer could know you lied. But hanging onto that information.

@NaturalMineralWater Well, he never did his job here at all. (That’s why he isnt here anymore) The only reason I got a copy of the resume is because out of sheer happenstance, I know the hiring manager. I would never hire him, and I would never recommend someone to hire him. But, the guy knows it and I was not put down as a reference.

@MrBr00ks is right about the potential for lawsuits. You can be sued even if you say something bad about a candidate that is true. Most workplaces that weren’t happy with an employee will do the bare minimum- verifying that the person worked there and whether or not they could be re-hired. If this candidate gets a bare-bones reference from you, and other people who didn’t lie get glowing reviews, the hiring manager will probably pick up on what’s going on, and you’ll still be safe.