MAM
Adgcraft expands its footprints in Mumbai
Mumbai: Adgcraft, a Delhi NCR-based award-winning PR agency, as part of their strategic expansion plan opens their new office in Mumbai, Maharashtra. This expansion aligns with Adgcraft’s strategic growth plan and underscores its commitment to providing top-tier public relations. The Mumbai office is set to become an important hub for Adgcraft’s operations, focusing on delivering tailored communication strategies and innovative PR solutions. This move, not only strengthens Adgcraft’s presence in India’s financial capital but also enhances its ability to serve clients with the highest level of expertise and dedication. The office is situated at Hive8, Kohinoor Square, Dadar West.
The Mumbai office will serve clients in the BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance), corporate, lifestyle, influencer marketing, and hospitality sectors. With the opening of the Mumbai office, Adgcraft aims to leverage its extensive experience and industry knowledge to help clients achieve their communication goals. The agency’s proven track record in handling high-profile PR mandates and delivering impactful results positions it as a trusted partner for businesses looking to enhance their brand presence and engagement.
Adgcraft MD Abhinay Kumar Singh expressed his enthusiasm about the new office launch, stating, “Over the years, we have evolved into a trusted partner for over 100 brands, delivering comprehensive PR services to customise meet our client’s diverse needs. Looking ahead, our goal is to continue expanding our capabilities, leveraging our industry expertise and talented team to drive measurable results for our clients. The launch of our Mumbai office marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Adgcraft as we aim to further strengthen our position as a leader in the PR industry.”
Commenting on the launch, Mumbai office’s VP, growth & strategy Rahul Adap said, “Establishing our presence in Mumbai signifies a strategic expansion into one of the most dynamic and diverse business environments in India. Our team is ready to bring Adgcraft’s PR strategies to clients here, helping them to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities in this vibrant market. We are committed to offering personalized and effective communication solutions that meet our client’s needs and help them achieve their goals.”
Adgcraft is also proud to be working with global clients from the USA, South Korea, and other countries, further extending its reach and expertise in the international arena. Additionally, the agency has collaborated with numerous startup incubators, providing strategic communication support to help emerging businesses grow and succeed in competitive markets.
Adgcraft’s vision is to become a one stop solution provider for all comprehensive PR and brand communications strategies, delivering complex messages in the simplest manner. The agency’s motto, “Your Story is your strength, and communication is ours,” reflects its commitment to crafting powerful narratives that resonate with audiences and drive meaningful engagement.
Digital
Authbridge finds 5.61 per cent discrepancy rate in on-demand hiring
White-collar roles show 4.33 per cent overall as employment history leads at 11.15 per cent in H1 FY26.
MUMBAI: India’s hiring scene is pulling a classic bait-and-switch, candidates promise the world on paper, but the background check reveals the plot twist nobody saw coming. Authbridge, the country’s top trust and authentication tech firm, released its Workforce Fraud Files – H1 FY26 report (covering July–December 2025) around 16–17 February 2026, crunching data from millions of verifications across identity, address, employment history, education, criminal records, and CV validation.
The headline numbers paint a sobering picture: white-collar hires clocked an overall discrepancy rate of 4.33 per cent, while the on-demand ecosystem (gig and flexible roles) fared worse at 5.61 per cent showing that the faster, looser world of app-based work comes with extra red flags.
For white-collar folks, employment verification topped the trouble list at 11.15 per cent, followed by address checks at 7.68 per cent, education at 4.49 per cent, and references at 4.17 per cent. Drug screening (1.87 per cent) and criminal records (0.50 per cent) stayed relatively tame, but still popped up enough to matter.
The gig side showed even sharper vulnerabilities, address discrepancies hit 9.70 per cent, identity (NID) issues 2.53 per cent, and criminal record mismatches 2.23 per cent particularly worrying for roles with direct customer contact or field duties.
Industry breakdowns add colour, address problems plagued Telecom (15.42 per cent), IT (12.02 per cent), Pharma (11.21 per cent), Retail (10.64 per cent), and Banking & BFSI (10.23 per cent). Employment verification headaches were biggest in Retail (16.37 per cent), Telecom (14.32 per cent), Banking & BFSI (13.00 per cent), and Pharma (12.10 per cent). Education slips stood out in Retail (9.16 per cent) and Telecom (7.80 per cent), while CV validation mismatches appeared in IT (12.80 per cent) and Banking & BFSI (2.91 per cent).
Authbridge CEO and founder Ajay Trehan didn’t mince words, “The H1 FY26 Workforce Fraud Files clearly show that hiring-related discrepancies remain a persistent and structural challenge. Despite faster and more digitised hiring workflows, we continue to see gaps in fundamental checks such as employment history, address, and education. These are not minor inconsistencies; they have direct implications for organisational risk, compliance, and trust.”
The report stresses ditching one-and-done checks, start screening pre-offer to avoid nasty surprises post-joining, and layer in periodic reviews like drug tests, court records, and lifestyle assessments for ongoing risk management. Tools like Authbridge’s Authnumber (consent-based digital credentials) and Authlead (deep-dive leadership vetting) get a nod for cutting friction and blind spots.
Bottom line? In a job market racing for speed and scale, skimping on trust verification is like building a house on sand, one solid background check away from watching the whole thing crumble.
