Resume fraud — the practice of falsifying information on resumes — may happen for different reasons and to varying degrees among job applicants. But experts who have studied resume fraud say it's common and may be growing, and that it always should be viewed as a red flag by employers.

"As a hiring manager, trust and integrity are two of the biggest things on my list," says Jennifer Kochilaris, a regional vice president with Adecco, one of the top staffing companies in the U.S. "That's what any [employer] wants to see, above any skill."

But fudging the truth on resumes continues to be a widespread problem, Kochilaris and others say. Resume fraud can happen at any level of employment — Wal-Mart recently found its chief spokesman falsified facts on his official biography. That spokesman, David Tovar, left the company shortly after the truth was uncovered while Tovar was being screened for a promotion.