Quoting degrees from fictional foreign universities is just one of the outlandish claims CV fraudsters have used to get a job.

Research has shown one in four CVs submitted contain at least one lie, but even that could get you the sack.

MWR Solicitors is warning job hunters to be careful when they think of ways to improve their CVs.

Although including fictional foreign universities is one of the more extreme examples, common discrepancies include an over-inflation of qualifications or previous salary and exaggerated benefits, length of service, job titles and attendance records.

Sadiq Vohra, a partner and employment law specialist at MWR, warns CV fraudsters will face the sack if found out. He said: "Although it is the company’s responsibility to perform the appropriate checks and references, it is still fraudulent to lie about any part of your background when applying for a new job.

"With the growing cost to employers to carry out the appropriate checks, many don’t carry out these checks properly when employing a new staff member."

A report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development showed that if applicants thought that there was a reasonable chance of getting away with it, a significant proportion of them would enhance the truth if it gave them a better chance of getting the job.

Sadiq adds: "Employers have every right to take action should they find out that one of their employees misled them to obtain a job with them. I would expect a reasonable employer to treat it as a matter of gross misconduct and put the employee through the disciplinary procedure, which may result in dismissal."