Some of my Ex Sabena colleagues work in Italy... also some now work for
Jet Airways, Emirates etc whether for an agency or a direct hire the situation is the same, You send CVs you send your docs, you have a sim check and Interview and your original docs are checked, Also most agencies and Airlines do make reference checks. In fact I would say that the Agencies are more switched on than the airlines as they know who the cowboys are. Thats the situation as I know it. perhaps there are some unscupulous agencies but I think the big guys know their jobs