1. A method of screening applicants comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a request to apply from an applicant, said applicant appearing in person at an applicant screening branch; (b) capturing a digital facial image of said applicant; (c) converting without dithering said digital facial image of said applicant to a bilevel digital facial image of said applicant; (d) transmitting said bilevel digital facial image of said applicant, along with data identifying said request to apply, from said applicant screening branch to a computing location; (e) comparing, using computer based face recognition at said computing location, said bilevel digital facial image of said applicant with the bilevel digital facial images of prior applicants; (f) examining, using computer accessible databases, a history of prior requests to apply from applicants whose bilevel digital facial images closely resemble said applicant, to detect behavior indicative of application fraud; (g) updating, automatically, using computer accessible databases, said history of prior requests to apply, to include said bilevel digital facial image of said applicant, along with said data identifying said request to apply; (h) providing notification of the results of the examination for application fraud, to encourage further scrutiny and a possible rejection of said request to apply, as appropriate; (i) repeating all the above steps, a through h, for any subsequent request to apply at any subsequent applicant screening branch.