Qualifications Fraud

1
Qualifications Fraud
Jochen Pichler
providing clarity. releasing potential
2
Session Overview

• Introduction
• Information Gathering
• Genuine Documents
• Fraudulent Documents
• Degree Mills

3
Qualifications Fraud
Qualifications/Education fraud is a growing
menace. Individuals claim qualifications they do
not possess, which put institutions, businesses
and the public at risk.
'Bogus forensic expert bought degree on
web Manchester Evening News, Jan 2007
Bogus Doctor Convicted provide safeguards for
the UK public, so that such unfortunate events
will not occur in future Detective Sergeant,
Manchester Police, Dec 2007
4
Overview of Fraud Worldwide

• Ukraine Ukrainian Diploma Services
• www.diplomy.name/zakaz
• www.uadiplom.com
• ww.dip-loms.ru/examples2

There are over 80 websites offering fake degrees
in Russia
South Korea Lecturers with bogus degrees
teaching students. Out of 60,000 full-time
professors in Korea, 1 in 30 has a dubious diploma
USA Varying State legislation means that degree
mills can often freely operate
Nepal What is accreditation
China Fake documents widely available e.g. back
alley press
Fraud is a serious crime in Iran
BVI Commonwealth Open University?
Belize Degrees from Schools of Medicine and
Dentistry including Ashwood
The famous Khao San Road, Bangkok
Both India and Pakistan have extensive lists of
fake universities operating
Many Caribbean Islands do not have full
accreditation programmes particularly for medical
universities

• Nigeria and Cameroon suffer from an endemic
  traffic in fraudulent documents.
• Nigeria Public warning of 15 universities
  operating illegally in various parts of the
  country
• National University of Nigeria, Keffi,
  (Nassarawa)
• Houdegbe North American University, Mushin
  (Lagos)
• North Central University, Oturpko (Benue)

Fake universities operating from Malaysia
SA An estimated 20 of employees have fake
documentation
5
Qualifications Fraud

• UK NARIC staff see 2 certificates per week that
  raise concern.
• UK NARIC experts provide members with the
  opportunity to have certificates checked, thus
  reducing the uncertainty surrounding
  documentation that feels wrong.
• Training
• Degrees of Deception Combating Education Fraud
• https//www.naric.org.uk/index.asp?page101
• Publication
• Degrees of Deception
• A comprehensive guide to combating counterfeit
  education documents.
• https//www.naric.org.uk/index.asp?page39

6
Information Gathering

• UK NARIC gathers information in three broad
  areas
• Appearance details
• Cross-check between documents
• Factual information
• Appearance Details to check include
• Format and font of certificates
• Stamps and signatures
• Cross-Checking includes
• Check transcript and certificate match up
• Check content of transcript against published
  university material

7
Information Gathering

• Factual Information to verify includes
• Check against accredited institution lists
• Check with nationally accredited qualification
  listings / registers
• Check status of affiliated college in India /
  Pakistan
• Grading systems in operation
• Also date of graduation, because
• Universities may not have been operating under
  the name or may not have existed
• Certificates are often issued on a set date
• Inconsistent with applicants educational history

8
Appearance Details e.g. China(Bachelor Degree
Certificate)
Photo
Name
Degree programme
Bachelor Degree
Bachelor Degree
Serial number
Certified copy
9
Appearance Details e.g. China(Bachelor Degree
Certificate)
Bachelor Degree
The Background reads ???? (Xueshi Xuewei)
Standard Bachelor degree
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Appearance Details e.g. China(Bachelor Degree
Certificate)
Gender
Fromto
University
Degree Programme
Duration
12-digits Certificate No. (from 1998) The first
5 digits HEI No. The 6th digit level of the
award, eg PhD-2, Master-3, Bachelor-4 The 7th
8th digits year of award Last 4 digits
students No.
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Appearance Details e.g. UkraineDegree
Certificate
Holders name
University Stamp / Ministry of Education
Name
Country
Registration no.
Degree Type
12
Appearance Details e.g. RussiaDegree
Certificate
Institution name
Holders name
Name
University Stamp / Ministry of Education
Registration no.
13
Document Appearance Fraudulent Documents

• Variety of fonts used
• Lack of official stamps
• Paper quality
• Misalignment
• Size and shape
• Handwriting
• Scanned signatures
• Discordant dates and duration
• Awarding bodies
• Logos incorrect or in the wrong position
• Linguistic features
• Informal language
• Unlikely degree titles
• Spelling errors
• Inconsistent terminology
• Incorrect translations into English

14
Fraudulent Documents(South Africa) (Zimbabwe)
Crest is incorrect and misaligned
Border is not in official format
If original no need to state
Cape of Good Hope (Hoop is Afrikaans)
Generally there are too many fonts
Name
Name
Qualification title is unlikely and in fact, does
not exist
Signatures Scanned in
The document is misaligned and there are too many
fonts
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Fraudulent Documents(India) (Pakistan)
Name
Name
Name
Name
16
Fraudulent Documents(Pakistan)
Name
Name
17
Fraudulent Documents(USA) (China)
Name
18
Fraudulent Documents (Back Alley Press)
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Combating Fraud

• Request original language documents
• Final degree certificate
• Transcripts / academic records
• Diploma Supplement (Bologna degrees)
• Certified translations if the documents are not
  in English
• Translation certified by a UK Embassy
• Document signed by a bilingual notary
• Copy of the original language document
• Evidence of name changes if appropriate
• Contact institutions
• Check with embassies
• Accreditation authorities
• Listed and Recognised Bodies
• Accreditation by government authority
• Accreditation by Non-Governmental Associations
• Accreditation on a qualification-by-qualification
  basis
• Verification system
• Image bank

20
Degree Mills

• Degree Mill An Institution of Higher education
  operating without supervision of a state or
  professional agency and granting diplomas which
  are either fraudulent or because of the lack of
  proper standards worthless.
• Degree Mills does not equal Unrecognised
  Institutions
• Common features
• Strong emphasis on fee levels and payment plans.
  Often prices are very low.
• Short duration of courses days or weeks
• Long list of accreditation agencies and
  affiliated bodies
• Offer to accredit life experience
• Links such as Order Now and free evaluation
  forms are often found at the lower end of the
  market
• Unlikely degree titles
• No contact address
• Contact details that differ from claimed location
  of the institution

21
Degree Mills
In order to operate as a successful degree mill,
accreditation is necessary. Reputable
accreditation agencies and ministries of
education cannot be approached, leaving the
prospective degree mill with 4 choices

• Lie
• Pay bribes
• Gain accreditation from a body that does not
  provide accreditation
• Invent an accreditation agency

22
Examples of Degree Mills
The brochure
The reality
So many campuses in all these countries!
Los Angeles and Honolulu! It is unusual to have
the records office and the campus over 1000 miles
apart!
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Examples of Degree Mills
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QA Session

• Thank you!
• Any questions?