Today, bogus degree scams of a new variety were advised against by fake diploma online education specialists. The so-called “new sort of degree fakery” allegedly goes far beyond the certificates for sale that have long been offered by colleges that do not exist and are not certified, and now anyone can buy a fake degree from such reputable organizations as Florida State University. So how will the future of online education are impacted by these forgers and frauds? What can be done to prevent them, then?
The current economic situation and its effects on distant learning and online education appear to be a major factor in diploma mills and degree fraud’s current social consciousness. Basically, a shortage of employment and rising layoffs encourage more individuals to return to school, and enrolling in an adult education course through distance learning or online is currently a relatively affordable and accessible option to achieve that. And in fact, the US and the UK are already hearing stories of rising online enrollment.
But in reality, these con artists have been active for a long time, and in addition to penile extensions and cheap Viagra, bogus degrees are one of the first and most common forms of spam email. Therefore, it would be incorrect to suppose that con artists are not improving their ability to present credentials that look more and more credible until they are committing outright fraud.
Hence, the public must be fully aware that using a college diploma or qualification is fraud if online education and distance learning are to continue enjoying widespread support from the general public. An action that can be unexpectedly more challenging when one considers that just 11 states in the USA forbid the sale of false academic qualifications (according to degreeboard.com). Perhaps if such dealers were brought into compliance elsewhere in North America, we might witness the first steps toward disseminating this knowledge and, if not completely stopping the scammers, at least slowing them down.
The question of why such actions should be prohibited nationally should then, I guess, be asked. The obvious reality that the rest of the world, in especially the UK, is following the strides the US is making in online education, e-Learning, and free content – and notably the way it is treated socially and publicly – is the answer, in my opinion. As a result, it appears that the modes and procedures that are formed domestically have a direct impact on the improvement of higher education globally (and the systems therein). That are not the kinds of lies we will be discussing today, though.
Diploma fraud is the huge, bold-faced whopper of today’s theme. Nevertheless, phony degrees are more common, simpler to obtain, and harder to spot than you may imagine.
What exactly is degree fraud?
Diploma fraud, in essence, happens when someone chooses to purchase “evidence” that they have a degree from a college or institution. The person might have attended the institution, but simply not completed his studies, or he might have never signed up for a class. Degrees and transcripts are readily available for a fee in any case.
Many websites that provide degree fraud can be found with a quick internet search. One only needs to submit his name, contact information, and desired degree, and presto! A degree is mailed to you a few weeks later. These diplomas are wholly fake while having a realistic appearance. A few of these companies even sell whole transcripts that include classes and grades!
Typically, websites belonging to authorized schools and universities will have the extension.edu in their domain name. For instance, Stanford University’s website address is Stanford.edu, which verifies that these institutions are legitimate online colleges. The US Department of Education is the best place to check to see if an online institution or university is accredited, though.
The U.S. Department of Education also recognizes numerous additional national, professional, and specialty accrediting agencies. For distance and online learning institutions, international learning institutions, and training providers, they perform duties in accreditation, direction, and quality assurance.
If you intend to pursue your degree online, take the time to verify the accreditation of the online college or university you have chosen. Moreover, confirm that the US Department of Education recognizes the body that grants the college its accreditation. It is better to take these precautions now than to regret them later while holding a worthless “fake” degree.