Accredibase Report For 2011 Reveals 48% Increase In Fake Universities

March 10, 2011 - PRLog -- As the Internet is the primary home for these bogus education and accreditation providers, little action is taken to stop them from helping unscrupulous candidates deceive unsuspecting employers.

According to the 2011 report, the USA remains the world’s fake college capital. This year has seen a 20% increase in known diploma mills in the US, with the number rising from 810 to 1,008. While more than 40% percent of the diploma mills operate in California, Hawaii, Washington and Florida, the report reveals that District of Columbia has seen the sharpest increase among US states with 74%, rising from 19 to 33 mills over the past year.

Top 10 US locations of the ‘degree con’ by state

California with 147 mills and 10% change over last year   
Hawaii with 98 mills and 4% change over last year
Washington with 91 mills and 5% change over last year   
Florida with 84 mills and 47% change over last year           
Texas with 68 mills and 28% change over last year           
New York with 55 mills and 25% change over last year   
Arizona with 44 mills and 57% change over last year   
Louisiana with 42 mills and 8% change over last year   
Delaware with 37 mills and 42% change over last year   
District of Columbia with 33 mills and 74% change over last year


The UK remains Europe’s bogus university capital with 57% percent of European diploma mills claiming to operate from its shores.  This year has seen a 25% increase in known diploma mills in the UK, with the number rising from 271 to 339, whilst in Europe as a whole the total number has risen from 454 to 593, an increase of 31%.  

Top 10 European locations of the ‘degree con’ by country

United Kingdom with 339 mills and 25% change over last year
Italy with 339 mills and 25% change over last year
Belgium with 339 mills and 25% change over last year
Netherlands with 339 mills and 25% change over last year
Switzerland with 339 mills and 25% change over last year
Ireland with 339 mills and 25% change over last year
Germany with 339 mills and 25% change over last year
Spain with 339 mills and 25% change over last year
Austria with 339 mills and 25% change over last year
France with 339 mills and 25% change over last year


Diploma mills are largely online entities whose degrees are worthless due to the lack of valid accreditation and recognition. The wide reach and anonymity of the Internet offers these operations the perfect market to exploit, which is alarming not just for prospective employers but for society as a whole.  

Perhaps the largest and longest running network of diploma mills, University Degree Program, is still thriving despite action by the US Federal Trade Commission back in 2003.  AccredibaseTM found 18 active “university” and “accrediting agency” web sites linked to UDP, all hosted on the same IP address.  Whilst many of these UDP mills claim to be based in the UK or have UK sounding names (eg. Chelsea University), there has been no action against them by the UK Government.  

In the United States, high school diploma mills are of particular concern and appear to be a growing segment in this unscrupulous market.  These institutions target adults who did not graduate from high school and offer diplomas in just a few days for around $200 based on passing online tests.  Candidates are often given the answers to the online tests and are allowed to take it as many times as necessary in order to pass.  One such example is the “Capitol High School” network which operates at least 11 online high schools, all linked to a PO Box address in Arizona.

Eyal Ben Cohen, Managing Director of Verifile Limited said:  “The most effective way to combat credential fraud is to share information on diploma mills through international cooperation and raise awareness of the problem.  This year’s AccredibaseTM report examines the current status of the diploma mill situation and considers what can be done to protect the public and businesses.  Information resources like AccredibaseTM make it easier for regulators, law enforcement agencies and the private sector to access information on bogus institutions and aid in the detection of diploma mills.”

The Accredibase report identifies the following red flags that may help in the identification of diploma mills*:

•   The institution does not have authority to operate or grant degrees from the education authorities where it claims to be based.

•   Degrees are delivered in a very short space of time – sometimes just a few days.

•   Degrees are granted based entirely on work or life experience.

•   Contact details are limited to an email address and the institution is vague about its location.

•   The institution will allow the student to choose his/her own course title and specify the graduation year to appear on the certificate.

•   Sample certificates, transcripts or verification letters are available to view on the website.

•   Institutions make over-complicated or misleading claims about accreditation or recognition.

•   The institution’s name is similar to that of a recognised and respected education institution.

•   Internet domain names are misleading – such as ‘.ac’ instead of the regulated ‘.ac.uk’ used by higher education institutions in the United Kingdom.

•   The website is poorly designed, has poor spelling and grammar or it plagiarises copy from other institutions.  

Verifile’s proprietary database of diploma and accreditation mills, Accredibase™, keeps track of the credential fraud industry. Verifile’s Accredibase has identified approximately 5000 suspect educational institutions and accreditors, including 2,615 known bogus education and accreditation providers. In addition to the huge number of confirmed mills known to Accredibase™, new suspect institutions are discovered on a daily basis – more than 2,000 are currently under investigation by Accredibase™ for inclusion in the database.

For further information or to read the Accredibase™ report for 2011, please visit www.accredibase.com  

* Adapted from Council for Higher Education Accreditation, 2008 and Bear & Ezell, 2005

Verifile Limited
Verifile is Europe’s fastest growing pre-employment screening company. Its comprehensive range of services allows employers to verify employment, qualifications, identity, criminal records and credit histories globally. This is offered through innovative solutions which are quick, easy to use and affordable. Its services are used by clients around the world, in a wide variety of sectors.
www.verifile.co.uk

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