Bogus degrees pose a serious threat to private companies, educational institutions and governments. Accounts of people holding critical positions with bogus credentials surface regularly in the news.

Traditional verification processes are time-consuming and expensive. They can also be error-prone and cumbersome. New methods for verifying degrees are helping to combat this growing problem.

Credential Verification Services

Credential verification is a formal process of checking and confirming that someone’s qualifications are legitimate. It is a critical part of the hiring process and can uncover fabricated information like diploma mills. It also helps organizations know who they are dealing with from a professional standpoint and makes sure they have the right skills for the job.

Traditional verification processes can be a lengthy and time-consuming process which often involves multiple rounds of phone calls. This can be frustrating for both the person being verified and the organization carrying out the verification. In addition, they can also be expensive because of the cost involved in sending documents back and forth.

However, new technologies can significantly speed up the verification process. Credential verification services provide a solution to this issue by instantly verifying credentials and ensuring that they are genuine.

Fake Degrees

These services are often used by healthcare professionals educated outside of the United States and who require licensure from a state medical board. CGFNS verifies their initial foreign academic credentials and delivers a Credentials Verification Service Report to the state medical board.

Other industries that use verification services include banking and finance where they check that a potential employee has the required licenses and certifications to work in their industry. For example, a bank might check that a potential employee has a valid degree from an accredited university or they could verify that a tour guide has the necessary experience and qualifications to lead a group of tourists on their next adventure.

Diploma Mills

There are a plethora of diploma mills offering degrees for a fee with little or no academic work involved. Some are blatantly obvious shams that use names that resemble those of known legitimate schools. Others try to hide in the weeds. For example, some schools use accrediting bodies that are not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. It is important to check out accreditation claims before enrolling in a program and browse now https://lambang-toanquoc.com/.

Many of these phony schools try to pass themselves off as accredited by displaying the logos of real-sounding accrediting bodies on their websites. However, the accrediting body is often a completely bogus organization created by the school itself or one of its affiliates. Using these fake accreditation agencies is also against the law in most states.

There are countless horror stories in the news about doctors, lawyers and even plastic surgeons pursuing their careers with phony credentials that resulted in serious health or legal issues. While it is not possible to stop people from seeking out bogus degrees, there are steps that can be taken by reputable universities, credentialing companies and the media to discourage such activities. One suggestion is to encourage state legislatures to prohibit the use of a degree obtained from a diploma mill for employment purposes.

Fraudulent Credentials

There are many services that claim to offer fake certificates. These companies are known as diploma mills and they provide academic credentials for a fee. These fake degrees are not verified by the university and they do not reflect any actual academic work. Many people are using fake degrees in their careers and this has led to a decline in trust in higher education and the reputation of professions.

Fraudulent credentials can have a major impact on employee morale and productivity. If employees realize that their colleagues have falsified their credentials, they may lose trust in the company. This can lead to a loss of business, legal repercussions, and damage to the organization’s reputation. It is important for organizations to have thorough verification processes and a culture of integrity.

The EvoLLLution (Evo): What do you think is the best way to combat certificate fraud?

Sarah Eaton (SE): To combat certificate fraud, it is important for higher ed leaders to raise awareness. We also need to have transparency and ensure that staff in admissions and the registrar’s office are well-trained. It is important to have a system that can verify the authenticity of degrees, transcripts, and professional licenses quickly and easily. Preventing fraudulent credentials will keep staff and students safe, enhance the reputation of institutions, and save money and liability.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to honesty, trust, fairness and respect in all academic endeavors. It is the foundation of academic excellence and a crucial element in building a trustworthy world. Academic dishonesty hurts everyone, from the individual who cheats to the entire research community.

As a student, it is your responsibility to know what constitutes academic misconduct and how to avoid it. To do this, familiarize yourself with the academic integrity expectations that your institution requires. You can do this by talking with your course teaching assistant or instructor, your registrar, a learning strategist and/or visiting the Office of Student Academic Integrity website.

You should also know that academic dishonesty can take many forms. As illustrated by Turnitin’s Plagiarism Spectrum 2.0 infographic, it can include everything from buying an essay to accessing cheating services and even attempting to use AI to write your work for you. All of these actions are not only academically dishonest but can damage your reputation, tarnish your career prospects and lead to criminal consequences.

At Imagine Learning, we strive to partner with educators to prioritize honesty in the classroom and help them prevent academic dishonesty through research-based tips and exclusive product features that save time. To learn more about how we can support your efforts to encourage academic integrity, please contact us today.