An investigation into one of the world’s largest diploma mills has revealed more than 800 Canadians could have purchased phoney university degrees.
Fake diplomas are a billion-dollar industry according to experts, one of its largest players being a Pakistan-based IT firm called Axact.
Fake degrees devalue legitimate degrees and can put the public at risk in industries like engineers and health-care workers where proper skills and expertise are required.
There are hundreds of Axact-linked schools that offer a range of educational opportunities with faculty ready to assist 24/7. Some schools even have a degree verification department for any third-party requesting transcripts or proof of attendance.
But none of the schools has a physical address, faculty photos are often stock images, and even the accreditation bodies the websites cite are fake.
One can often qualify for high school diplomas, bachelor’s or master’s degrees, or PhDs based on “life experience” and can purchase them for as little as a few hundred dollars.
Read more at CBC News
