In Context: 5 Web Perspectives On A Story In The News

Fake degrees: The other, other shade of white

(CNN) Police in Spain arrested two people for selling fake university degrees and 25 others for buying them. The fake degrees, which cost US$24,000, were issued for universities in Peru. Buyers were using the degrees to work under false pretenses. One buyer posed as a medical worker and nearly killed two senior citizens with improper drug prescriptions. A report from Spain’s Interior Ministry states workers were using the degrees to get jobs in private clinics, where they were injecting patients with silicone or Botox. Most of the fake degrees were for medical surgeons, while others granted fake credentials to fake psychologists, doctors of physical therapy and rehabilitation, pharmaceutical chemists, lawyers, architects, forest engineers and historians, the statement said.

1.

Exposed: Fake Degrees - How To Know Real From Phony

Counterfeit Degrees - Fighting the billion dollar scam
This site, created by the National Consumer Advocacy Commission, outlines the history of fake degrees and the modern day “diploma mills” that make them. They tell the story of how marketing difficulties in the mid-80s were eliminated with the growth of the Internet. The site looks at who gets fake degrees, what types exist, terrorism concerns and the effect on business. It also discusses legal concerns at the U.S. federal and state levels while the site points out the problem is rampant in an international setting where “laws are even more cloudy and non-existent.” The site provides related links to a variety of news sources including a story about a problem in Canada.

2.

Need a fake degree? Look no further!

PhonyDiploma.com
This site is the one-stop-shop for fake degree shoppers. Not only does it offer a variety of fake high school diplomas and university degrees, it even specializes in real fused foil seals and raised gold foil seals. They even do fake IQ tests, TESOL certificates and offer “THE Ultimate Package,” running a cool $349.95, which offers diplomas stamped with fake school seals and a fake registrar signature. The company claims to have 24/7 phone support at 1-888-FAKE-DIP. A screenshot of a diploma from Kamloops, B.C.’s very own Thompson Rivers University gives shoppers an idea of what kind of bang they are getting for their buck.

3.

Oregon Student Assistance Commision - Office of Degree Authorization

Oregon Student Assistance Commision
This is a comprehensive site complete with information about diploma mills, a FAQ section, and detailed information about unaccredited colleges in the U.S. and the world. The site features colour maps to provide visuals to the data. It mentions several Canadian organization that make their list of unaccredited colleges.

4.

Warning from an eLearning site

eLearners.com
Another site with information designed to help protect people against diploma mills. This site provides a list of 182 accredited online colleges and universities as well as 26 accredited online schools and training providers. The main goal of the site, as its title indicates, is electronic learning. They offer information about online degrees, programs and courses along with education blogs and distance learning discussion forums.

5.

Wikipedia's Definition of "Diploma Mill"

Wikipedia
The wikipedia entry for diploma mill defines organizations that award academic degrees and diplomas with substandard or no academic study. This particular entry is backed up with over 50 references from a wide-range of sources. The entry also examines legal considerations in 19 countries. It discusses the difference between accredited and unaccredited institutes of higher learning by exploring the cloudy line that separates the two. The entry also provides good information needed to determine the characteristics of a diploma mill.