| Straits Times journalist from Singapore, Lim Yee | | | | The journalism degree though can be easily spotted |
| Hung reported in a newspaper article that he | | | | as a fake. There are glaring misspelling and |
| received two university degrees last week. One is an | | | | grammatical errors. For example, in his degree, |
| associate degree in Criminal Justice and the other is a | | | | December was spelt as Decemberf. |
| bachelor's degree in Journalism. It took him just one | | | | He reported that in the United States, fake degree |
| week to get both degrees. If university degrees are | | | | scams are so rampant that the problem is seen as a |
| that easy to get, they are probably fake degrees. | | | | national security threat. An audit in May 2004 showed |
| He went on to say in the report that he got the | | | | that a total of 463 employees in the federal |
| associate criminal justice degree from Belford | | | | government had fake academic degrees. Some were |
| University and the journalism degree from True | | | | even high ranking officials in sensitive positions with |
| Diplomas paying a total of US$349 for the degrees | | | | top level security clearance to boot. |
| excluding freight charges without any studying on his | | | | According to fake degree mill expert John Bear, |
| part or examinations to take. | | | | co-author of Degree Mills, fake degree mills are a |
| He called Belford University's hotline before buying | | | | billion dollar industry having sold thousands of fake |
| the degrees and was assured that Belford University | | | | online degrees and diplomas every week |
| degrees are perfectly legal, properly accredited and | | | | internationally. |
| accepted all over the world. In order for an applicant | | | | Although some employers may check the |
| to qualify for a Belford online degree, the candidate | | | | qualifications of a prospective employees directly by |
| must have sufficient 'life experience' or an 'online | | | | calling up the university which awarded the degrees, |
| equivalency test' which can be done under one hour. | | | | this screening may not be effective against some |
| True Diploma have no degrees of their own to offer | | | | degree mills as some of these degree mills provide |
| for they sell replica and imitation degrees from about | | | | verification services. Employers who called are told |
| 115 genuine universities including Ivy League | | | | that the job applicant is indeed a graduate from that |
| universities such as Brown University and Cornell | | | | particular university. |
| University. The degrees offered by True Diploma are | | | | However, not all college and university online degree |
| certainly fakes and they tell you upfront about it. | | | | programs are frauds. There are some great |
| When Lim received The Belford University degree, he | | | | universities such as Harvard University offer online |
| found that it was very impressive. Along with the | | | | degrees. |
| degree package were also educational transcripts | | | | So if you want to get an online degree, then it is |
| with grades for each module. The university seal is | | | | prudent for you to do a thorough due diligence and |
| embossed on the degree and looks authentic. How | | | | check with your local educational authorities for the |
| could there be grades and transcripts if tests and | | | | online university's authenticity so that you will not end |
| examinations are not taken? | | | | up with a fake degree by a costly mistake. |