How to Spot a Fake Degree Certificate: Key Red Flags and Verification Tips
A fake degree certificate can be used as a tool to manipulate the system. It is easy to purchase a fake degree online and the process of verification has become more difficult for colleges, universities, and employers.
Oftentimes, an obvious giveaway is the name of the institution. If the university’s name can’t be found on Google, it is most likely a fake diploma.
How to Spot a Fake Degree
Many people assume that spotting fake degrees is easy but in reality, it’s not so simple. A degree from a reputable university should be clearly written out, with no spelling or grammatical errors. Spelling errors are an indicator of a fraudulent certificate as are colloquialisms or slang used to describe the institution (e.g. Liverpool John Moores or LJMU).
Another giveaway is the use of old fashioned ornate Gothic typeface to falsely evoke an aesthetic feeling of tradition, pomp and prestige. Many genuine institutions have moved away from this style to more contemporary designs.
In the UK, Hedd has an aggregate university authentication database that enables recruiters to check whether a university name or title is valid. This is especially helpful when a person has a prestigious university on their CV and has then changed the name of the university. This kind of misrepresentation is relatively common and can be picked up quickly by using this service.
Other red flags include certificates from universities located in geographical locations that don’t match the applicant’s job or home address, if there is one. It’s also worth checking the institution’s reputation for academic standards and its accreditation status. Genuine universities add special security features to their certificates such as holograms and watermarks that are difficult for fraudsters to replicate. These can be easily checked by researching the institution online or asking for a real copy of the certificate.
Verify Degree Authenticity
The fake degree industry is now worth billions. It threatens the value of a university degree, undermines the integrity of academic qualifications and can even put lives at risk if someone is working in a high-risk job without the necessary training.
Fortunately, HR teams can use digital tools from companies like HireRight to verify an applicant’s education. These checks are a standard part of any background check and will tell you whether the university records indicate that the candidate actually attended the school they claim to have done so.
But it’s important to be vigilant, because diploma mills will often use a variety of tricks and tactics to deceive the unwary. For example, a fake diploma might feature a logo, crest or signatory that’s similar to the genuine article, but in a slightly different font. Or the university name might be misspelled or written in an ornate style, to mimic a more prestigious university.
Other blatant giveaways include degrees from universities that don’t exist. Universities keep student records indefinitely, so if an employer calls the university and they cannot find the graduate, that should be a major red flag. Also, some diploma mills will use names that sound similar to well-known schools and colleges. If the university is in a state where you don’t live, that’s a big warning sign.
Identifying Fake Diplomas
Just like a Chanel bag or a Ming vase, there are minute details that distinguish fake credentials from real ones. For example, a fake diploma may feature careless spelling mistakes or an incorrect seal or stamp. The authenticity of a document can also be discerned by looking at the quality of the paper and ink used to make it.
In addition, a fake degree will often include phrases in Latin that sound out of place. For instance, UK universities haven’t used Latin in ten years or more; contemporary certificates are usually written in English. And the title of a university might use an old style or an ornate gothic aesthetic, instead of a more contemporary approach.
Fake degrees are a serious problem that undermines the hard work and genuine knowledge of authentic graduates. To spot them, employers need to pay attention to the fine print and carefully compare the insignia on a certificate with those on the university’s website. They should also always ask to see the real certificate, not a photocopy. This simple step can help avoid making a bad hire and save the employer from a fraud prosecution. Despite the best efforts of universities to protect their students from scammers, some fraudsters continue to operate sophisticated fake credential factories. These diploma mills offer fake documents that are often difficult to police, and they feed a seemingly insatiable market for these fraudulent credentials.
Signs of a Fake Degree Certificate
A fake degree certificate may seem like a harmless way to add some flair to your Insta-worthy graduation photo, but it undermines the hard work and dedication of genuine graduates. It can also jeopardize your employment opportunities, and in some cases even land you in prison. Fortunately, there are several ways to spot a fraudulent certificate and avoid falling into the trap.
One common sign of a fake diploma https://lambangnhanh.com/ is the use of overly flowery, pompous language that is not typical of genuine certificates. It’s also a good idea to check the order of words on the certificate. Fraudsters often make mistakes when ordering the names of institutions and universities, which can be a tipoff that a document is fake.
Moreover, authentic documents come with official seals that are embossed or stamped and are raised to prevent them from being tampered with. A good fake degree certificate will have a seal that matches the official seals used by the institution named on it.
Other physical document verification methods include security holograms, anti-scanning ink, watermarks, micro-text lines and QR coding. While these features can be difficult for fraudsters to replicate, they are highly effective at catching fake diplomas. As technology progresses, more colleges and universities are incorporating these features into their diplomas to protect students from scams and fraudulent degrees.