Introduction

Degree fraud refers to crimes committed in relation to higher education qualifications.

Those who possess such fake degree are charged under Section 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and 109/120B (abetment of criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).

There Are Three Ways To Describe Degree Fraud:

1.  Bogus universities:  Government agencies maintain a register of who is and isn’t allowed to award valid degrees. To get around this, fraudsters invent universities that pretend that their degrees are recognised by the Indian government. These bogus universities might also plagiarise the branding of real universities.
2. Fake certificates:  These are counterfeit documents meant to look like genuine degrees. Like bogus universities, they can come from completely invented universities or plagiarise the name and branding of institutions.
3. Essay Mills:  This is distinct from the others as this takes place while a student is at university. It is possible to commission original essay material from companies in order to submit as their own work. If a student pays to pass all their essays, then this isn’t much different from buying a degree.

What To Look Out For To Avoid Being A Victim Of Degree Fraud – Top Takeaways

1. 48% of SMEs and 49% of employers have experienced degree fraud.
2. Not verifying degrees increases the risk of internal fraud. The losses can be massive for a company and fake degree vendors are able to blackmail their clients into handing over money or data from your organisation.
3. If a candidate pays enough for a fake degree, then it may be indistinguishable from the real thing. It is never enough to rely on asking for a certificate alone.
4. Always fill out the verification form based on what is on the degree certificate as this reflects student records.
5. Verification is the quickest way to identify issues before onboarding. Many verifications are returned within 48 hours.
6. Making degree verification best practice lets fraudsters know that your company has safeguards in place and is watching.
7. We list 100s of bogus providers, so always check the name of the university against the database.
8. Confirmation of attendance is not the same as confirmation of the award. We are seeing incidents of final-year students who have been excluded from their university course using fake degrees in lieu of genuine qualifications.

Conclusion

Degree fraud may seem overwhelming. This is why most organizations outsource this requirement to an expert like V Trace.  When you outsource your pre-employment screening to a company like V Trace, you gain access to capabilities and facilities otherwise not accessible or affordable.  We can also help you leverage knowledge and skills that you may not have in your company. We have the experience not only understanding the compliance requirements but also calling on knowledge of industry best practices.