The release of over 9,000 names this week in the well-publicized Washington diploma mill case was like dropping a stone in the middle of a lake.

The ripples have extended all over the U.S. and into international waters as well.

According to recent news reports, the long list of fake degree purchasers is being forwarded to the state attorney generals of all 50 states so that investigations may continue. They especially want to focus on those who may have compromised the safety of the general public by using fake college degrees to obtain jobs or promotions.

Others on the diploma mill list may also lose their jobs due to the seriousness of listing fraudulent information on their job application.

But hopefully, there has been a lesson in this for those who are contemplating taking a dishonest step to obtain a bogus college degree: Don’t do it. It isn’t worth it in the long run.

For awhile, perhaps no one will be the wiser. But one day, most likely when all is going well, everything will topple as the dark, past deed comes to light.

If you really want  a college degree, find an accredited online degree program and do the work. Take the classes, burn the midnight oil and earn the college degree through diligence and discipled study.

Then, when you receive your college diploma, it will mean something. And no one will be able to take it away from you; because you will truly own it.

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 In the chameleon-like underworld of diploma mills, anything can happen.

A diploma mill, also known as a fake degree mill, is a business operating as a school which awards college diplomas with little or no academic work. It is not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or any reputable accrediting body.

Some of these elusive (and in some states illegal) non-schools are here today and gone tomorrow; while others survive after being forced out of business by resurrecting themselves, like the Phoenix, under a new name.

But diploma mill names are not usually chosen at random. Instead, they are crafted to sound like the names of reputable, accredited, legitimate colleges and universities.

For example:

• Cambridge State University is a diploma mill and should not be confused with the reputable University of Cambridge in England.
• American University of Hawaii is diploma mill; and University of Hawaii is an accredited college.
• Oxford Global University is a diploma mill; but the University of Oxford is among the oldest and best universities in the world.
• Columbia State University was a diploma mill (now shut down); but Columbia University is a top-notch university in New York.
• Ashwood University is a diploma mill; but Ashford University is an accredited online college.

So when choosing an accredited online school or traditional school, carefully check the name to make sure it is the college you think it is.

Also, employers should be careful as well in checking the credentials of their employees. Do not assume that everything is fine because the college sounds reputable. Instead, check it out.

Several states maintain a list of diploma mills, substandard and unaccredited colleges. Oregon, Texas, Michigan and Maine are just a few. But the U.S. Department of Education and  the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) are two great places to start when checking out a college.  

But being aware of the name game is also a great way to avoid being ensnared by diploma mills.

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There is another side of the coin regarding diploma mills. And that is the accredited colleges that have been mistakenly lumped in with diploma mills through rumor. 

It is important to research potential college possibilities — not just to avoid diploma mills, but also to avoid disregarding possible higher education choices simply because of a rumor that has been passed along as fact. Below is one such example regarding the accredited school, Westwood College.

A reader wrote the following e-mail to us at DirectoryofSchools.com after reading our website article, Fake College Degrees: An Epidemic:

“ . . . this article . . . does get its point across about the colleges that are scamming students. However there is one really big problem with it. The paper goes to tell about how these colleges are stealing money from students but for some crazy reason, on the right side of the screen you have one of these colleges that are considered to be fake advertised. I am referring to Westwood college. This is one of the most notorious fake colleges out there. This entire website is considered to be a joke with that still on there.”

Our reply was as follows:

” . . . . We are glad you found the article helpful and informative; and we appreciate your comments. Also, we are happy to address your concerns about one of our featured schools, Westwood College.
 
Westwood College is a reputable, highly-accredited school with over 17 campuses located across the United States — including Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Atlanta, and Dallas. The accrediting agencies of the college are approved by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Westwood College Online, which is part of Westwood College, is based in Denver and is regulated and approved by the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Westwood College Online is also approved by all branches of the military for its commitment to academic excellence for military students. Students who attend Westwood College are eligible for federal financial aid, a benefit not available to substandard colleges or diploma mills.
 
DirectoryofSchools.com lists only accredited colleges and universities and reputable vocational schools on its website. We take the time to research each institution of higher learning, so that potential students may avoid becoming victimized by diploma mills and substandard schools. We continue in our mission to illuminate the problem of fake college degrees and their negative impact upon the society at large. Yet we are also advocates for those accredited higher-learning institutions whose excellent reputations are harmed by the misinformation and rumors that abound on the Internet.
 
Thank you again for taking the time to write us; and we hope you will continue to find our website useful for your educational needs.”

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Three members of a family that operated an international  fake degree business pleaded guilty to federal charges involving the Washington-based diploma mill.

Stephen and Dixie Randock, along with their daughter, Heidi Lorhan, and several other defendants reportedly sold over 8,200 bogus college degrees around the world. The business is believed to have taken in between 5  and 6 million dollars from the base of operations in Spokane, according to the Houston Chronicle.

One customer was reported to have purchased a medical degree from the Randocks after seeing an advertisement in an airline in-flight magazine.

Guilty pleas by the Randocks and their daughter were part of a plea-bargain agreement that lessened the criminal charges to wire and mail fraud. The case against the Randocks has been carefully watched and is reported to be the first successfully prosecuted case against diploma mill operators using these particular charges. The defendants are expected to be sentenced in a few weeks.

The Randocks and their co-defendants sold bogus college degrees from non-existent colleges, along with counterfeit degrees from reputable schools. According to the Spokesman Review, at least 300 of those diplomas were sold to U.S.  government employees — some working in sensitive agencies like the Justice Department and the State Department. Others were sold to foreign purchasers who could use the false credentials to immigrate more easily into the United States.

A task force was set up to build a case against the Randocks when information revealed that some of the fake degrees were being sold to customers in the Middle East. Investigative agencies involved in the case include the Secret Service, the U.S. Attorney’s office, the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), Spokane police detectives, Federal Protective Services, and the Washington State Attorney General’s office. 

Although numerous accredited online degree programs exist, diploma mills draw in customers by advertising a “something for relatively nothing” product. Customers generally write a check, completing little or no actual college-level work. Within two or three weeks, an impressive and authentic-looking college diploma arrives in the mail.

Because many employers lack the manpower to verify credentials listed on employee job applications, fake degrees remain largely undetected.

However, the case involving the Randock family may signal a new beginning in the way diploma mill predators are detected, investigated and prosecuted. And in the meantime, buyer beware!

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Last week, a retired deputy U.S. marshal was prosecuted for using a fake college degree from a diploma mill, St. Regis University, to gain a promotion and a $16,000-a-year pay raise. 

He admitted to lying on his federal job promotion form and was fined $500, given 2 years probation and sentenced to 80 hours of public service. 

Still, he kept the pay raise and the subsequent retirement benefits because his supervisors were aware of the deception before he was promoted.

Diploma mills continue to be a major problem; and they often lure potential clients by calling their product ‘life experience degrees’ or ‘novelty degrees’. Proposed legislation by Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota is currently being reviewed by Congress to enact stiffer penalties for those who sell the fake diplomas.  The House of Representatives voted on February 7th to pass the legislation, which will now move into the Senate for a vote.

HR4137, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act, is championed as a valuable tool in fighting the scourge of diploma mill fraud.  But it is also important for potential students to learn the difference between accredited online schools and diploma mills. The U.S. Department of Education continues to provide a database of accredited colleges and universities along with information about how to spot fraudulent, scam businesses masquerading as colleges.

The retired U.S. marshal got off easy; but the laws are changing. And it’s about time.

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What’s a physics professor doing in a fight against diploma mills?

This question is often asked of George Gollin, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professor, who has mounted a public crusade against diploma mills. He states that no less than 100 fake schools are on the Internet, with over 200,000 fake college degrees being sold worldwide each year.

Gollin authored a descriptive and informative paper entitled, “Unconventional University Diplomas from Online Vendors: Buying a Ph.D. from a University that Doesn’t Exist“. This extensive look at the ways diploma mills represent themselves online is a worthy read, especially for employers and potential students who are considering the flexible option of accredited online degrees.

The renowned physics expert, who is backed by an impressive resume of accomplishments, is once again in the news. This time, Gollin is quoted by 6 News regarding the criminal case against a Washington couple — Steven and Dixie Randock.

The Randocks, who were featured in a previous blog, are accused of selling counterfeit college degrees from reputable universities, as well as hawking degrees from diploma mills.

Diploma mills are businesses that sell college degrees with few or no academic requirements. Most simply require a credit card payment.

Online school administrators applaud Gollin, who has worked with Representative Betty Collum in her fight against diploma mills. Reputable online schools and traditional schools are negatively impacted when illegal businesses masquerade as colleges and universities to entice potential customers to use these degrees to obtain employment.

Several states, including Texas and Oregon, enforce the laws on their books that criminalize the use of fraudulent degrees to acquire a job or promotion.

Rep. Collum introduced legislation to empower law enforcement agencies to act against diploma mills. The Diploma Integrity Protection Act is currently being considered by Congress and is the first major piece of legislation to address the fake degree problem on a national level.

Professor Gollin is not alone in his fight against diploma mills. He is supported by students who honestly and diligently earn their college degrees, as well as by a growing number of employers, academic professionals and others whose professions are tainted by those who join their ranks using false credentials. And now, Congress is on the team.

Diploma mills are a threat; and George Gollin wants to make sure you know it.

Thanks, Professor.

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It is easy to think of diploma mills as someone else’s problem. But fake college degrees are used to gain employment in hospitals, schools and government. A recent article in the Star Tribune of Minneapolis-St. Paul highlighted a few areas of increasing concern surrounding these fraudulent diplomas — including personal health and national security.

In 2002, an 18-year old actress with ovarian cancer, Taylor Alves, fell victim to Dr. John E. Curran in Rhode Island. He held a medical degree from St. Luke School of Medicine – a diploma mill –and accelerated her death with bogus treatments that caused significant weight loss and untold emotional anguish.

The doctor had completed no medical training or coursework. He simply paid a fee and received his medical degree. The “doctor” is in jail; but the unaccredited college is still in business in the U.S., though not in Liberia, where it once thrived.

A few years ago, a reported Syrian national applied for 3 degrees from James Monroe University, another degree mill. He included a note to the “school” stating that he needed the college diplomas quickly to apply for a skilled-worker visa as a chemical weapons expert. This would allow him to remain in the United States.

Just weeks later, he received the 3 advanced degrees in chemistry and engineering in the mail. The only information needed by the ’school’ was his credit card number. Fortunately, he was a federal agent posing as the questionable “graduate”.

These are, unfortunately, not isolated cases. Thousands of bogus college diplomas are sold to the Middle East and could possibly be used to gain illegal entry into the United States. Alan Ezell, who formerly led the FBI unit that investigated diploma mills, stated that phony degrees remain a huge and growing problem.

Fortunately, a bill known as the Diploma Integrity Protection Act, sponsored by Representative Betty McCollum, is headed for a vote in the House of Representatives. If passed, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Education  and the Federal Trade Commission will have the authority to work with law enforcement agencies to identify fake degree mills and prosecute those who run them.

And perhaps best of all, at least one more loophole will be closed to terrorists and criminal ‘doctors’.

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According to the Spokesman Review, the trial of four defendants indicted in 2005 for running as many as 125 online diploma mills continues with a request for suppression of evidence they claim was illegally obtained. 

Lawyers for the defendants –Dixie and Steve Randock, Heidi Kae Lorhan, and Roberta Lynn Markishtum – are asking that federal criminal charges against them be dropped due to police misconduct.

The four — who hail from Colbert and Spokane, Washington –are accused of selling fake college degrees and high school diplomas to over 6,000 people. The documents were purchased by government officials, military personnel, firefighers and others.  Over half were sold to buyers outside of the U.S.

In an investigation headed by the U.S. Secret Service and code-named “Operation Gold Seal“, evidence was gathered beginning in 2005. Several boxes of documents, obtained from a hallway near the defendant’s leased office, are in question. These boxes of evidence are being challenged in the upcoming evidence-suppression hearing.

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In Texas, two school district superintendents were discovered to have have suspect Ph.D.’s after their names. They received these doctoral degrees from institutions outlawed by the state of Texas.  

In spite of warnings and publicity about the $1 billion diploma mill industry, the slick, hyped-up advertising still draws willing victims into the web of deception. This drives Directory of Schools to continue to alert consumers about the dangers and risks of partnering with criminals who are operating under the radar of law enforcement officials.

Diploma mills are unscrupulous businesses, masquerading as schools, that sell authentic-looking college ’life experience degrees’ or ‘novelty college diplomas’ and require little or no academic work.

However, the available information is helping those who are confused about how to spot these wolves in sheep’s clothing.  It is not difficult to find an accredited online school these days, especially with the number of helpful resources out there, including the comprehensive listing of accredited colleges on the Department of Education web page.    

Also, a listing of illegal educational institutions is available from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Since the use of these institutions is a misdemeanor in Texas, such a list is important to those who are ready to choose a traditional or online school.

The information is particularly helpful in highlighting diploma mills that have the exact name or a simlar name to an accredited college or university.

“Fraudulent or substandard schools” are not allowed to be used in Texas to obtain employment, promotion, benefits, compensation, a professional certificate or license, admission to an educational program or any paid or unpaid position in government.  The laws apply to ’schools’ both inside and outside of the United States.

Don’t be a willing victim. Be informed and choose only accredited colleges.

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The Sacramento Bee has uncovered the results of an investigation involving 16 firefighters who used diploma mills to gain pay raises between April 2005 and April 2006. They collectively received $50,000  from the Sacramento Fire Department based on fake college degrees. However, the firefighters’ union blocked any attempt to recover the monies once the deception was uncovered.

Unlike several similar cases in police and fire departments throughout the country, the results of this investigation were quietly tucked away from the public’s eyes and ears, the firefighters were allowed to keep the raises already paid out, and they were not disciplined.  However, further pay raises were halted. 

The firefighters received their fake college degrees from online businesses masquarading as colleges, and completed little or no academic work. Diploma mills usually accept any prior ’life experience’ and education – plus a hefty check – in exchange for an impressive-looking diploma.  Often, fake transcripts are also provided as a bonus.

The firefighters claimed to be unaware that their college degrees from Madison, Rochville and Almeda,  did not meet the rigorous standards of accredited online schools. Fire officials became suspicious when they observed that the majority of those applying for education incentive raises had chosen the same schools.

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District is also investigating a dozen employees who used two fake degree mills to meet requirements for a pay raise. However, the department has disciplined and punished several firefighters as a result of the investigation.

These unfortunate situations underscore the importance of not using fake college degrees to pad a resume! Eventually, the deception is bound to be discovered!

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