For a Degree please call

>My wife who already has two masters degrees received this in her email account. I did not know if some of you might already be familiar with this outfit or not, but thought I would submit it to the group.





Wrom: MVRESKPNKMBIPBARHDMNNSKVFVWRKJVZCMHVIBGDADR
>To: , , , ,
>Subject: Bachelors, masters, MBA, and doctorate (PhD)
>Date: Fri, 01 Mar 2002 01:29:21 -0400 (EDT)
>
>U N I V E R S I T Y D I P L O M A S
>
>Obtain a prosperous future, money earning power,
>and the admiration of all.
>
>Diplomas from prestigious non-accredited
>universities based on your present knowledge
>and life experience.
>
>No required tests, classes, books, or interviews.
>
>Bachelors, masters, MBA, and doctorate (PhD)
>diplomas available in the field of your choice.
>
>No one is turned down.
>
>Confidentiality assured.
>
>CALL NOW to receive your diploma
>within days!!!
>
>X - X X X - X X X - X X X X

 

I (and I am certain many of those who post to this forum) have received this particular e-mail message (and others like it) numerous times. It just goes to show that degree mill operators do not feel threatened by existing laws and by the lack of enforcement of this "victimless" crime.

Of course there are no "prestigious non-accredited universities" unless you are dealing with a legitimate foreign university (such as Cambridge, Oxford, or those regularly referred to in this forum). In the U.S., getting an honorary doctorate from a university is the only way to receive such a title with "no required tests, classes, books, or interviews" Those who are illustrious to receive an honorary doctorate from a major university are generally at the point of not needing the degree to enhance one's profession.

Stay away from diploma mills such as this one. Using a popular metaphor on this forum: they are ticking time bombs.

Tony

 

More than a year ago, there was hard evidence that the American owner of this enterprise was sending out over a million spams a week, from a service in Romania. The school names change regularly -- they have been San Moritz, Harrington, Palmers Green, Devonshire, Brentwick, Shelbourne, Glencullen, and others. Mailing addresses in the UK, telemarketing calls from Romania, diploma printing in Israel, and banking in Cyprus (to the tune, it seems, of something like a million dollars a week).

 

U N I V E R S I T Y D I P L O M A S
>
>Obtain a prosperous future, money earning power,
>and the admiration of all.
>
>Diplomas from regionally accredited
>universities based on your present knowledge,
>life experience and few introductory level exams.

>All requirements can be completed in as little as 28 days.
>
>Few tests and limited writing required, no classes, no books, or interviews.
>
>Bachelors diplomas available in the field of your choice.
>
>No one is turned down.
>
>Confidentiality assured.
>
>CALL NOW to receive your diploma
>within days!!!

 

Oh boy, this makes me want to give up on Athabasca!

Darren.

 

It says to call now! If it's a toll free number, please plost it.

 

Thought I would have some fun with this about 6 months ago. Called the number -- left my phone number -- about 2 days later a lady called from one of the prestigious universities - Thornewood. For $2,400 I could have a PhD in Clinical Psychology complete with transcripts - and if I wanted the transcripts would show summa cum laude - in a PhD program - doesn't everyone in a PhD program qualify for honors, how else would you stay in the program. I told the lady that was entirely too much - bottom line, for a paltry $250. I could get the package with the diploma as soon as I furnished evidence that I had completed all the requirements of a PhD in Clinical Psych. They would take my word for it. THe $250. was a one time offer but a phone forwarding service still calls at least once a week. I got two calls friday and one today. Gosh, maybe I should get a couple more at $250. each. That way I could be the Rev. Dr. Dr. Dr. Howard......... would that be too much?

 

Thornewood! A new name

Thornewood seems to be the latest name in the string of names used by University of Palmers Green/San Moritz (also known as Brentwick University (also known as Harrington University, Glencullen University, Shelbourne University, University of Devonshire).

Here's someone who has a 1998 MBA and 2001 doctorate from Thornewood --
http://swansat.com/about_us/richard_busch.htm

And here's a story (en français) about Thornewood:

Un faux diplôme pour 760 $
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/tribune/actualites/0111/act_401110039593.html

And they even have a website with its own domain, unlike Harrington/Devonshire/Glencullen, which use http://www.henryheston.com/ and subdirectories:
http://thornewooduniversity.org/

 

Fun with Google

Notice how all these "schools" use the same introductory paragraphs? I took the phrase "is a fully recognized distance learning institution able to provide courses and award" and ran it through Google. It gave me a few more names and links in the "prestigious university" chain that I didn't have before.

 

Re: Fun with Google

I did this as well, Ohnalee, and kept coming up with a link to the BPPVE.

Only teasing!

 

I seem to get one of these e-mails a week. This week has been been a banner week in scam spams for me. Two diploma mill e-mails and 3 e-mails from those folks that want someone to accept millions of dollars in their account. Usually they cite Nigeria but one of hte e-mails this week gave South Africa as the locaion. Ho--hum....

John

 

drwetsch,

Congratulations on your educational resume. I am impressed. I always read them when people post them. However, I noticed that after getting a Ph.D, you went back to college and obtained a second bachelors degree. Why did you do this (if I may ask)?

 

It was the completion of the traditional right out of high school program I started in 1978 and wrapped in 2001. I gueiss I don't like unfinished business. I didn't do a search but the full story was previously posted. Essentially, when I contacted the University I had enough credits already, program changes had also been made since I started so the degree was awarded without any additional work. Afetr checking with the academic departments the University asked me "What name would you like on your diploma?"

John