U N I V E R S I T Y D I P L O M A S - exciting stuff

I just got this email today. I can't believe people would want this on their resume. I did not list the phone number because I do not want to promote this.

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!!!

1 - 6 1 7 - 8 4 8 - XXXX
or
1 - 6 1 5 - 9 8 5 - XXXX

Call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including
Sundays and holidays.

 

I've received that same email about three times over the last two years. Apparently, the fish keep biting because the email keeps being sent.

It used to be a toll free 800 number. Boy, I had fun with that!

 

Yeah, I have gotten that email several times, as well. But now I know who to blame for them not having the 800 #....

 

Wondering about "prestigious non-accredited universities"? The argument goes something like this:

1. Prestigious non accredited universities are better than unprestigious accredited universities.

Correspondingly,

2. Unprestigious unaccredited universities are much better than prestigious accredited universities.

Ergo,

3. Lincoln Park University is better than the University of Chicago,
And therefore,

4. NO university is better than ANY university,
Thus,

CALL NOW for Your diploma from NO UNIVERSITY

 

Randell, could you e-mail me (don't post them) with those new unedited phone numbers? One of the exchanges is nearby, and I'd like to let the Attorney General's Office know. MA is very touchy about this sort of stuff.


Bruce
[email protected]

 

I received substantially the same email twice a few days ago, but with phone numbers with 773 and 313 area codes.

 

I swear I get that same e-mail about 8 times a month.

(Somehow I got on the wrong persons mailing list.)

 

Who are these guys anyway???

CFr

 

I think someone checked into them sometime back. They turned out to be the infamous "University of San Moritz". (See Bear's Guide, 14th Ed., p. 296)

 

University of San Moritz, Harrington University, University of Palmers Green, University of Devonshire, Brentwick University, Shelbourne University, Glencullen University (did I miss any?)

See http://www.degree.net/news.htm

 

Yes, Kristin, you missed their latest incarnation, Shaftesbury University.

 

Today's word oxymoron.

Definition:

noun: a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (as cruel kindness)

or

adjective: prestigious non-accredited.


I too, used to get this e-mail advertisement about once every couple of months.

 

A few times in the last few years?!?!? I get at least one a week!

 

Email Message

I get this email message on a regular basis. Almost weekly. It is a problem email, certainly.

 

Kristin: "University of San Moritz, Harrington University, University of Palmers Green, University of Devonshire, Brentwick University, Shelbourne University, Glencullen University (did I miss any?)"

John: Parkwood University, Carlingford University, probably Thornehill U and Ravenscroft U.

It was more than a year ago that a reliable source (Israeli undercover agent who worked there for a week) said they were sending out a million spam messages a week from Romania. Probably more than that, now. What is known is American ownership (from southern California), Romanian telemarketing (largely done by South Africans), UK convenience addresses, Israeli printing, and Cyprus banking.

And, in response to the obvious question, "Why don't they do something?" the answer is: Who?

 

Interpol????

 

Update.

A month ago, I speculated that "Carlingford University" might be the newest name in the stable of diploma mills run by the American-British-Romanian-South African-Israeli-Cypriot folks who started with the University of San Moritz.

Two people in Athens have now shared with me the information that a local newspaper advertisement from a local Greek organization called "ALEC" which offered to get degrees, turned out to be representing Carlingford, which they said was in London.

PS: With regard to Interpol, all I know is that an investigator in London, where the fake University of Palmers Green has a secretarial service, said he tried very hard to interest them, but they said, in effect, "In this world full of terrorists, who has time to worry about fake schools."

 

Carlingford University
How they snuck that one by Educause is beyond me. The registration details indicate that ALEC's relationship with Carlingford might be somewhat tighter than 'representative'.

Domain Name: CARLINGFORD.EDU

Registrant:
Carlingford University
72 New Bond Street
London W1S 1RR
UNITED KINGDOM

Contacts:

Administrative Contact:
George Theodorou
Carlingford University - University of
72 New Bond Street
London, UK W1S 1RR
UNITED KINGDOM
44(0) 20 7514 5852
[email protected]

As I recall, ALEC was the outfit that borrowed "The Frank Story" from HERI, did a find-and-replace job on it, and then threatened a few of us when they were called on it here.

 

The Legislature Makes the Laws

Excellent point.

In my state, it is a misdemeanor to claim to have a degree that you don’t have (that includes degree mill degrees). However, if someone is claiming to be a doctor, I would not arrest them for it. But if someone else was pushing the issue, then I’d allow them to sign an affidavit and would send it to the prosecutor for evaluation (to see if he wants to issue a warrant or a notice-to-appear).

Can you imagine arresting someone for claiming to be a doctor when all they have is a degree mill diploma?

• ”Turn around and place your hands behind your back. You're under arrest for claiming to have a doctorate.”

 

Re: The Legislature Makes the Laws

Which state would that be? AFAIK, Illinois is the first state to consider such legislation. Even then, the language of the article notwithstanding, the new law would make it a Class A misdemeanor =only= if the bogus degree is used for the purpose of obtaining employment, a promotion or increase in compensation, or gaining admission to an institution of higher learning (i.e. one could still claim to have a certain degree =provided= there is no illegal "use" of that degree).


From the AACRAO web site:

"Illinois Legislature Set to Vote to Criminalize Online Trafficking in Fake Diplomas

The Illinois legislature will consider a bill which aims to penalize people who buy bogus credentials over the Internet, according to a report in The Chronicle of Higher Education. The bill would make it a Class A misdemeanor to use a fake diploma, transcript, or other document from a legitimate Illinois college to secure a job or promotion. Offenders could face a year in prison and a $2,500 fine.

The bill is scheduled to come before the Illinois legislature for a vote by May, said Don Sevener, a spokesman for the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). In a telephone interview with AACRAO, Mr.Sevener said that, to his knowledge, this law would be the first in the nation, if enacted."