Scam Website Posing as Official CPU Alumni Association

Recently, officials at CPU (Columbia Pacific) informed me of a website that was claiming to be the official CPU alumni association website. They were somewhat concerned about the matter, as well as a little confused.

I gather they contacted me because I put together the alternative (unofficial) CPU alumni site in March which has published certain documents which I like to call the CPU X-Files. http://www.altcpualumni.org

I found the above interesting so I proceeded to investigate. The website offered transcripts and CPU replacement diplomas. Further investigation (of the contact phone numbers) revealed that the contact was in Conway, Massachusetts (sp?).

The tip originally came from the Bank of Guyana, who had contacted the CPU alumni office regarding someone who was applying for a job with the bank and claiming a CPU degree. There was no record of the individual at CPU. One of the references the individual had given the bank was a URL for what s/he called the Official Alumni Association of CPU of Novato, California.

After some further discussion with CPU officials a complaint was made with the FBI Internet Crime Section. For your information the URL is as follows: http://cpualumni.tripod.com

This appears to be one of two types of scams:
(1) An individual fraud attempt (someone constructing a site to provide fake transcripts for his own fake CPU degree), or
(2) A systemic fraud attempt (someone establishing a site to "sell" phony transcripts and diplomas with CPU listed as the issuer).

I'm placing this note to alert any CPU alumni who come across the site and to make the matter public among distance education aficionados.
Earon