'Diploma Mill' Investigation Starts
HARRISBURG — Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that the Office of Attorney General is currently reviewing information related to more than 135 Pennsylvania residents recently identified as part of a federal investigation into an Internet scheme to sell thousands of bogus high school and university degrees.
“Using falsified credentials to obtain state certification for various jobs jeopardizes the health and safety of Pennsylvania residents,” Corbett said. “The Office of Attorney General will work with other state agencies to determine if any of the individuals named in this investigation have used fraudulent degrees improperly.”
Corbett noted that the federal investigation focused on a degree-selling business based in Spokane, Washington, often known as Saint Regis University. As part of that investigation, federal prosecutors developed information about more than 9,000 “students” who may have purchased degrees from Saint Regis University or other fictitious institutions.
“At least 135 people used Pennsylvania addresses to obtain their degrees from Saint Regis University or other fictitious schools,” Corbett said. “We are reviewing information about those degree purchases and will contact other state agencies if it appears that questionable degrees have been used inappropriately.”
Corbett said the list of university degrees allegedly purchased by Pennsylvania residents as part of this scheme include Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Guidance & Counseling, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Addiction Therapy & Treatment, Occupational Health & Safety, Medical Technology, Electrical Engineering and numerous other professions. The degrees include high school diplomas, college bachelors and masters degrees, along with several doctorate degrees.
Corbett explained that the Attorney General’s Office has a history of aggressively investigating degree falsification cases, including the closure of an Erie-based “diploma mill,” know as the “University of Berkley” in 2005, along with the criminal prosecution of individuals accused of falsifying official state certifications.
"Fraudulent degrees destroy the credibility of educational institutions that offer Pennsylvanians legitimate classroom or online instruction to help improve their knowledge and skills,” Corbett said. "Bogus ‘diploma mills’ also enable unscrupulous individuals to use these degrees to misrepresent their educational background, enhance their credibility and falsely enhance their employment or promotion opportunities."
“Using falsified credentials to obtain state certification for various jobs jeopardizes the health and safety of Pennsylvania residents,” Corbett said. “The Office of Attorney General will work with other state agencies to determine if any of the individuals named in this investigation have used fraudulent degrees improperly.”
Corbett noted that the federal investigation focused on a degree-selling business based in Spokane, Washington, often known as Saint Regis University. As part of that investigation, federal prosecutors developed information about more than 9,000 “students” who may have purchased degrees from Saint Regis University or other fictitious institutions.
“At least 135 people used Pennsylvania addresses to obtain their degrees from Saint Regis University or other fictitious schools,” Corbett said. “We are reviewing information about those degree purchases and will contact other state agencies if it appears that questionable degrees have been used inappropriately.”
Corbett said the list of university degrees allegedly purchased by Pennsylvania residents as part of this scheme include Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Guidance & Counseling, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement, Addiction Therapy & Treatment, Occupational Health & Safety, Medical Technology, Electrical Engineering and numerous other professions. The degrees include high school diplomas, college bachelors and masters degrees, along with several doctorate degrees.
Corbett explained that the Attorney General’s Office has a history of aggressively investigating degree falsification cases, including the closure of an Erie-based “diploma mill,” know as the “University of Berkley” in 2005, along with the criminal prosecution of individuals accused of falsifying official state certifications.
"Fraudulent degrees destroy the credibility of educational institutions that offer Pennsylvanians legitimate classroom or online instruction to help improve their knowledge and skills,” Corbett said. "Bogus ‘diploma mills’ also enable unscrupulous individuals to use these degrees to misrepresent their educational background, enhance their credibility and falsely enhance their employment or promotion opportunities."
.jpg)
Comments