How to Spot a Fake Degree Certificate: 7 Tips
Fake degree certificates are on the rise and it’s getting harder for employers to tell the real from the fake. But with these tips, spotting fake certificates and websites becomes easier.
Fake degree certificates are on the rise and it’s getting harder for employers to tell the real from the fake. But with these tips, spotting fake certificates and websites becomes easier.
Fraudsters put ornate, Gothic fonts on fake certificates thinking they look traditional and prestigious. But in the real academic world, such typography is outdated. Most fake certificates now look like real ones, except for old-school calligraphic designs. Check the design of the certificate before accepting it as real.
Language on the Certificate. Fake certificates often have flowery, pompous language which is not typical of real degree certificates. For example, no university would put cod-medieval language on their certificates. Latin terminology is another red flag. While "cum laude" is common in US universities, UK universities use "with honours". Latin is no longer used on UK certificates. Check any suspicious language on the certificate.
Fraudsters have become more clever in creating their own crests, seals and holograms to match the security features of universities. To avoid being scammed by fake certificates, always ask to see the original certificate and cross-check the insignia on the certificate with the university website.
Location of the University. Fake university websites often have contact information including an address. But it’s common to find such websites in car parks, serviced offices or even on traffic roundabouts. If you have doubts about the address of a university, you can quickly check using Google Maps or similar platforms.
Domain Name. Fake websites often use domain names that are similar to real university domain names. Ascension Island’s .ac suffix is a popular choice for such websites, hoping to trick people into thinking it’s similar to .ac.uk. But most UK degree-awarding bodies have .ac.uk domains which are strictly regulated.
Word Order. The order of words used to describe a university on a certificate can also be a red flag. For example, on paper it’s “The University of Manchester” not “Manchester University”. Although people may refer to the institution as “Manchester Uni”, any certificate that reads “Manchester University” is fake.
University Verification. The higher education sector in the UK is big and complex and even within the UK it’s hard to tell the difference between universities. University verification database is a family tree of all degree-awarding bodies which is a vital resource to check the authenticity of a certificate. For example, it can show that Bell College of Technology awarded degrees between 1972 and 2007 and now their qualifications are verified by the University of the West of Scotland.