Buying a fake diploma is not illegal; you can legally make, buy and display them. However using a fake diploma to misrepresent your educational credentials in situations where accurate information is required or expected is illegal. This is the legal line between having a fake diploma and using a fake diploma.
At the end of the day buying, making or displaying a fake diploma is not illegal. You can buy fake diplomas as a novelty, for decoration or as a joke. Having a fake diploma is not illegal; it’s what you use it for that matters most.
The legal problems with fake diplomas come when they are used to deceive or gain an unfair advantage. Misrepresenting your educational credentials for employment, admission to further education or any situation where accreditation is a factor is where the legality comes in. For example fabricating an academic achievement to get a job or promotion is clearly illegal. Using a fake diploma to present yourself falsely in any formal or professional capacity can lead to serious legal consequences including fraud charges.
Many ask about buying a fake diploma as a replacement for a lost or damaged original. Legally there is no issue with having a facsimile of your own diploma for personal use such as display. But you must not use this replica in any situation where your academic credentials are verified for professional purposes. You can own a duplicate for personal reasons but using it in place of the original for official verification is not good.
Making or buying an exact replica of a diploma you’ve earned is a gray area. Although you earned the qualification using a fake diploma in place of the original for employment or other formal purposes is misleading. Most institutions and employers verify through transcripts or direct verification with the institution not the physical diploma. So even though the temptation is there especially if the original is unavailable it’s better to get official duplicates from the institution itself rather than fake replicas.
Buying a fake diploma is not illegal but using it to deceive or gain an unfair advantage is where the legality is breached. If you’re considering a fake diploma whether as a novelty or as a replacement it’s important to know and respect the legal limits of its use. Always think of the implications and legal consequences before you decide how and where to use a fake diploma.