Any employers, including prestigious universities, doubting the need for culture verifications as a part of effective background screening programs may reconsider after hearing the tale of a former Harvard student who allegedly faked academic credentials and references – even transcripts with perfect SAT grades – to win prizes, scholarships, and receive grants and fiscal aid.

According to a report in The Harvard Crimson and a news release from the Middlesex County (MA) District Attorney, the 23-year-ancient former Harvard student from Delaware has been indicted on 20 counts of larceny, identity fraud, falsifying an endorsement or approval, and pretending to hold a degree.  The accused was allegedly “untruthful” in his applications to Harvard University and for scholarships, and in falsifying transcripts that detailed an impressive academic career at some of the top educational institutions in Massachusetts.

The accused student was exposed after submitting applications and references for the Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships while at Harvard University in 2009, according to the report from the Crimson. A Harvard professor noticed similarities linking the student’s work and that of another professor and single-minded that the application packet was mostly plagiarized.

According to the District Attorney’s news release, after Harvard University launched an internal investigation looking into defendant’s academic file, among the discrepancies and inaccuracies allegedly found during the culture verification were that the defendant:

• Had never attended MIT or Phillips College in Andover, as his file claimed.
• Had SAT scores that were not perfect, as they were conveyed in a College Enter document in his file.
• Had recommendations – allegedly signed by professors at Bowdoin College, which the defendant attended before transferring to Harvard – that were falsely attributed to individuals who said that they did not know the accused and had not written the letters.
• Allegedly submitted fraudulent applications for the Harvard endorsement for both the United States Rhodes Scholarship and the Fulbright Scholarship.
• Allegedly submitted an application packet that included pretended recommendations from Harvard professors and a college transcript detailing perfect grades over three years.
• Had a resume allegedly listing numerous books he had co-authored, lectures he had given, and courses he had educated, according to authorities.
• Allegedly stole over $45,000 in grants, scholarship, and fiscal aid money awarded to him on applications and submissions of documents that were based on lies and reproductions of other people’s work.

According to the news release, this is not the first time the accused had been under scrutiny for offenses in an academic setting, as he was suspended from Bowdoin due to academic dishonesty. In addition, he did not receive a Harvard degree, according to a spokesperson for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

For extra in rank on employment screening and background checks – including educational verifications – visit Employment Screening Resources (ESR) at http://www.esrcheck.com.

Sources:

http://www.thecrimson.harvard.edu/article/2010/5/17/wheeler-harvard-wheelers-applications/

http://www.middlesexda.com/pact-press-release/former-harvard-student-charged-with-larceny-and-falsifying-documents-from-harvard-university-mit-philips-andover-college-and-several-other-vicinity-institutions/

Surveys suggest that as many as 30% of all job applicants falsify in rank about their educational backgrounds. The falsifications can include outright fabrications such as making up degrees from legitimate schools the applicant never attended or valueless degrees from diploma mills.

An applicant can also falsify his or her educational achievements based upon some semblance of fact, such as claiming degrees from schools the applicant really attended but did not obtain the degree claimed. Typically a candidate turns their months or weeks of attendance into an AA degree, or claims a BA or an advanced degree even if they did not perfect the course work or fulfill all graduation requirements. 

Colleges and universities also have a vested interest in confirming educational accomplishments. Confirming an applicant received a degree from their school helps their graduates and promotes the reputation of their school. Conversely, exposure the fraudulent use of the school’s excellent name helps to preserve and protect the school’s reputation.

Background firms verify culture in the U.S. in two ways. One way is to contact the school, usually through the registar’s office. Before doing that, but, a competent background firm will first run the name of the school against various databases to ensure that the school is legitimate and accredited, and not a phony degree mill. A number of schools will demand a written release or a fee, which can delay the verification. Delays can also occur because schools operate on an academic schedule, which can mean the administrative offices are closed during holidays and the summer months.

 The other options available to screening firms and employers are online air force that have contracts with schools to gather degree in rank from schools, thus acting as the schools’ agents. 

For some job applicants, being paid a college diploma apparently no longer requires years of hard work, taking tests, paying schooling or even reading a book. Why bother going through the formalities when all a person needs is a credit card and a web browser in order to buy an authentic looking diploma that mimics real colleges, universities and even high schools across the U.S.? Go to any search engine and run keywords such as “Fake Diploma” and anyone can instantly “graduate” from nearly any school in America with a very handsome and authentic looking diploma suitable for hanging. 

One such website advertises that it makes “very realistic diplomas/transcripts. These diplomas/ transcripts are extremely high quality printed on official parchment quality paper. You can show your employer and they will never skepticism that you indeed attended college. You will not find better quality anywhere!!!” 

Some of these sites “officially” caution that the diplomas and transcripts are intended for “Novelty and Entertainment Use Only.” But, the fake documents you receive do not have a disclaimer written any place on them. When presented with a physical diploma or transcripts, employers should fax a copy to the school to confirm its authenticity. Most background firms can tell tales of faxing copies of degrees, supplied by the applicant, to high schools and colleges only to be told the degree is a fake. 

Verifying high school culture can present particular problems, due to the fact that there are so many high schools, and the fact they operate on an academic schedule. The most hard degree to verify is typically a GED, in view of the fact that it requires additional time and try to track down the office that has the in rank. 

Adding to the challenge is that some degree mills and fake online schools have even made fake official approval agencies to falsely vouch for the fake schools. In the U.S. schools are generally accredited by private organizations, that are recognized as legitimate accreditors by the Council for Higher Culture Official approval (CHEA) found at www.chea.org. The U.S. regime, in response to these issues, has made a web site where employers can look up a school to determine if and how it is accredited. The web site is at: www.ope.ed.gov/official approval/search.aspx which provides searches of schools by official approval agency. 

ESR goes through an wide course of action to verify that a school is legitimate.  First, ESR compares the schools to schools that are known to be legitimate.  If the school does not pass that test, ESR examines numerous”diploma mill” lists. But, those lists are a moving target in view of the fact that new diploma mills can be straightforwardly made.  If a school is not on either list, ESR then carefully reviews the schools web site and in particular, looks to see what “official approval” the school claims.

The problems with degree mills, but, should not be confused with legitimate vocational or trade schools. All disorder has an agency in charge of certifying disorder-approved educational programs. If there are questions about the legitimacy of a vocational or trade school, then an employer should contact the apt power in their disorder. There are numerous interval learning programs available on the internet as well. An employer should evaluate the program to determine if it has relevance to the job.

 The bottom-line is that employers should not pocket educational accomplishments at face value without ensuring that the applicant really has obtained the degree, and that the degree is from a legitimate educational institution.  For extra in rank, contact Employment Screening Resources (ESR).

Surveys suggest that as many as 30% of all job applicants falsify in rank about their educational backgrounds. The falsifications can include outright fabrications such as making up degrees from legitimate schools the applicant never attended or valueless degrees from diploma mills.

An applicant can also falsify his or her educational achievements based upon some semblance of fact, such as claiming degrees from schools the applicant really attended but did not obtain the degree claimed. Typically a candidate turns their months or weeks of attendance into an AA degree, or claims a BA or an advanced degree even if they did not perfect the course work or fulfill all graduation requirements. 

Colleges and universities also have a vested interest in confirming educational accomplishments. Confirming an applicant received a degree from their school helps their graduates and promotes the reputation of their school. Conversely, exposure the fraudulent use of the school’s excellent name helps to preserve and protect the school’s reputation.

Background firms verify culture in the U.S. in two ways. One way is to contact the school, usually through the registar’s office. Before doing that, but, a competent background firm will first run the name of the school against various databases to ensure that the school is legitimate and accredited, and not a phony degree mill. A number of schools will demand a written release or a fee, which can delay the verification. Delays can also occur because schools operate on an academic schedule, which can mean the administrative offices are closed during holidays and the summer months.

 The other options available to screening firms and employers are online air force that have contracts with schools to gather degree in rank from schools, thus acting as the schools’ agents. 

For some job applicants, being paid a college diploma apparently no longer requires years of hard work, taking tests, paying schooling or even reading a book. Why bother going through the formalities when all a person needs is a credit card and a web browser in order to buy an authentic looking diploma that mimics real colleges, universities and even high schools across the U.S.? Go to any search engine and run keywords such as “Fake Diploma” and anyone can instantly “graduate” from nearly any school in America with a very handsome and authentic looking diploma suitable for hanging. 

One such website advertises that it makes “very realistic diplomas/transcripts. These diplomas/ transcripts are extremely high quality printed on official parchment quality paper. You can show your employer and they will never skepticism that you indeed attended college. You will not find better quality anywhere!!!” 

Some of these sites “officially” caution that the diplomas and transcripts are intended for “Novelty and Entertainment Use Only.” But, the fake documents you receive do not have a disclaimer written any place on them. When presented with a physical diploma or transcripts, employers should fax a copy to the school to confirm its authenticity. Most background firms can tell tales of faxing copies of degrees, supplied by the applicant, to high schools and colleges only to be told the degree is a fake. 

Verifying high school culture can present particular problems, due to the fact that there are so many high schools, and the fact they operate on an academic schedule. The most hard degree to verify is typically a GED, in view of the fact that it requires additional time and try to track down the office that has the in rank. 

Adding to the challenge is that some degree mills and fake online schools have even made fake official approval agencies to falsely vouch for the fake schools. In the U.S. schools are generally accredited by private organizations, that are recognized as legitimate accreditors by the Council for Higher Culture Official approval (CHEA) found at www.chea.org. The U.S. regime, in response to these issues, has made a web site where employers can look up a school to determine if and how it is accredited. The web site is at: www.ope.ed.gov/official approval/search.aspx which provides searches of schools by official approval agency. 

The problems with degree mills, but, should not be confused with legitimate vocational or trade schools. All disorder has an agency in charge of certifying disorder-approved educational programs. If there are questions about the legitimacy of a vocational or trade school, then an employer should contact the apt power in their disorder. There are numerous interval learning programs available on the internet as well. An employer should evaluate the program to determine if it has relevance to the job.

 The bottom-line is that employers should not pocket educational accomplishments at face value without ensuring that the applicant really has obtained the degree, and that the degree is from a legitimate educational institution.  For extra in rank, contact Employment Screening Resources (ESR).