September was a record month for our degree fraud team shutting down no less than seven bogus websites.
This takes us to over 40 shutdowns since the project for the Government started last summer.
Four were bogus universities all claiming to offer UK degrees:
- Stafford University*
- Ashcroft University
- John Hever Academy
- Atlantic Pacific Mission University
Three were websites selling fake degree certificates from multiple UK universities.
Coordination with law enforcement agencies means we can suspend the websites and get the owner details to Trading Standards (if they are UK-based) in a timely fashion.
We get websites reported from multiple sources now so word is getting out. If you have any concerns over whether an institution is a genuine UK degree awarding body you can check quickly and easily on the free university look-up service here on the HEDD website. If the university isn’t listed there, call our fraudline on 0845 077 1968 or contact us online here.
*(not to be confused with the entirely genuine Staffordshire University)