Can You Fake A Degree?

Can You Fake A Degree Certificate?

Differences of Deceit: The Dangers and Repercussions of Theft in Higher Education:

Faking a degree is the act of creating, manipulating, or displaying a fake or forged academic degree or diploma to mislead others about one’s level of education. Falsifying one’s academic record and credentials is a dishonest practice that is usually done for career or personal benefit.

People who fake degrees may do so to obtain jobs, advance in their careers, or fulfil eligibility requirements that call for a particular set of educational credentials. Producing a document that fraudulently certifies the completion of a particular course of study, degree programme, or educational level constitutes this dishonest act.

Those looking for quick fixes to advance in their careers may feel tempted to falsify a degree in a competitive job market. But there are serious risks involved with such dishonest behaviour, from lawsuits to permanent harm to one’s reputation in the workplace. We explore the risks and repercussions of trying to forge a degree in this article.

Read Also: How Do You Make A Fake GED Diploma?

How To Easily Detect A Fake Degree And Certificate

• Certificate Design: The importance of inspecting the certificate’s design cannot be overstated. Genuine degrees are embossed and contain a gold seal, and a hologram watermark should be visible if you hold the certificate up to intense light. Genuine certificates have signatures that are written in ink and do not contain any spelling problems, so the signature should not be printed.
•  Certificate language: The language on the certificates should be thoroughly examined as well. On a degree diploma, the use of Latin terminology is a red flag. Universities in the United States employ phrases like ‘cum laude,’ whilst Hies in the United Kingdom use the term ‘with honours.’ No degree certificates in Latin have been issued in the United Kingdom for at least ten years. Take notice of the word order, for example, ‘Sheffield University’ should be ‘The University of Sheffield’ or ‘Sheffield Hallam University.’
• Certificate Components:  Fraudsters play catch-up and build their versions of crests, seals, and holograms, just as colleges use increasingly complex security measures to preserve the integrity of their documents. If in doubt, go to the university’s website and look up the emblem on the certificate. Always request the original certificate rather than a photocopy. Of course, the only sure way to avoid being duped by a fake certificate is to verify its legitimacy with the university that awarded it.
• University location and domains: Obtaining confirmation of the University’s address is a good approach to spot fake degrees. Using Google to look up the provided address is a good approach to spot fake universities. It’s also crucial to look at the university domains that were utilized. The general guideline is that if it doesn’t appear like a URL for a university website, it generally isn’t.
• Put your faith in the experts: This process can take longer and be inaccurate if you follow the processes outlined in this article, especially when evaluating qualifications that are done overseas. When it comes to verifying qualifications, hiring a professional degree verification service is the most effective option.

Consequences Of Faking A Degree

Faking a degree can have serious repercussions, including ethical, professional, and legal ones. It frequently breaks laws about forgery, fraud, or misrepresentation. A fake degree can result in termination, legal action, and harm to one’s professional reputation. Background checks are performed by employers, schools, and other authorities.

Legal Consequences of Degree Forgery:

Forgery as a Criminal Offense:

• Faking a degree constitutes forgery, a criminal offence in many jurisdictions. Legal consequences may include fines, probation, or even imprisonment.

Implications on Employment Contracts:

• Employers conduct thorough background checks, and the discovery of a faked degree can lead to immediate termination. Individuals may face not only legal consequences but also the loss of their jobs and damage to their professional reputations.

Professional and Ethical Implications:

Erosion of Professional Integrity:

• Faking a degree erodes professional integrity and trust. Building a career on dishonesty can have long-term implications on an individual’s credibility in the professional world.

Impact on Professional Relationships:

• Colleagues, employers, and clients rely on accurate representations of qualifications. The revelation of a faked degree can damage professional relationships and hinder future career opportunities.

Alternative Paths to Professional Growth:

Pursue Legitimate Educational Opportunities:

• Instead of resorting to deception, individuals can explore legitimate educational opportunities to enhance their qualifications and skills.

Seek Professional Certifications:

• Pursuing industry-recognized certifications is a transparent and ethical way to demonstrate expertise in a specific field without resorting to dishonest practices.

How to check if my certificate is original or not in South Africa?

Verify qualifications

You can use SAQA VeriSearch(link is external) at the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)(link is external) to check your educational credentials on the National Learners’ Records Database (NLRD)(link is external). Employers can check the database to authenticate the credentials of their staff. You will obtain the whole record of the information the NLRD has on you if you want to examine your personal information.

The specific question (which qualification, institution, and date) must be provided when other parties verify your information as a learner. Regarding just that information, SAQA’s response is either “found” or “not found.”Visit SAQA VeriSearch(link is external) for further details on how to validate your academic credentials.

Contact Details

• DHET Pretoria Office​​​​​​​​​​
• 123 Fr​ancis Baard Street
• Pretoria
• 0001
• Call Centre Information
• 0800 87 2222
• Private Bag X174
• Pretoria
• 0001​
• Tel + 27 12 312 5911
• Email: callcentre@dhet.gov.za

Such dishonest behaviour not only jeopardises individual careers but also erodes the integrity and confidence in professional and educational institutions. In order to lay a strong foundation for future professional and personal development, it is always advisable to pursue accredited training programmes, certifications, and professional development. Visit the official website of the Department Of Higher Education And Training

Related Posts: