Air Date: Friday, April 25, 2008
Degree of Deception
It used to be that you needed good grades, excellent recommendations and a lot of money to graduate from a prestigious university, but as 7News' Grant Greenberg shows us, obtaining that "Degree of Deception" is just a few key strokes away.
The elite few that get to graduate from Ivy League schools will tell you that it requires a lot of hard work, big bucks and tons of time.
Harvard University Students:
"Five years, it will take me at least five years."
"I am in my 6th year now and hope to finish next year."
But 7News found a way to get that coveted certificate in an instant, and all we needed were some basic computer skills.
Harvard University Students:
"I think it's a little hard to swallow."
"I would be upset, but I'd like to know how they are doing it so I can get out of here a little sooner."
Here is how we did it...
We went to one of the many websites offering fake diplomas, and using a phony name, we simply clicked our way to a college career. We picked the school, Harvard. We picked the degree; a PhD in Psychology.
Rather than pay close to two hundred thousand dollars in tuition, our degree cost less than $300 and in just two days our sheepskin showed up, making someone named Brady Doran an instant Harvard alum, and Brady is a dog!
It may seem funny, but we talked with Dr. Myra White who says that this is a serious problem. She is a psychologist who earned her degree from Harvard the honest way.
Dr. Myra White, Psychologist
"It is becoming a serious problem. In many cases people generally overstate their credentials, but now, the fact that you could actually validate it with a degree on your wall is even more troubling."
Dr. White says that it's not only unethical, it's unsafe.
Dr. Myra White, Psychologist
"It's dangerous if you don't have a licensed trained person."
In 2007, stripper turned therapist, Louise Wightman of Hull was convicted of fraud for treating teens without proper credentials. She bought her diploma on the internet.
Rep. Ruth Balser, (D) Newton
"Right now anyone, anyone can hang out a shingle, regardless of their training and education without a license."
Newton representative Ruth Balser wants to see that changed with stricter laws.
Rep. Ruth Balser, (D) Newton
"Its really consumer protection. People want to be sure that the person is trained and capable of providing the service."
And you just might be surprised at how many people pay for these deceptive diplomas.
The business of bogus degrees is a billion dollar a year industry. And as many as half a million phony diplomas are sold on line every year.
Harvard University declined to be interviewed, but did issue this statement:
Harvard University Statement:
"All members of the University and the institution as a whole benefit when its name is well used, and suffer when it is not."
And these fake diplomas are a real concern for students competing against a "Degree of Deception". Grant Greenberg, 7News.
(Copyright (c) 2008 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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