Directory of Schools Advises Consumers On How To Avoid Scam Colleges
Fake college degrees generate well over $200 million a year; and the damage from this unregulated industry is substantial. Nothing is sacred, as fake doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers and others weave their way up coveted professional ladders at the expense of the unsuspecting public. But according to DirectoryofSchools.com, informed consumers can simultaneously protect themselves and choke off the flow of money into this illegal cesspool, forcing education scam artists out of business. .
Santa Rosa, CA (PRWEB) March 21, 2007 -- "The next time you walk into your doctor's office, carefully check out the college diplomas and medical degrees on the wall. No doubt, you will feel a sense of peace knowing that your physician has completed all of the educational training and met all of the professional requirements necessary to practice medicine. But what if the degrees hanging on the wall are worthless - would you know? Unfortunately, most of us would not have a clue," states online degrees expert, DirectoryofSchools.com.
Fake college degrees are estimated to generate well over $200 million a year; and the damage from this unregulated industry is substantial. Nothing is sacred, as fake doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers and others weave their way up coveted professional ladders at the expense of the unsuspecting public. But according to DirectoryofSchools.com, informed consumers can simultaneously protect themselves and help choke off the flow of money into this illegal cesspool, shrinking the profits of these scam artists and forcing them out of business.
Silence Is Not Golden
The media has often portrayed "fake diploma" stories in the news as humorous or entertaining, bundled along with the latest celebrity tidbits. For example, a recent story in the Canadian Press was entitled, "Lawyer Claims Ohio Police Dog, Chief Have Degrees from Same Online College" (March 1, 2007). And though the article may have elicited a few chuckles, the alarm bells and indignation that should have resounded were remarkably silent.
This silence has encouraged the proliferation of charismatic con artists, armed with a little bit of knowledge and a variety of bogus college degrees. These highly-respected degrees, usually earned through years of diligent study and training, are the calling cards of our experts -- the healers, researchers, problem-solvers and quality-control specialists. We rely on their expertise and trust them when they tell us that our bodies are healthy, our cars are safe to drive, our food is safe to eat, or that the nuclear power plant nearby is safe. But when the expert is not really an expert, it is often impossible for us to see beyond the sparkling diploma on the wall.
Help For Crooks From Trusted Search Engine
Unfortunately, the problem of fake college degrees has transformed from an elusive underground threat to an online epidemic that is neither harmless nor obvious. Ultra-successful search engine Google, whose motto is "Do No Evil", allows diploma mill web sites to be listed in the top-searched education keyword results. Support from trusted media and internet sources continues to give diploma mills a public perception of credibility, especially when Google enables them to thrive financially by channeling their fraudulent scams and unwanted spam into innumerable, unsuspecting households.
Diploma mills generally hail from foreign countries and are adept at quickly reinventing themselves when exposed. They are skilled at tricking the search engine algorithms, and may be listed above reputable online degrees web sites when a specific education keyword is typed into the search engine. After all, diploma mills are in the fraud business; and without intervention from the popular media businesses behind which they hide, there is little to stop them from selling their insidious wares. Pressure from the public may help in convincing Google to end their "turn a blind eye" policy regarding these illegal profiteers. Google offers the following link for those who wish to report education spam results received from diploma mills while online: http://www.google.com/contact/spamreport.html
FBI Hits Gold Brick Wall
Popular degree mill guru, John Bear, who contributed his expertise to the FBI's DipScam (Diploma Scam) task force from 1979-1992, has authored many articles about fake college degrees. He explained that even the FBI could not stop diploma mills from operating. Why? Because there is a multi-million dollar market for their product fueled by individuals and businesses.
And because the advertising money paid by these bogus diploma mills is substantial, this money tree is picked often by widely-read newspapers and magazines. When a reputable newspaper or magazine runs an ad for a fake college next to an ad for an esteemed institution, the public is tricked into believing that both schools offer a quality education. This is a confusing and profit-driven practice by media outlets that needs to end.
What You Don't Know Can Hurt You
Not all purchasers of phony degrees can be considered to be gullible innocents, but those who are victimized often miss the warning signals indicating that something is wrong -- like paying "tuition" and doing little or no work. So naive individuals end up shelling out a few hundred to a few thousand dollars to obtain the piece of paper that proves they have arrived - a diploma. Many years later, when the 'graduate' is enjoying career success that was jump-started by that fake degree, the phony credentials are often discovered, wreaking all kinds of havoc - including job loss. Consumers must become informed about how reputable online education providers work, and the best way to search out accredited online schools. For additional specifics about how to become immune to diploma mill tactics, read the full article at DirectoryofSchools.com.
About DirectoryofSchools.com
Since 1999, DirectoryofSchools.com has connected over 21,000,000 potential students to accredited online schools and e-learning information. More than 8,000 online degrees and professional certificate programs in over 1,300 schools represent their commitment to excellence in online education through partnerships with universities, colleges and trade schools. DirectoryofSchools.com strives to insure that partner schools are reputable by utilizing an in-house verification process which reviews accreditation or vocational industry standards relevant to each school. In addition, a comprehensive national directory of high schools in the United States is available on the DirectoryofSchools.com website, along with homework help and numerous other resources. Career-minded individuals need make only one cyber-stop for all of their distance learning needs.
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