114:, UDP sent a letter to customers stating: "The policy of not disclosing the name of the University protects you against unscrupulous individuals who do not approve of self-study and lifestyle improvement." The letter also said that this was done to avoid "bad publicity".
143:
reported that email advertising "remarkably similar" to UDP's and phone solicitations using a "nearly identical" script had continued after that agreement, leading observers to think that the UDP or the
Abrahams were still operating diploma mills. The
109:
in any field requested. The
Abrahams created websites for a diverse variety of bogus institutions whose names were printed on diplomas. Customers were not told which of these "universities" would issue their degrees. According to the
1157:
763:, October 15, 2000. The reporter describes his experience obtaining a fake degree from Brentwick, whose address is actually a mail drop above a dry cleaner in London. However, the phone number he was originally given was in
500:
285:
408:
to obtain employment. A state investigation reported that the institution was neither recognized nor accredited in the United
Kingdom or the United States and that Shal's university diploma contained two
132:
in
January 2003 and amended complaints in February and May 2003. In May the FTC and Israeli government authorities shut down the call center operation in the Mea Shearim section of
495:
136:. The FTC complaint cited "deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce". The Abrahams "turned over $ 100,000 in profits" and promised to stop selling degrees.
1162:
128:
government authorities took action against UDP and related businesses, including the illegal sale of fake international driver's licenses. The FTC filed a preliminary
737:
321:
www.henryheston.com.cnchost.com (domain containing sites for the
University of Devonshire, Glencullen University, Harrington University, and Shelbourne University)
1167:
627:
601:
960:
830:
1110:
470:
from the
University of Devonshire. Mann subsequently resigned the post on November 7, 2011, after questions about his credentials were published.
813:
196:
145:
674:, January 20, 2006; among the complaints against the person cited are his claiming degrees from Ashford University and Brentwick University.
459:
117:
The operation was estimated to have sold more than 30,000 "degrees" and received proceeds totaling $ 50 million to $ 100 million or more.
533:
667:
567:
82:
70:
94:
1072:
920:
805:
783:
671:
597:
1003:(see Biography), accessed July 3, 2008. The Shelbourne degree has been discussed in Greek-language news media, including
148:
observed that some websites that appeared to be
University Degree Program "products (or clones)" remained in operation.
914:. As of 2011, an entity of the same name (but alternately calling itself Dorchester University) is using the website
374:
1091:
968:
771:; and the diploma was accompanied by a notice that credit card records would show a payment to "Hyacinth, Romania."
437:
35:
1054:
835:
642:
490:
102:
1021:
976:
957:
308:
199:
stated that organizations using the "Hartford
University" name were operating from the South Pacific island of
121:
448:
and a candidate in the 2009 elections, claims a
Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Harrington.
756:
1172:
840:
467:
386:
192:
887:
1038:
424:
405:
49:
946:
910:
University of
Dorchester was identified as a clone of Strassford University c. 2003, using website
892:
Information about some degree-granting institutions not accredited by CHEA-recognized organizations
480:
452:
414:
175:
61:
937:(accessed 30 August 2011) identifies this entity as unaccredited, but does not link it to UDP.
505:
431:
525:
372:
from Glencullen University. Ingram has written several books and appeared on season five of
361:
204:
1137:
964:
809:
787:
730:
445:
354:
106:
85:
reported that the University Degree Program recruited "students" over the telephone from
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by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
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988:
350:
441:
428:
200:
90:
731:"Unconventional University Diplomas Doesn't Mean it exists (PDF File)"
298:
European Committee for Home and Online Education (ECHOE: accrediting))
295:
European Council for Distance & Open Learning (ECDOL: accrediting)
768:
463:
382:
357:, claimed to hold graduate degrees from the University of San Moritz
98:
65:
598:"Information about some degree-granting institutions not accredited"
1130:
307:
The following are websites used by the UDP that were closed by the
790:, Oregon Office of Degree Authorization, accessed 14 February 2012
501:
List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning
401:
336:
www.universityofwexford.org (domain for the University of Wexford)
1158:
Unaccredited institutions of higher learning in the United States
915:
672:
Notice of Disqualification Proceedings and Opportunity to Explain
68:
names Yaakov and Chaya Rochel) beginning in the 1990s. In 2004,
339:
www.westbourneuniversity.org (domain for Westbourne University)
333:
www.thornewooduniversity.org (domain for Thornewood University)
324:
www.kingsfielduniversity.org (domain for Kingsfield University)
1141:
865:
365:
318:
www.brentwickuniversity.org (domain for Brentwick University)
824:
822:
360:
Leonard Ingram (AKA "Bhagwan Ra Afrika"), a self-proclaimed
30:
Not to be confused with University Consulting Inc., another
330:
www.parkwooduniversity.org (domain for Parkwood University)
327:
www.landforduniversity.org (domain for Landford University)
1111:"Brownback's IT chief resigns over questions about degree"
911:
349:
Perry Beale, who was convicted of defrauding hospitals in
286:
unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning
400:
counselor, Leon Shal, was charged with several counts of
315:
www.ashforduniversity.org (domain for Ashford University)
74:
called UDP the "granddaddy" of diploma mill operations.
404:
in connection with his use of a Shaftesbury University
292:
Distance Learning Council of Europe (DLCE: accrediting)
1138:
Unconventional University Diplomas from Online Vendors
496:
List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
105:
and received performance-based bonuses, could offer
947:
Archived version of University of Hampshire website
168:The following are institutions connected to UDP.
991:, Gaia Community website, accessed April 6, 2008
434:player, lists a degree from Parkwood University.
191:Hartford University not to be confused with the
1009:http://www.iospress.gr/extra/extra20080629.htm
1005:http://www.iospress.gr/ios2008/ios20080622.htm
1140:, a presentation on an investigation of UDP.
381:Kostas S. Margaritis (Κώστας Σ. Μαργαρίτης),
8:
1073:"Phoney degrees: Pak Law Minister not alone"
967:, Insidehighered.com, October 16, 2007, and
918:. The Oregon Office of Degree Authorization
724:
722:
720:
718:
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698:
696:
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690:
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686:
684:
682:
680:
602:Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization
378:in the episode entitled "Anger Management".
413:. Shal avoided trial, but was placed in a
389:lists a degree from Shelbourne University.
101:. Telephone salespeople, who were paid on
831:"Children's counselor charged with fraud"
798:
796:
466:on October 31, 2011, claims a degree in
1163:Unrecognized accreditation associations
628:"Recent developments with degree mills"
558:
556:
554:
552:
550:
516:
93:(where the call center also sold fake
862:"Fake universities thrive on the web"
814:Oregon Office of Degree Authorization
663:
661:
592:
590:
588:
586:
584:
197:Oregon Office of Degree Authorization
146:Oregon Office of Degree Authorization
7:
1168:Education fraud in the United States
1092:"Brownback sticking by new IT chief"
460:Chief Information Technology Officer
1055:George Weah in Diploma-Mill Scandal
36:University of Bedfordshire, England
1090:Tim Carpenter (November 8, 2011).
444:'s parliament affiliated with the
25:
1136:Gollin, George (September 2003).
1039:Man enters ARD in counseling case
1022:Counselor held for court in fraud
969:Inspector was not what he claimed
729:Gollin, George (September 2003).
668:U.S. Food and Drug Administration
568:The Chronicle of Higher Education
530:The Chronicle of Higher Education
83:The Chronicle of Higher Education
71:The Chronicle of Higher Education
1071:Farzand Ahmed (March 28, 2010).
921:"Office of Degree Authorization"
829:Forys, Marsha (April 26, 2005).
635:College & University Journal
195:in Connecticut. As of 2012, the
120:Early in 2003 the United States
1109:John Hanna (November 8, 2011).
536:from the original on 2022-06-26
95:international driver's licenses
60:Jason and Caroline Abraham (of
916:http://www.dorchesteru.org.uk/
1:
757:Brentwick U, Best of the Rest
353:by representing himself as a
303:Websites shut down by the FTC
27:1990s diploma mill consortium
524:Bartlett, Tom (2004-06-25).
375:Penn & Teller: Bullshit!
172:Ashford University (London)
159:Entities associated with UDP
151:In 2009, it was listed as a
263:University of Palmers Green
1189:
1001:Kostas Margaritis' website
816:, accessed August 29, 2011
767:; he wired his payment to
29:
1131:University Degree Program
1043:Pittsburgh Tribune Review
1026:Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
836:Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
491:Educational accreditation
174:(not to be confused with
42:University Degree Program
1133:– Official website
977:Fredericksburg, Virginia
564:"The University of Spam"
526:"The University of Spam"
309:Federal Trade Commission
266:University of San Moritz
254:University of Dorchester
251:University of Devonshire
122:Federal Trade Commission
912:http://www.uoduk.co.uk/
888:"Shepperton University"
641:(2): 40, archived from
468:Business Administration
451:Jim Mann, appointed by
344:People with UDP degrees
260:University of Hampshire
1096:Topeka Capitol Journal
989:Leonard Ingram profile
738:University of Illinois
604:. 2006. Archived from
387:New Democracy (Greece)
385:politician, member of
275:Westhampton University
230:Shaftesbury University
193:University of Hartford
139:In 2004, however, the
64:; also known by their
803:Unaccredited Colleges
781:Unaccredited colleges
626:Ezell, Allen (2009),
364:specialist, claims a
272:Westbourne University
269:University of Wexford
248:University of Bedford
245:Thornewood University
236:Shepperton University
233:Shelbourne University
218:Northfield University
212:Kingsfield University
188:Harrington University
185:Glencullen University
18:Thornewood University
425:President of Liberia
257:University of Dunham
242:Summerset University
224:Parkhurst University
182:Brentwick University
979:), October 14, 2007
973:The Free Lance-Star
958:Honor Among Thieves
239:Stafford University
227:Parkwood University
221:Oaklands University
215:Landford University
963:2007-10-20 at the
808:2011-05-25 at the
786:2011-05-25 at the
481:Accreditation mill
453:Governor of Kansas
415:pretrial diversion
288:connected to UDP.
284:The following are
209:Hartley University
176:Ashford University
62:Brooklyn, New York
506:Operation Dipscam
406:bachelor's degree
355:medical physicist
16:(Redirected from
1180:
1119:
1118:
1115:Associated Press
1106:
1100:
1099:
1087:
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1061:, April 22, 2006
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886:Gollin, George.
883:
877:
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873:
868:. 5 January 2004
858:
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851:
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843:on March 6, 2007
839:. Archived from
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462:of the State of
362:anger management
205:Washington, D.C.
21:
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1037:Chris Foreman,
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971:, by Jim Hall,
965:Wayback Machine
956:
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927:on May 25, 2011
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788:Wayback Machine
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570:. June 25, 2004
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446:Lebanese Forces
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48:) is or was an
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1173:Counterfeiters
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1125:External links
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1028:, July 9, 2005
1020:Judy Kroeger,
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438:Antoine Zahra
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929:. Retrieved
925:the original
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895:. Retrieved
891:
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870:. Retrieved
856:
845:. Retrieved
841:the original
834:
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741:. Retrieved
650:, retrieved
643:the original
638:
634:
621:
610:. Retrieved
606:the original
572:. Retrieved
538:. Retrieved
529:
519:
486:Diploma mill
440:, member of
411:misspellings
394:Pennsylvania
373:
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283:
173:
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164:Institutions
153:diploma mill
150:
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119:
116:
111:
87:call centers
81:
69:
50:unaccredited
45:
41:
40:
32:diploma mill
1077:India Today
421:George Weah
396:children's
280:Accreditors
1152:Categories
897:2020-02-17
872:2006-10-18
847:2006-10-18
743:2011-08-30
652:2012-01-31
612:2006-10-18
574:2006-10-01
540:2022-06-26
512:References
392:In 2005 a
370:philosophy
130:injunction
124:(FTC) and
103:commission
78:Operations
34:, nor the
141:Chronicle
134:Jerusalem
112:Chronicle
58:Americans
961:Archived
806:Archived
784:Archived
534:Archived
475:See also
432:football
429:Liberian
417:program.
351:Virginia
178:of Iowa)
1144:format.
931:May 17,
458:as the
442:Lebanon
201:Vanuatu
126:British
107:degrees
91:Romania
56:run by
769:Cyprus
464:Kansas
99:Israel
97:) and
66:Hebrew
734:(PDF)
646:(PDF)
631:(PDF)
402:fraud
383:Greek
1007:and
933:2012
203:and
1142:PDF
866:BBC
368:in
366:PhD
89:in
46:UDP
1154::
1113:.
1094:.
1075:.
1057:,
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1024:,
890:.
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833:.
821:^
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736:.
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311:.
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1079:.
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975:(
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543:.
44:(
38:.
20:)
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