The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that the University Degree Program recruited "students" over the telephone from call centersinRomania (where the call center also sold fake international driver's licenses) and Israel. Telephone salespeople, who were paid on commission and received performance-based bonuses, could offer degrees 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 Chronicle, 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".[2]
The operation was estimated to have sold more than 30,000 "degrees" and received proceeds totaling $50 million to $100 million or more.[2]
Early in 2003 the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and British government authorities took action against UDP and related businesses, including the illegal sale of fake international driver's licenses. The FTC filed a preliminary injunction in January 2003 and amended complaints in February and May 2003.[3] In May the FTC and Israeli government authorities shut down the call center operation in the Mea Shearim section of Jerusalem.[2] 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.[2]
In 2004, however, the Chronicle 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.[2] The Oregon Office of Degree Authorization observed that some websites that appeared to be University Degree Program "products (or clones)" remained in operation.[3]
In 2009, it was listed as a diploma mill by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.[4]
www.ashforduniversity.org (domain for Ashford University)
www.brentwickuniversity.org (domain for Brentwick University)
www.henryheston.com.cnchost.com (domain containing sites for the University of Devonshire, Glencullen University, Harrington University, and Shelbourne University)
www.kingsfielduniversity.org (domain for Kingsfield University)
www.landforduniversity.org (domain for Landford University)
www.parkwooduniversity.org (domain for Parkwood University)
www.thornewooduniversity.org (domain for Thornewood University)
www.universityofwexford.org (domain for the University of Wexford)
www.westbourneuniversity.org (domain for Westbourne University)
Perry Beale, who was convicted of defrauding hospitals in Virginia by representing himself as a medical physicist, claimed to hold graduate degrees from the University of San Moritz [15]
Leonard Ingram (AKA "Bhagwan Ra Afrika"), a self-proclaimed anger management specialist, claims a PhDinphilosophy from Glencullen University.[16] Ingram has written several books and appeared on season five of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! in the episode entitled "Anger Management".
Kostas S. Margaritis (Κώστας Σ. Μαργαρίτης), Greek politician, member of New Democracy (Greece) lists a degree from Shelbourne University.[17]
In 2005 a Pennsylvania children's mental health counselor, Leon Shal, was charged with several counts of fraud in connection with his use of a Shaftesbury University bachelor's degree 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 misspellings.[10][18] Shal avoided trial, but was placed in a pretrial diversion program.[19]
Antoine Zahra, member of Lebanon's parliament affiliated with the Lebanese Forces and a candidate in the 2009 elections, claims a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Harrington.[21]
^Bartlett, Tom (2004-06-25). "The University of Spam". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Archived from the original on 2022-06-26. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
^Brentwick U, Best of the Rest[dead link], Washington Post, 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 New York City; he wired his payment to Cyprus; and the diploma was accompanied by a notice that credit card records would show a payment to "Hyacinth, Romania."
^Gollin, George. "Shepperton University". Information about some degree-granting institutions not accredited by CHEA-recognized organizations. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
^University of Dorchester was identified as a clone of Strassford University c. 2003, using website http://www.uoduk.co.uk/. As of 2011, an entity of the same name (but alternately calling itself Dorchester University) is using the website http://www.dorchesteru.org.uk/. The Oregon Office of Degree Authorization "Office of Degree Authorization". Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2012. (accessed 30 August 2011) identifies this entity as unaccredited, but does not link it to UDP.
