How do I spot a fake degree or educational credential service?
Fake degree mills sell worthless diplomas from invented or unaccredited institutions — verify any qualification by checking the institution's accreditation with the relevant national body.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Degree mills are organisations that sell academic degrees and diplomas with little or no academic study required. They operate online, often from jurisdictions with minimal oversight, and produce convincing documents bearing the name of a fictitious university or one registered in a state with no meaningful quality control.
Some degree mills impersonate real universities. Others invent names designed to sound prestigious (British University of Advanced Sciences, International College of Management) and register as companies rather than as educational institutions. A third type exploits the existence of genuine foreign institutions by issuing certificates that have no relationship to the named university.
The harm is twofold: to the purchaser (who may rely on a worthless credential to seek employment or professional registration, only to have it discovered) and to employers and the public who are misled about a person's qualifications.
In the UK, accredited universities are listed on the UK Register of Learning Providers (ukrlp.co.uk) and recognised by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). In the US, accreditation is carried out by bodies recognised by the Department of Education (ed.gov). If an institution's accreditor is not listed in these databases, the qualification has no recognised standing.
Common red flags
- Degree awarded based on 'life experience' rather than academic study
- Institution is not listed on an official national register of recognised providers
- Process is entirely online with no real coursework, exams, or attendance
- Diploma issued within days or weeks of payment
- Institution name cannot be found in press, alumni communities, or academic literature
- Accreditation claimed from bodies not recognised by official national authorities
What to do now
- Verify any institution on the UK Register of Learning Providers or the US Department of Education database
- Check the accrediting body's own recognition status before trusting it
- Report suspected degree mills to the QAA (UK) or to accreditation authorities in the relevant country
- If you already purchased a credential, seek advice from a legitimate career counsellor about genuine qualification pathways
Frequently asked questions
Can an employer detect a fake degree?
Many employers use verification services that contact the institution or check against accredited institution databases. Fake degrees from unrecognised institutions are increasingly identified, with serious consequences for the holder.
Is buying a degree illegal?
In many jurisdictions, using a fake or unaccredited degree to gain employment or professional registration is fraud. Simply purchasing one may also be illegal depending on the country.
What is an accreditation mill?
An accreditation mill is a fake accrediting body set up to give an appearance of legitimacy to degree mills. It has no recognition from genuine national education authorities.