Just type the keyword "do PhD" on Google, users will receive more than 76 million results in just 0.27 seconds with many websites displaying attractive advertisements such as "do PhD with standard form, guaranteed notarization" or "fast, safe, guaranteed cheap". On social networks like Facebook, this phenomenon also occurs similarly, both on fanpages and groups.
An engineering degree from the University of Technology (Ho Chi Minh City National University) is said to be fake but has a live signature and red seal just like the real thing.
ENTER INFORMATION INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM
The above reality reflects a market for fake degrees that is taking place widely and openly on the internet. This is especially alarming when recently, the case of Mr. Nguyen Truong Hai using fake master's and doctoral degrees to teach, guide graduation theses and do probationary work at a series of colleges and universities in Ho Chi Minh City and a university in Nha Trang over the past many years has caused a stir in public opinion.
To find out more, we pretended to be someone who wanted to make a fake PhD in information technology to contact an account named Q., who introduced himself as the "contact point" for many websites that accept fake degrees. Here, Q. said that it was possible to make fake degrees from intermediate, college, university to post-graduate such as master's and PhD. Specifically, a fake bachelor's degree costs 4 million VND, and a PhD degree costs 15 million VND, and any major and any school can be faked.
According to Q., each package includes 1 "real" diploma and 3 notarized copies, but no transcript. "Your side will deliver the goods in 4-5 days, no deposit required, no worries about applying for a job. When finished, you ship COD (cash on delivery), I receive and pay directly to the shipper. The real diploma from the school is leaked, live signature, live stamp, notarization is easy," Q. said firmly, but refused to show a sample photo to "keep information confidential".
We also contacted many other entities that claimed to have fake degrees. In general, to make a fake degree, they all required the same information, including personal information (full name, date of birth, ethnicity) and desired degree information (school name, major, training form, graduation year, ranking). Some parties also asked customers to submit ID photos, even photos of ID cards/CCCDs to "make sure".
The prices of PhD degrees for sale are also varied, the highest price we recorded was 15 million VND, and the lowest price was half as cheap, only... 6 million VND for a PhD degree in information technology from the University of Technology (Ho Chi Minh City National University), with the promise that the customer's degree information would also be entered into the school's system. "It mainly depends on whether you have the money to do it, but any degree is available," Zalo account PH, owner of a fanpage specializing in making fake degrees, affirmed.
The seal of the Ministry of Education and Training that the subjects specializing in forging degrees sent to the reporter
According to PH, the certificate also comes with 3 notarized documents in Ho Chi Minh City. To create trust, this person then sent us a series of different proofs, such as screenshots of other customers who gave good reviews of the service. Notably, among them was a photo of a fake seal from the Ministry of Education and Training. "My price is quite reasonable. I text many customers a day, if you do it, we will close it together," PH repeatedly urged.
As for the AL account, which specializes in making all kinds of degrees without deposit, it said that the fake degrees are made from original blanks, with "live stamps, live signatures, and 7-color genuine stamps from the Ministry of Education and Training, 99% better than the real thing". Another person promised that they could make fake degrees that were "100% accurate, guaranteed to be beautiful, and only paid after checking for accuracy".
FOREIGN HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE CAN ALSO BE... "BUYED"
Not only limited to domestic scope, students can also "buy" honorary doctorate degrees (a symbolic title, awarded by universities to individuals with outstanding contributions - PV ) from foreign organizations. Many companies even name their degrees with the word university to cheat and attract customers.
For example, on the website of the company called "California Church and University Institute" (USA), customers can choose from a variety of products from vocational training certificates to university degrees. And if they want an honorary doctorate with the name of this "school", customers only need to spend a minimum of 35 euros (1 million VND) to receive the original English version and a notarized Vietnamese translation from a "government-accredited notary".
A more sophisticated tactic is to ask for donations to pay the fee, like the "International University of Interfaith Morality" (USA). Specifically, candidates will fill out a form with personal information to be reviewed by the "honorary council". If they meet the criteria and want the degree delivered to their home, they must donate a certain amount. "Minimum 2,000 USD (48 million VND) for an honorary doctorate," the announcement stated.
Notably, according to our research, there is a unit that is directly looking for customers in Vietnam. That is "Maryland State University", which introduces itself as a vocational training university (?) and online education in the state of Maryland, USA. Accordingly, in a letter sent to a number of individuals, this unit announced that the recipients are eligible to receive an honorary doctorate. "For information on nomination documents and legal procedures, please contact our representative in Vietnam," this unit said.
However, when we looked up the list of public and private schools in Maryland, we did not find any university named "Maryland State". The website of this unit is also simply presented, not providing any information about the training program or admission regulations. Many parts of the website are still error-prone and the content about the awarding of honorary doctorates is placed in an eye-catching position.
Forging, taking international certificates?
Not stopping at the issue of degrees, many people are willing to fake international English certificates such as IELTS and TOEIC. For example, Q. quoted the price of an IELTS certificate with a total score below 6.0 at 5 million VND, and above this level at 7 million VND. For TOEIC certificates, the cost is 4 or 5 million VND respectively if the score is below or above 600 points. "The price for English certificates from A1 to C2 is 2.5 million VND/certificate," this account revealed.
International certificates are said to be fake
Meanwhile, the ML account said that fake IELTS or TOEIC certificates are both priced at 4 million VND. However, we need to deposit 1 million VND in advance. Another unit revealed that the cost of a fake IELTS certificate is 4 - 7 million VND, and a TOEIC certificate is 4.5 - 6.5 million VND, depending on the score the customer wants to achieve. "The standard form is taken from IDP and the British Council, you can look up the certificate information on the website," this side introduced.
Another form that many units promote is "taking real exams" for international English certificates, applying for both paper and computer-based exams. Accordingly, the subjects will register for the person taking the exam for the customer and the customer to take the exam at the same exam location in adjacent locations. The two will meet one day before the exam. "On the exam day, after completing the procedures and entering the exam room, you just need to sit and record the camera for about 2 minutes, then a supervisor from our side will come and change seats so that the person taking the exam for you can do the exam," an account instructed.
According to information from the test proxy advertising sites that we have recorded, the total price for an IELTS certificate with a minimum score of 6.5 (the average level set by universities in the output standards) ranges from 25 to 33 million VND and is cheaper if you choose to take the TOEIC or PTE. Many sites claim to have "insider" exam room invigilators, or "have links with test center invigilators", all at IDP test sites.
However, although the proxy exam process is the same for listening, reading, and writing skills, each entity provides a different "solution" for speaking skills. One entity said that they would provide the exam topics and questions from the invigilator 2 days in advance, requiring us to take the exam ourselves because it involves a recording microphone. Another account assured us that they would meet us a day before the exam to discuss the topics, and that we only needed to say a few sentences during the exam, "the rest will be supported by our side".
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