Scam Alert: That online degree may be fake

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Education is a huge investment that can help increase your earning power.

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However, consumer advocates advise prospective students to verify a school is legitimate before enrolling in a program.

The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) is warning of scams that can leave you with a worthless degree or certification.

How to spot a fake program before you enroll

Hawaii regulators warn people looking to boost their careers to be wary of fake college degrees. Jayson Horiuchi, administrator for DCCA’s Hawaii Postsecondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP), says a so-called diploma mill is a business built to sell credentials – not education.

He says a diploma mill “is a fraudulent operation that essentially sells fake degrees or certificates without requiring legitimate coursework.”

The cost to buyers goes beyond the fee, he says, adding that “a fake credential could ultimately hurt their employment opportunities instead of helping them.”

The red flags to look out for

The biggest warning sign, Horiuchi says, is a school that promises a degree with no real work.

He points to any school “that claims you can earn a degree without taking any classes.” Real schools, he says, work differently. “Legitimate colleges, whether they’re traditional campuses or online programs, will require meaningful coursework.”

Be skeptical of degrees offered for life or work experience alone. Accredited schools may grant limited credit for experience, Horiuchi says, but “no legitimate institution will hand out an entire degree.”

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Speed is another red flag. Programs that promise a degree in days, weeks or a couple of months should raise suspicion. Accelerated programs are real, he says, but “earning a legitimate degree still requires time and academic effort.”

How to verify a school or program is legitimate

Many legitimate online programs exist, and Horiuchi says the best protection is “making sure you do your research.”

He recommends verifying accreditation through trusted sources and points to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Navigator, a free tool that allows students to look up graduation rates, retention rates and loan default rates for a school.

The risk to the buyer

Buyers can pay a price even if they didn’t know the degree was fake. Horiuchi says “most employers, educational institutions consider it dishonest to claim credentials that weren’t legitimately earned.”

Someone already on the job isn’t safe either: “You could potentially be terminated from that position you’re already in, and then you could even possibly face legal consequences depending on the circumstances.”

If you’ve been scammed

Horiuchisays people who suspect a diploma mill, or who paid for a fake degree, should report it to the Federal Trade Commission and to the DCCA Office of Consumer Protection, which enforces the law on these schools. Complaints can be filed online at consumercomplaint.hawaii.gov.

He says “reporting these scams definitely helps investigators identify fraudulent schools and help prevent others from becoming victims as well.”

His bottom line for anyone weighing a program: “It’s really, really worth it to make sure you take that time to verify school is legitimate before you enroll.”

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For more fraud prevention resources, visit cca.hawaii.gov.