Abu Dhabi: The public prosecution in the capital has warned residents against falling for dubious pop-up advertisements and websites offering instant university degrees.
“They promise potential customers hassle-free diplomas without alerting you of the consequences. Forging and using official transcripts is punishable by up to 10 years in prison under articles 216, 217, 218 and 222,” said a public prosecution official.
The warning comes close on the heels of a two-part XPRESS investigation exposing shady education providers in the UAE and online degree mills targeting residents here. Forty of the 100 forgery cases reported so far this year relate to counterfeit academic certificates, according to Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution.
“People seek fake academic qualifications hoping to bolster their job prospects. But when these degrees are handed for attestation, they are found to be bogus and the case is referred to the public prosecution,” he said.
Of late, degree mills are devising newer ways to lure unsuspecting residents. To appear legitimate, many use pictures of UAE Rulers and nationals. Misleading taglines like GCC online and Middle East Universities are also common.
Khalid Al Maskari, head of learning and development at the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), said if any college is offering a degree within weeks, then it’s obviously fishy. “They should verify its authenticity before enrolling.”
Another HR professional urged residents to stay away from agencies offering degrees based on life experiences. “These credentials aren’t worth the paper they are printed on,” he said.
— Inputs from Razmig Bedirian
