Website sells fake degrees · Issue 873, by William Taylor

Welsh universities are said to be furious following the discovery of an internet site selling fake degrees.

A Wales on Sunday investigation found the online website to be selling fake degrees from every university in Wales, at less than £40 a time.

The website issues replica certificates which carry official university crests and authentic embossed seals.

Operating under the name ‘Fake Certificate Factory’, the site offers degrees from all of Wales’ top universities, including Cardiff, Swansea, Glamorgan, Aberystwyth and Bangor.

A section of the website reads: “We offer high quality and professional looking replicas – our fake certificates are VERY realistic.

“These fake degree awards will add an air of achievement to any home or office as they will surely fool your friends and business colleagues. Only you will know that you have a fake certificate.”

However, the website does state that the certificates should only be used for “novelty” value.

The company added: “Although they are designed to look very realistic, you – the buyer – take full responsibility for the item once it leaves our presence.”

Universities UK, which represents every university in the country, condemned the website as fraudulent and has threatened to take legal action.

Chief Executive Diana Warwick said: “The suggestion by those selling fake degree certificates that these are sold as ‘novelty’ items that should not be passed off as qualifications is as absurd as it is dishonest.

“There could be legal consequences for those who falsely produce or supply any document purporting to be from a UK university.

“We have taken a strong line on this issue in the past, including legal action against one individual, and we will continue to work to counteract those who attempt to falsify qualifications.”

Universities across Wales are now investigating the website after the investigation brought the issue to their attention.

A spokesperson for Cardiff University said: “Cardiff University takes a strong line on the issue and strongly disapproves of the production of fake degree certificates which devalue the efforts of genuine students who work hard to achieve their degrees.

“The University also provides employers, subject to consent, with verification of a student’s academic qualifications.”