103:, UDP sent a letter to customers stating: "The policy of not disclosing the name of the University protects you against unscrupulous individuals who do not approve of self-study and lifestyle improvement." The letter also said that this was done to avoid "bad publicity".
132:
reported that email advertising "remarkably similar" to UDP's and phone solicitations using a "nearly identical" script had continued after that agreement, leading observers to think that the UDP or the
Abrahams were still operating diploma mills. The
98:
in any field requested. The
Abrahams created websites for a diverse variety of bogus institutions whose names were printed on diplomas. Customers were not told which of these "universities" would issue their degrees. According to the
752:, October 15, 2000. The reporter describes his experience obtaining a fake degree from Brentwick, whose address is actually a mail drop above a dry cleaner in London. However, the phone number he was originally given was in
397:
to obtain employment. A state investigation reported that the institution was neither recognized nor accredited in the United
Kingdom or the United States and that Shal's university diploma contained two
1146:
489:
274:
121:
in
January 2003 and amended complaints in February and May 2003. In May the FTC and Israeli government authorities shut down the call center operation in the Mea Shearim section of
125:. The FTC complaint cited "deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce". The Abrahams "turned over $ 100,000 in profits" and promised to stop selling degrees.
117:
government authorities took action against UDP and related businesses, including the illegal sale of fake international driver's licenses. The FTC filed a preliminary
310:
www.henryheston.com.cnchost.com (domain containing sites for the
University of Devonshire, Glencullen University, Harrington University, and Shelbourne University)
616:
484:
949:
819:
1099:
1151:
459:
from the
University of Devonshire. Mann subsequently resigned the post on November 7, 2011, after questions about his credentials were published.
726:
1156:
663:, January 20, 2006; among the complaints against the person cited are his claiming degrees from Ashford University and Brentwick University.
106:
The operation was estimated to have sold more than 30,000 "degrees" and received proceeds totaling $ 50 million to $ 100 million or more.
590:
522:
1061:
909:
794:
772:
660:
802:
185:
134:
586:
448:
992:(see Biography), accessed July 3, 2008. The Shelbourne degree has been discussed in Greek-language news media, including
137:
observed that some websites that appeared to be
University Degree Program "products (or clones)" remained in operation.
903:. As of 2011, an entity of the same name (but alternately calling itself Dorchester University) is using the website
656:
556:
83:
71:
59:
1080:
957:
760:; and the diploma was accompanied by a notice that credit card records would show a payment to "Hyacinth, Romania."
1043:
631:
1010:
946:
188:
stated that organizations using the "Hartford
University" name were operating from the South Pacific island of
437:
and a candidate in the 2009 elections, claims a
Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Harrington.
745:
829:
363:
876:
426:
24:
1027:
824:
479:
91:
965:
935:
899:
University of
Dorchester was identified as a clone of Strassford University c. 2003, using website
881:
Information about some degree-granting institutions not accredited by CHEA-recognized organizations
297:
110:
1161:
456:
375:
181:
926:(accessed 30 August 2011) identifies this entity as unaccredited, but does not link it to UDP.
514:
361:
from Glencullen University. Ingram has written several books and appeared on season five of
413:
394:
38:
1126:
719:
8:
74:
reported that the University Degree Program recruited "students" over the telephone from
469:
441:
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50:
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by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
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386:
46:
474:
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141:
42:
20:
977:
409:
399:
75:
358:
118:
720:"Unconventional University Diplomas Doesn't Mean it exists (PDF File)"
287:
European Committee for Home and Online Education (ECHOE: accrediting))
284:
European Council for Distance & Open Learning (ECDOL: accrediting)
346:, claimed to hold graduate degrees from the University of San Moritz
122:
587:"Information about some degree-granting institutions not accredited"
1119:
339:
296:
The following are websites used by the UDP that were closed by the
779:, Oregon Office of Degree Authorization, accessed 14 February 2012
490:
List of unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning
325:
www.universityofwexford.org (domain for the University of Wexford)
1147:
Unaccredited institutions of higher learning in the United States
904:
661:
Notice of Disqualification Proceedings and Opportunity to Explain
430:
417:
189:
79:
57:
names Yaakov and Chaya Rochel) beginning in the 1990s. In 2004,
757:
452:
371:
328:
www.westbourneuniversity.org (domain for Westbourne University)
322:
www.thornewooduniversity.org (domain for Thornewood University)
313:
www.kingsfielduniversity.org (domain for Kingsfield University)
87:
54:
390:
307:
www.brentwickuniversity.org (domain for Brentwick University)
813:
811:
349:
Leonard Ingram (AKA "Bhagwan Ra Afrika"), a self-proclaimed
19:
Not to be confused with University Consulting Inc., another
319:
www.parkwooduniversity.org (domain for Parkwood University)
316:
www.landforduniversity.org (domain for Landford University)
1100:"Brownback's IT chief resigns over questions about degree"
900:
338:
Perry Beale, who was convicted of defrauding hospitals in
275:
unrecognized accreditation associations of higher learning
1130:
854:
808:
389:
counselor, Leon Shal, was charged with several counts of
354:
304:
www.ashforduniversity.org (domain for Ashford University)
63:
called UDP the "granddaddy" of diploma mill operations.
393:
in connection with his use of a Shaftesbury University
281:
Distance Learning Council of Europe (DLCE: accrediting)
1127:
Unconventional University Diplomas from Online Vendors
485:
List of unaccredited institutions of higher learning
94:
and received performance-based bonuses, could offer
936:
Archived version of University of Hampshire website
157:The following are institutions connected to UDP.
1138:
980:, Gaia Community website, accessed April 6, 2008
423:player, lists a degree from Parkwood University.
291:
180:Hartford University not to be confused with the
147:
998:http://www.iospress.gr/extra/extra20080629.htm
994:http://www.iospress.gr/ios2008/ios20080622.htm
1129:, a presentation on an investigation of UDP.
1078:
1059:
370:Kostas S. Margaritis (Κώστας Σ. Μαργαρίτης),
1062:"Phoney degrees: Pak Law Minister not alone"
956:, Insidehighered.com, October 16, 2007, and
907:. The Oregon Office of Degree Authorization
713:
711:
709:
707:
705:
703:
701:
699:
697:
695:
693:
691:
689:
614:
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685:
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681:
679:
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673:
671:
669:
591:Oregon State Office of Degree Authorization
367:in the episode entitled "Anger Management".
1097:
402:. Shal avoided trial, but was placed in a
378:lists a degree from Shelbourne University.
332:
90:. Telephone salespeople, who were paid on
820:"Children's counselor charged with fraud"
787:
785:
666:
512:
455:on October 31, 2011, claims a degree in
1152:Unrecognized accreditation associations
617:"Recent developments with degree mills"
547:
545:
543:
541:
539:
1139:
782:
717:
82:(where the call center also sold fake
851:"Fake universities thrive on the web"
817:
803:Oregon Office of Degree Authorization
652:
650:
581:
579:
577:
575:
573:
186:Oregon Office of Degree Authorization
135:Oregon Office of Degree Authorization
1157:Education fraud in the United States
1081:"Brownback sticking by new IT chief"
536:
449:Chief Information Technology Officer
1044:George Weah in Diploma-Mill Scandal
843:
25:University of Bedfordshire, England
13:
1079:Tim Carpenter (November 8, 2011).
874:
647:
570:
433:'s parliament affiliated with the
14:
1173:
1125:Gollin, George (September 2003).
1113:
1028:Man enters ARD in counseling case
1011:Counselor held for court in fraud
958:Inspector was not what he claimed
718:Gollin, George (September 2003).
657:U.S. Food and Drug Administration
557:The Chronicle of Higher Education
519:The Chronicle of Higher Education
72:The Chronicle of Higher Education
60:The Chronicle of Higher Education
1060:Farzand Ahmed (March 28, 2010).
910:"Office of Degree Authorization"
818:Forys, Marsha (April 26, 2005).
624:College & University Journal
184:in Connecticut. As of 2012, the
109:Early in 2003 the United States
1098:John Hanna (November 8, 2011).
1091:
1072:
1053:
1037:
1020:
983:
971:
940:
929:
893:
868:
525:from the original on 2022-06-26
152:
84:international driver's licenses
49:Jason and Caroline Abraham (of
905:http://www.dorchesteru.org.uk/
763:
739:
608:
506:
268:
1:
746:Brentwick U, Best of the Rest
500:
342:by representing himself as a
292:Websites shut down by the FTC
66:
16:1990s diploma mill consortium
513:Bartlett, Tom (2004-06-25).
364:Penn & Teller: Bullshit!
161:Ashford University (London)
148:Entities associated with UDP
140:In 2009, it was listed as a
7:
463:
252:University of Palmers Green
10:
1178:
990:Kostas Margaritis' website
805:, accessed August 29, 2011
756:; he wired his payment to
18:
1120:University Degree Program
1032:Pittsburgh Tribune Review
1015:Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
825:Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
480:Educational accreditation
163:(not to be confused with
31:University Degree Program
1122:– Official website
966:Fredericksburg, Virginia
553:"The University of Spam"
515:"The University of Spam"
298:Federal Trade Commission
255:University of San Moritz
243:University of Dorchester
240:University of Devonshire
111:Federal Trade Commission
901:http://www.uoduk.co.uk/
877:"Shepperton University"
630:(2): 40, archived from
457:Business Administration
440:Jim Mann, appointed by
333:People with UDP degrees
249:University of Hampshire
1085:Topeka Capitol Journal
978:Leonard Ingram profile
727:University of Illinois
593:. 2006. Archived from
376:New Democracy (Greece)
374:politician, member of
264:Westhampton University
219:Shaftesbury University
182:University of Hartford
128:In 2004, however, the
53:; also known by their
792:Unaccredited Colleges
770:Unaccredited colleges
615:Ezell, Allen (2009),
353:specialist, claims a
261:Westbourne University
258:University of Wexford
237:University of Bedford
234:Thornewood University
225:Shepperton University
222:Shelbourne University
207:Northfield University
201:Kingsfield University
177:Harrington University
174:Glencullen University
414:President of Liberia
246:University of Dunham
231:Summerset University
213:Parkhurst University
171:Brentwick University
968:), October 14, 2007
962:The Free Lance-Star
947:Honor Among Thieves
228:Stafford University
216:Parkwood University
210:Oaklands University
204:Landford University
952:2007-10-20 at the
797:2011-05-25 at the
775:2011-05-25 at the
470:Accreditation mill
442:Governor of Kansas
404:pretrial diversion
277:connected to UDP.
273:The following are
198:Hartley University
165:Ashford University
51:Brooklyn, New York
495:Operation Dipscam
395:bachelor's degree
344:medical physicist
1169:
1108:
1107:
1104:Associated Press
1095:
1089:
1088:
1076:
1070:
1069:
1057:
1051:
1050:, April 22, 2006
1041:
1035:
1034:, April 29, 2006
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912:. Archived from
897:
891:
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875:Gollin, George.
872:
866:
865:
863:
862:
857:. 5 January 2004
847:
841:
840:
838:
837:
832:on March 6, 2007
828:. Archived from
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451:of the State of
351:anger management
194:Washington, D.C.
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1026:Chris Foreman,
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1021:
1008:
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988:
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972:
960:, by Jim Hall,
954:Wayback Machine
945:
941:
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916:on May 25, 2011
908:
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799:Wayback Machine
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559:. June 25, 2004
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507:
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435:Lebanese Forces
335:
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155:
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37:) is or was an
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1175:
1165:
1164:
1162:Counterfeiters
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1154:
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1135:
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1115:
1114:External links
1112:
1110:
1109:
1090:
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1019:
1017:, July 9, 2005
1009:Judy Kroeger,
1002:
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637:on 2012-03-13
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597:on 2006-06-27
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445:Sam Brownback
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427:Antoine Zahra
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387:mental health
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1031:
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985:
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961:
942:
931:
918:. Retrieved
914:the original
895:
884:. Retrieved
880:
870:
859:. Retrieved
845:
834:. Retrieved
830:the original
823:
765:
749:
741:
730:. Retrieved
639:, retrieved
632:the original
627:
623:
610:
599:. Retrieved
595:the original
561:. Retrieved
527:. Retrieved
518:
508:
475:Diploma mill
429:, member of
400:misspellings
383:Pennsylvania
362:
295:
272:
162:
156:
153:Institutions
142:diploma mill
139:
129:
127:
108:
105:
100:
76:call centers
70:
58:
39:unaccredited
34:
30:
29:
21:diploma mill
1066:India Today
410:George Weah
385:children's
269:Accreditors
1141:Categories
886:2020-02-17
861:2006-10-18
836:2006-10-18
732:2011-08-30
641:2012-01-31
601:2006-10-18
563:2006-10-01
529:2022-06-26
501:References
381:In 2005 a
359:philosophy
119:injunction
113:(FTC) and
92:commission
67:Operations
23:, nor the
130:Chronicle
123:Jerusalem
101:Chronicle
47:Americans
950:Archived
795:Archived
773:Archived
523:Archived
464:See also
421:football
418:Liberian
406:program.
340:Virginia
167:of Iowa)
1133:format.
920:May 17,
447:as the
431:Lebanon
190:Vanuatu
115:British
96:degrees
80:Romania
45:run by
758:Cyprus
453:Kansas
88:Israel
86:) and
55:Hebrew
723:(PDF)
635:(PDF)
620:(PDF)
391:fraud
372:Greek
996:and
922:2012
192:and
1131:PDF
855:BBC
357:in
355:PhD
78:in
35:UDP
1143::
1102:.
1083:.
1064:.
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1013:,
879:.
853:.
822:.
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801:,
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725:.
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628:85
626:,
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538:^
521:.
517:.
412:,
300:.
1106:.
1087:.
1068:.
1000:.
964:(
924:.
889:.
864:.
839:.
735:.
604:.
566:.
532:.
33:(
27:.
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