Is using a fake college degree to obtain a job illegal?

Answer 1

It is illegal, carries a stiff penalty under the law, and destroys your credibility.

Answer 2

using a fake college degree to obtain a job is illegal

Answer 3

I don't know if it's illegal or not but if a prospective employer does a background check and finds out you have a fake degree, they will not hire you. Lying on a job application is never a good idea.

Answer 4

I am shocked that you would even 'ask' this question. I am sure you already know the answer. But I will tell you something anyway....there are no short cuts to obtaining anything in this world. You can get fake this and that and perhaps no one would ever find you out, but there is always that "still, quiet voice" that will always ring out loud and clear - that what you have done is not only illegal, but clearly, wrong.

And I have learned through experience that whatever you send out - will come back to you double-fold.

It is better to be honest. Always.


Eventually, whatever is done in the dark - will come to the light.

Answer 5

It depends on which state you live in. There are some states, such as Washington, that considers listing a fake college degree on a resume fraud. However, in any state, it is legal for the employer to fire someone who lies about a significant qualification, like a degree.

Answer 6

What?
Why wouldnt it be illegal?
Its like driving without a license.
Or using a fake ID to get alcohol.

Answer 7

If some one is jobless since very long time, and have full capacity and capability to handle and control the job which in fact support his family, pay his bills, and support him -- so why not - let him carry on to manage bread and butter for him and for his dear poor family. Every body knows its not fair and not legal but this poor person what he will do??

Answer 8

Only in government jobs and licensed positions. But, if you need to tell Ms. Lohan that you're a graduate engineer to get the chauffer's job, I'd go for it!

Answer 9

of course it's illegal---as illegal as LYING ON A JOB APPLICATION would be----which by the way is big enough to get you automatically FIRED ON THE SPOT if you should GET a job... oh and be VERY aware that prospective employers eventually DO check what you have written on your job applications.... I know THIS for a fact because I worked in State Government for 35 years and watched SEVERAL people throughout the years be carted out by the POLICE for lying on their job application... one was as early as 2 years ago in my very OFFICE!!!!!!! Can you be arrested for it--probably not---but you could lose your livelihood, your retirement pension, and then your home, family ---it does have a domino affect.

Answer 10

How about getting off your lazy a** and going to college to get a degree or at least get a job without lying on your application.......ugh....people are just getting lazier and losing morals. You should be ashamed of yourself.

Answer 11

Technically... yes/no.

Read up:

United States does not have federal law that would unambiguously prohibit diploma mills, and the term "university" is not legally protected. As a result, United States is a diploma mill haven from a global viewpoint. Diploma mills are mainly found in the U.S. jurisdictions which have not adopted tough laws to prohibit them. However, some degree mills take advantage of the constitutional division by establishing themselves as ersatz Bible colleges which can legally offer degrees in religious subjects without government regulation. Nevertheless, some religious colleges and seminaries have been fined for issuing degrees without meeting educational requirements[8]. In fact it has been noted that:

“ Fraudulent educational institutions continue to proliferate. These diploma mills survive by operating in states with lax law governing schools, such as California, Utah, Hawaii and Louisiana. They assume identities of well-known schools or as "religious" organizations. Because of constitutional safeguards in the United States guarantee separation of church and state, most states have been reluctant to pass any laws restricting the activities of churches, including their right to grant degrees. John Bear has asked, "What about a school that requires a five-page dissertation before awarding the Doctorate? Nobody seems to want the government stepping in to evaluate doctoral dissertations before permitting schools to grant degrees."[9] ”

Although the DipScam operation in the 1980s led to a decline in diploma mill activity across the United States, the lack of further action by law enforcement, uneven state laws, and the rise of the Internet have combined to reverse many of the gains made in previous years.

A 2002 Seattle Times article noted that some believed Wyoming had "become a haven for diploma mills."[10] Conversely, "Oregon, New Jersey, and North Dakota have adopted tough laws that include fines and jail time for using fake degrees to gain employment."[11]

In 2004, a housecat named Colby Nolan was awarded an "Executive MBA" by Texas-based Trinity Southern University. The cat belonged to a deputy attorney general looking into allegations of fraud by the school. The cat's application was originally for a Bachelor of Business Administration, but due to the cat's "qualifications" (including work experience in fast-food and as a paperboy) the school offered to upgrade the degree to an Executive MBA for an additional $100. As a result of this incident, the Pennsylvania attorney general has filed suit against the school.

In February 2005, the US Department of Education launched www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation to combat the spread of fraudulent degrees.[12]

The state of Washington passed a bill[13] in March 2006 "prohibiting false or misleading college degrees."[14] The law was approved and introduced penalties of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for knowingly granting or promoting an uncredited award. In Tennessee, a law that took effect in July 2004 made diploma mill degrees illegal, but the state does not have an agency or authority to investigate.[15]

Similarly, Wyoming passed a law requiring a post-secondary institution granting degrees to Wyoming citizens to be accredited, or to be a candidate for accreditation. (There is an exemption for religious schools.) [16]

In June 2006 the "NCAA has been scrutinizing the standards of nontraditional high schools to identify 'diploma mills'."[17] Reportedly this started when "The New York Times exposed University High in Miami."[18] Currently, there are 22 schools that are under review to make sure they meet NCAA requirements.[19]

So, if you go about getting the fake paperwork properly, then you can usually get away with it. However, this is something they're cracking down on.