UNIVERSITY DIPLOMAS!
Obtain a prosperous future, money earning power, and the admiration of all!
Diplomas from prestigious non accredited universities based on your present knowledge and life experience.
NO required tests ,classes, books or interviews.
Bachelors, Masters, M.B.A or Doctorate (P.H.D)
Diplomas available in the field of your choice!
Confidentiality assured.
Call NOW to receive your diploma within DAYS!! 24 hours 7 days a week
(March 13, 2003) There must be more such universities. Today I received another offer. The difference is that they say that nobody is turned down (there was no such assurance in the previous one). For your benefit(?) it is listed below:
Please note that it is NOT a toll-free number.
(April 9, 2003) It is getting more and more interesting. I just got another offer. As usual, they do not give the name of the prestigeous institution so we do not know if it is just the same School(?), or something else. Anyway, here is another one. It is not toll-free, judging from the area code.
They advertize being at your service 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. I wonder if priority mail delivery is available.
(May 5, 2003) I am getting more of these announcements. It must be a thriving business. I contemplate a small outfit of my own. But maybe there would be a conflict of interest (after all I am employed by a bona fide university myself, so it would be an unfair competition). Anyway, I just received yet another one.
(May 9, 2003) It gets better. Today I received more of these ads. One was from Argentina. It looks like they do this very cheap. Here is the schedule: Bachelor's Degree: $149 (standard) and 209 (deluxe). It grows with Masters, Executive (?) MBA and finally here is a schedule for Ph.D.: Standard $299, deluxe $399. And for additional $129 they offer a transcript.
(June 1, 2003) It looks like it got into regular spammers' business (cheap medicine, child pornography, and like). Here is a number I got today:
(July 26, 2003) They have a healthy competition! I just got this spam that argues that diplomas are the matter of prestige. They are absolutely right. B.t.w., legitimate universities are in this business since ages. Think about "doctorates honoris causa" that most legitimate schools confer (often) upon the people who contribute 7-digit donations. Anyway, here is the newest number.
(October 10, 2003) I thought that they gave up, but - presto -
here is another one. To quote: "No books, tests or interviews.. no
classes either. Call us 24h a day, 7 days a week (including Sundays
and holidays)". These ones must be desperate!
Here is their number, call at your own risk.
(November 14, 2003) This one is better. It offers diplomas, but casts it in a different manner. It offer "Life Evaluation and Assessment Program" (LEAP for short). And then you can (quote) "graduate through our Fast-Track Degree Program in as little as 3 months". Now, does it mean they will keep your money for three months (interest free) before they send you a diploma? Try for yourself, and of course at your own risk.
(December 11, 2003) Here is another one, a classic spam. Since, aparently, anti-Spam software eliminates offers of diplomas, this one uses the technique of putting a lot of junk that is unreadable for browsers. Their offer: "No required tests! No classes! No books!". They offer Ph.D. too. 24/7, as usual. Enjoy, and call at your own risk:
(January 23, 2004). I was wondering whether the market dried out and it was finished, but pronto a new message. But it is the same vendor! Except that it promises more. To quote: "Degree verification and official transcripts provided when requested by employers and others authorized by the graduate." And then: "Confidentiality assured". Finally (and I like it most): "We will break down the wall that has held your earning power back." Some breaking...
(February 4, 2004). Here is a new one. They introduce a new element: not only all kinds of degrees (including Ph.D.) are offered, but they promise some form of internationalization. Maybe the diplomas are in more than one language? Or just one language, except that it can be chosen? Anyway, here is the contact. Call at your own risk but remember, it is not toll-free:
(March 6, 2004) I just got another one. The anti-spam programs now look for the offerers of diplomas. To pass through the filter this one uses several tricks. First, it puts many characters that are HTML-unprintable. To fool the programs more, it puts a large number of words that are not offensive. All this in expectation that the filter will be fooled. It was not - I got a clear warning message. I like the obviously spammish character of this offer. It is characteristic that it is part of a well-defined club: cheap (probably fake) medicine, fake wealth, offensive morals, and now fake diplomas.
There was one new element. Here not only are they available 24/7, but also they say (quote) "We are located in USA, international callers are very welcome." They now go global, I think...
As in the other cases, here is a non-toll-free number:
(March 12) A new one. Here is the most interesting fragment: "In 18 years as a professional movie critic, I've never gotten the response that I had this week to... " Movie critic? In the diploma business? This is positively new.
And the number (judging from the format non-toll-free) is:
(March 30, 2004) A new(?) one. The reason I am suspicious is clear when you compare the new number and the previous one:
(April 14, 2004) These guys must have reserved a block of phone numbers! Here is a new number (but same content):
(April 23, 2004) New one, new one!
(June 4, 2004) This week I received two mailings, nothing spectacular, just "confidentiality assured", "24/7" etc. Here are the numbers, all new, but are these guys new, or they just change the numbers?
(June 16, 2004) Here is a new one. Usual 7/24 etc. But there is one small thing, worrisome for me. The number in this one has the area code 859 (i.e. UKY). This is the area code of Lexington, KY, where my university is. Now, is it one of our cherished alumni, or maybe one of my faculty colleagues doing some quick business on the side? Hopefully not, but how do I know... Anyway, enjoy the opportunity at your own risk. For me, at least, it would be a local call.
(June 18, 2004) New twist, a spam "College Diplomas for AOL Members". Now, this is definitely a new idea.
(June 20, 2004) More are coming. There must be a healthy competition among providers of these services(?). This one offers a new element. They provide (it is not clear if this is included, or if you need to pay separately) a Letter of Recommendation. It amazes me how anyone would want to get anything like this. But come think about it, the honorary degrees come with something similar. So maybe it is not so absurd. Anyway here is the number (most likely not toll-free).
(June 24, 2004) Suddenly three numbers in one day! What could it mean? The cost of a line, possibly with forwarding should be rather low, maybe twenty-thirty dollars per month. Then (I guess) an answering service (after all it is always 24/7). Somewhere I read that a diploma may cost a couple of thousands dollars. So the economics is clear. But the clientele? Since we are dealing with a flight-by-night operations I guess that the operators of the mills that triggered this page are no longer there. So if you need that diploma use the more current ones. Enjoy, it certainly is not free.
(June 28, 2004) New stuff. Several copies in the mail. These ones are quite strange. On one hand they do the classic spam stuff, defending against weaker spam filters - putting a number of strange strings (on the premise that filter will think it is in some unknown language (Polish?)). But they also do something new. They will not deliver the diploma overnight. In fact you have to wait a month, while you are taking part in their "accelerated program". Ah, the power of second derivative (displacement-velocity-acceleration). Here is the phone number, as usual not toll-free.
(December 28, 2004, 2004). The trafic almost stopped. But here is one interesting, related news. The following was published as one of leading news on AOL. I have no means to verify this, but it is cute.
Did you hear the one about the cat that earned an MBA online? No, it's not the latest watercooler joke, it's actually the basis behind a lawsuit filed in early December against Trinity Southern University, a front for a school run by two Texas brothers accused of selling fake degrees and prescription drugs using spam e-mail. The "school," which offered no classes, allegedly awarded a master of business administration degree to a deputy attorney general's 6-year-old cat for $299. You may think you have your pick of the litter with the increasing number of colleges and universities offering online degree and certificate programs, but stand forewarned. Not every school is reputable. The key when exploring elearning options is to understand accreditation and all of its intricacies. "Schools will advertise that they're accredited, which is what everyone's looking for," says Steven Shapiro, vice president, marketing and communications, Jones International University (Englewood, Colo.). "But what does that mean?"
(December 29, 2004). I was a pessimist. Here is another one. Judging from area code it is not toll-free. Call at your own risk.
(January 1, 2005) What a nice way to start 2005!. I received today another spam offering all sorts of diplomas for sale. Instead of the phone numbers a URL was displayed. Becauses of possible consequences (spyware, who knows what else), I just list its domain. What a beauty: oxxFord.info. The double-x is for the intended audience; one x more, one less, who cares.
(January 18, 2005). Apparently, the press got interested in the fake diplomas scandals. Look at a piece about the problem. Enjoy, a nice story. The bio of the subject of that article, Dr. Laura L. Callahan (Ph.D. in Computer Information Systems) can be seen here. It appears she has been (were?) a member of (quote) National Security Telecommunications and Information Systems Security Committee. My goodness!
I googled the string "Diplomas", and got a phenomenal reference to a page created by a physicist from the University of Illinois. He did a very thorough job. Enjoy, it is very well written and very entertaining. Like the case of "Dr" C. above it is very disturbing.
(June 7, 2005) It looked the diploma mills died, But suddenly here is a new one. Before you look at their offer make sure your anti-spyware is in place. Who knows. The new element is a quote from President Thodore Roosevelt. He must be turning in his grave. Notice the spelling in the key word - it is not my misspelling, it is their attempt to get through spam filters.
Here is the text I received:
You already graduated and have lots of D'plomas in many subjects but there's just one that you're missing and you're too busy to go back to school to get it. If that's the only thing holding you back from the nicer office and better hours then this is for you
HTTP://Anibal.aIkK99.CoM
The chief factor in any man's success or failure must be his own
character
- Theodore Roosevelt
(June 17 2005) They are ok, just fine. Here is another one (not that I tried).The original content enclosed in ***
***Instant Dploma in just 5 days
HTTP://Cristina.mynewdg.inFO
for immediate expungement go here : HTTP://Cristina.MYnewDG.InFo/re
Only intuition can save you from the most dangerous individual of all, the articulate incompetent. - Robert Bernstein ***
(Of course you do NOT want to do expungement, this will just confirm you read it, and you will get a ton of other spam).
I tried to google Robert Bernstein. There are numerous, including actors, hair-loss advisors(?), lawyers, psychologists etc. None appears to be involved in a diploma mill.
(June 24 2005) Looks it is the same bunch. They again have just URL and a quote. It claims to originate at Technical University of Vienna, Austria, great place. But it is unlikely. May be the spammers broke into an account there?
Subject: no studying, no books, no classes
Are you lacking academic certification? Is it stopping you from getting a decent job?
http://davy.AiKK99.COM
no future mailing: http://8.AIKK99.com
Go back a little to leap further. - John Clarke
I googled John Clarke. There are/were many. Those include:Master Mate on the ship Mayflower, a physicist, an artist ("John can draw anything") and more.
(June 27, 2005) Here is a new one, came from China. Outsourcing in diploma mills? Read below:
Don't be passing up good jobs just because you lack the appropriate education. Take advantage of an online education.
HTTP://Caitlin.smartwho.info
(And then they write:)
Know thine opportunity. - Pittacus
In fact, Pittacus, one of seven sages of Ancient Greece, supposedly
said: "Know the right moment". A deep, deep statement. Maybe they just
interprete the same aphorism.
(September 9). Looks like I am not up-to-date. Here are two new opportunities(?)
One claims that there is a "loophole allowing some established colleges to award degrees at their discretion". Some loophole! These guys (very nice page!) promise 100% verifiable degrees. Ah! and you can save $200K too! The offer includes matching transcripts (meaning that the buyer is a crook - the sellers can print what they want, of course).
http://www.onemoreshot.info (That page redirected to another one, b.t.w.)
Here is another one. I did not make it up.
Good jobs require a universityy education. Now you can get one in just a few days, and you'll also get that paper on your wall!
http://cackle.BrAiNsFoReVeR.InFo
Remeber the guys that were quoting all sorts of things, including Pittacus? Here is another one from them (I believe).
The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed
Wow!
(October 10) Here is a couple of new ones. The first one is from: http://www.clu3less.net/dip/future.asp. Did you notice the previous one (starting with cackle)? This one is from clu3less (3 like in TV series Numb3rs). These guys claim to be in business since 1957. It is signed by "Professor. Sophia Worley" (I did not put this "." myself!). A quick search on WWW found one Sophia Worley buried in Tennessee. The spammers claim that "Through established relationships with distinguished Universities and Colleges, we can help you too". Maybe they can. Miracles happen. Then there was an almost identical spam, this time from "Professor. Reed Larsen"
(October 10). There is yet another one, this one with the phone. Judging from area code it is not toll-free. Call at your own risk.
These guys promise: "Within 2 weeks! No Study Required! Verifiable!
But they are cautious: "These are real, genuine non accredited degrees that include Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees."
And then: "They are verifiable and student records and transcripts are also available."
Finally: "This little known secret has been kept quiet for years. The opportunity exists due to a legal loophole allowing some established colleges to award degrees at their discretion."
This is similar to September 9 guys. Could they be the same?
(October 20, 2005). Here is a new mail. Judging from the phone number these could be the same guys (of September 9, and 10). They offer a diploma from "PRESTIGIOUS NON-ACCREDITED UNIVERSITIES BASED ON YOUR PRESENT KNOWLEDGE AND LIFE EXPERIENCE".
They do not, however, include the loophole message, so it is not clear if those are the same crooks.
B.t.w. judging from area code it is not toll-free. Call at your own risk.
(October 25, 2005). I sometimes wonder. Here is a phone number from another spam. Two intersting item. First, the body of the message was identical, save for the telephone number, see below. Second, the body itself (like the previous spam) contained BOTH instructions for the spammer, and the data. But the spammer sent it without eliminating her/his instruction. And the number is:
And EXACTLY the same body, except for the number:
These past spams have an interesting aspect. Phone lines cost. There must be enough of paying customers to support maintanance of these lines. It may be that the Seattle has exceptionally low phone line costs, but still....
(October 27) More of Seattle, and likely of same guys. Here is how they lure the customers (unsuspecting is not an appropriate adjective here):
URGENT
A Genuine College Degree in 2 Weeks
Have you ever thought that the only thing stopping you from a a great job and better pay was a few letters behind your name?
Well now you can get them.
BA-BSc-MA-MSc-MBA-PHD
-Within 2 weeks-
-No Study Required-
-1oo% Verifiable-
And then the write about some loophole (we heard it before). And finally the number:
I wish someone would seriously study poetics of those messages.
(November 11, 2005) New one!, this is one from people who gave us Pittacus.
http://www.FAsterLEARning.INfo
Here is why I think it is from them: "Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what's right." Ah, that sense of morals....
(December 8, 2005) Here is a few that came in the last couple of days. There is one that says "It is never too leate (sic!) to get a certification (MBA,PHD,BA and more)...". This is the one with the 206 (Seattle) area code:
Then there is this one: http://uk.geocities.com/Micky82610Irvin70146/ This must be one of "Pittacus" variety, because they have this dictum: "Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." On the other hand, they give geocities URL. I am sure it will be gone in days. (In fact it is already gone.)
The next one says that the offer is sent to me by "private nomination". Must be one of my students. I would not be that surprised.
To quote these guys: "Leave us a message at 1-206-338-3579 if you are interested. " and then signature: "Anthony Ivey, MBA, PhD, Admission Officer" He must have gotten the titles at a discount.
Then there was yet another spam with the same phone number, but it was signed with a different signature: Robert Gonzalez, MBA, PhD.
Any calls at your own risk.
(January 1, 2006) Seattle people strike again! First I had a bunch of 338-3579 mail. They were just signed by different names. Here they are: Tyler Champagne (I am not making this up!), Matt Calvert, PhD, and Rupert Quick. BSc,PhD. Then, there was a mail from Poland (!) but the phone number was Seattle.
(January 20, 2006) Seattle people (same number!) advertize again. In the past they changed the phone numbers, but now it is the same. The admission officer disappeared but now they give you a Client Identification. How very clever; if you identify yourself they will be able to sell your address as confirmed.
(February 6, 2006) Seattle people (new number, old people) tell me that (quote) "Our online University degree selection is coming to an end." Ah, how nice would it be.... But in the meanwhile here is their new phone number:
(February 10, 2006) The same people (the number is the same, they
must be saving on the phone) sent me an email saying that they close the
shop on Friday 17. Maybe. The message was not caught by the spam filter.
ThR letter was signed with the name "Andrea Joyce". Since there were so
many of these people in Admission Office, I wonder when will they run
out of aliases.
Here are Seattle people again. It is "prestigeous non-accredited" university. There is also "Confidentiality assured". And also: "Diplomas and transcripts sent to you within two weeks".
(May 18, 2006) Here is a couple that showed in recent weeks. One promises a prosperous future (and is in service 24/7). They put an identifier so, I presume, they want to see if they can sell you as a confirmed address. In several copies they disguise the identifier as a dictionary word. Anyway, as usual at your own risk:
The Seattle people wrote again. The same number is in circulation for almost half a year! As usual, "no one is turned down".
(July 27, 2006) More of the stuff. It must be popular abroad (here
is the line: "... and I have a degree from an American University ...")
The first one is from Seattle.
(October 27, 2006) A new quote: "Honestly are no called for tests, classes, books, or interviews !". I did not make it up!
And the number is:
And another one:
Call at your own risk!
Here is another quote: "Hey Marek!!.
Absolutely are no obligated tests, classes, books, or interviews !"
The number is the one with the 5202 postfix.
(There were some additional variations of the same message, too.)
And one more:
(November 28, 2006) I was getting worried there were almost no messages promising immediate riches if I only get a diploma based on my experience. I should not be. Three more arrived (but two are duplicates of earlier ones). In fact the diploma spam is getting a sizable competition on WWW. If you google "Diplomas", you will get several sponsored (Shame, Google!) links. I wonder how many of the alumni (?) of those sponsored institutions are actually hired by Google.
But let us go back to the main line of this blog. The guys of 270-818-7244 spammed me again. Ditto 213-596-5768. One of these added the padding about Rufus, the senior centurion. It worked and fooled the anti-spam.
I also got the message from:
(February 20, 2007) After we introduced graylisting, the number of
offers went down significantly. But the stream did not dry completely.
The folks at 270-818-7244 sent me at least seven mails over the period
of 3 months. There are interesting aspects of their mails. First, they
make (I think) deliberate typos. This happened before. But there is
more. Moreover they make deliberate grammatical errors.
Interesting. Few quotes:
"Absolutely nobody si told off" (sic!)
"Compelte Anonymity ensured" (how?)
"No pesron is passed by"
"Privacy assuerd"
"Inheirt the perks and appreciation_that comes with ad.iploma !"
"Nobody is turend away"
"oYu?ll thank me later?" (maybe...)
(February 20, 2007) And one more, pretty conventional. Call at your own risk.
(June 2, 2007) I thought that the sellers of "American diplomas" are
gone. But they are not! See below.
Observe that they succeeded in fooling our spam filter - probably by
moving spaces (`pa ywas' instead of `pay was', and many similar
deliberate errors). I suspect that these are the same
guys that peddled Pittacus (see above). B.t.w., I did not change name to
Zhang...
Greetings Jzhang!.!
A Genuine University Degree in notime!
Have you ever thought that the only thing stopping you from a great job and
better pa ywas a few letters behind you name?
Well now you can get them!
Want the degree but can’t find the time? WHAT A GREAT IDEA! We provide a concept that will allow anyone with sufficient work experience to obtain afully verifiable Universit yDegree.Bachelors, Masters or even a Doctorate.Think of it, within four to six weeks, you too could be a college graduate.Many people share the same frsutration, they are all doing the work of the person that hasthe degree and the person that has the degree is getting all the money.Don’t you think that it is time you were paid fair compensation for the level of work youare already doing?
This is your chance to finally make the right move and receive your due benefits.If you are like most people, you are more than qualified with your experience, but arelacking that prestigious piece of paper known as ad iploma that is often the passport tosuccess. 100% Verifiable!
These are real, genuine degrees that include Bachelors, Masters, MBA and Doctorate Degrees. They are fully verifiable nad certified transcripts are also available.
Just call the number below.
You?ll thank me later? (question mark in the original)
Reach Now +1 (484)993-7152 (On your own risk!)
Online Now (no URL provided)
(This is what makes me think about Pittacus) Quintus's bulla lay upon the house altar. Wrapped in an unfamiliarback. Quintus heard scuffling, the snicks and hisses of weapons drawn,if tending to his soldiers were somehow a dereliction of duty andjaunty ahorse. Remember you are a Roman. Tramp, tramp, tramp. The
(September 10, 2007) Long time no see! For a couple of months there
was nothing. But then, suddenly, a burst of e-mails. First certain
Nolan Spangler (
F A S T T R A C K D E G R E E P R O G R A M
Obtain the degree you deserve, based on your
present knowledge and life experience. A prosperous future, money
earning power, and the
Admiration of all. Degrees from an Established, Prestigious, Leading
Institution. Your Degree will show exactly what you really can
do. Get the Job, Promotion, Business
Opportunity and Social Advancement you Desire! Eliminates classrooms and
traveling. Achieve your Bachelors, Masters, MBA, or PhDin
the field of your expertise Professional and affordable Call now - your
Graduation is a phone call away. Then the same mail came from "Walker Wolff" (two f's - it should be
one, as the mail address was:
Then a certain Pablo wrote. This one is different and draws assistance
from US Government:
You Need a Better Degree, and we can Help!
Obtain degrees from Prestigious non-accredited
Universities based on you life experience.
NO ONE is turned down. Call Now 7 days a week. And you call at your own risk. To Seattle....
Then the same message (same phone number) was sent by Rodrigo
(twice!), and then by Benjamin.
Then, Tamara Ayala sent the first announcement. The phone number
was 1-206-350-2402 (as usual, your own risk), but she promised
Business-Admin Degree. Then Winifred Vigil (same announcement, same
number) wanted me to "Nominate someone for a degree" (I immediately
consulted the list of Nobel laureates and Fields medalists). The message
from Charmaine Charles differed by the topic: "University selection
underway". Opal Molina asked an important question (quote):
Is your skills about to expired?
Finally, Brittany wrote to Casey (but with copy to me) a completely
different message under the title: "solid new homes hassle free" (they
must work on many fronts):
UNIVERSITY DIPLOMAS
Do you want for a prosperous future, increased money earning power, and
the +respect of all?
We can assist with Diplomas from prestigious non-accredited universities
based +on your present knowledge and life experience.
No required tests, classes, books, or interviews.
Free phone consult 7/24.
+12063502943 (call at your own risk).
(August 24, 2008) With all the publicity in press and the arrests in
Seattle (this explains preponderance of 206 area code in many phones above)
one would think that the diploma mills gave up. But not completely! See for
yourself.
Ms. Ruth Jordan offers me(?) a Business Admin-Degree. Here is what she
writes:
WHAT A GREAT IDEA!
We provide a concept that will allow anyone with sufficient work experience to
obtain a fully verifiable University Degree.
Bachelors, Masters or even a Doctorate.
For US: 1.781.634.7970
"Just leave your NAME & PHONE NO. (with CountryCode)" in the voicemail.
Our staff will get back to you in next few days!
This is interesting, for it indicates two things: First, the cost of
international calling went down, so Ms. Jordan can call worldwide. No longer
must she wait eagerly by the phone - she can call at her leisure. Second, that
the whole idea (sell diplomas) is not dead.
Last modified: August 24, 2008
Please call:1-206-350-2402 (at your own risk, of course.)
Please call:1-206-888-2083 (but still the area code 206, the glorious
home of Microsoft, Amazon and other high-tech companies). Call at your
own risk.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, with the following degrees, here's
how much +you can expect to make in your lifetime:
High School Diploma: $1,100,000
Bachelor's Degree: $2,100,000
Master's Degree: $2,500,000
Doctorate: $4,400,000
+1(206)-3- 090 336
Outside US: +1.781.634.7970
(Call at your own risk)