Qualification Fraud - How does it happen and how can we combat it?

Academic integrity is vital, making it essential for institutions to invest in technologies to combat qualification fraud and counterfeiting.

The education sector is justified in having a wide range of compliance procedures and processes. With so many elements involved in the ongoing delivery of high-quality education for students, the need for standardisation, consistency and trust when it comes to documentation is clearly important. 

If you are working inside the education sector, particularly if your role includes the production of certificates, student ID cards, academic transcripts, or student records, then understanding what qualification fraud is and how it works is essential. As well as this, professionals involved in admissions, student services, exam administration, and compliance should be well-versed in the nature of this topic and implement security measures to protect the integrity of academic credentials.

The responsibility of ensuring students have a legitimate, traceable and meaningful journey from early enrolment to graduation rests with the institution providing their education and the quality of their day-to-day practices.

Ofqual provides an online handbook with a comprehensive list of conditions for institutions to meet. Condition I3 in their section on certificates emphasises that awarding organisations must design and issue certificates in a way that upholds the integrity of the qualification. This includes implementing appropriate security features to prevent fraudulent reproduction.

The challenge of ensuring all students are protected is significant. Understanding the gaps and weaknesses in your institution’s processes and business practices can be complicated and forming a strong procurement strategy that will fit the needs of every area of your business can be an arduous process. Combine this with the pressure of compliance and regulatory bodies and the responsibility becomes huge. However, aside from maintaining organisation and traceability, what are the more serious reasons behind why this rigorous standardisation exists? 

Qualification Fraud – the facts. 

Ofqual states that qualification fraud is an “ever present risk” in England’s regulated qualification market, which generates over £800 million annually in entry fees. 

The GOV.UK website states that there are ‘Several ways qualification fraud can be committed’ and then includes these following definitions: 

• Creating, buying or using fake certificates for regulated qualifications. 

• Delivering ‘fast track’ training which leaves out important and necessary content. 

• Helping learners cheat in tests by giving answers or taking a test on their behalf. 

Document fraud and duplication can take on many forms, in the UK, there have been various reports ranging from the illicit printing of fake certificates, degrees, student loan applications, and cases of identity theft. This type of crime is becoming more and more common and reports tell us that these documents often slip right under the noses of the organisations that handle them.

The UK launched the Higher Education Degree Datacheck (HEDD) initiative to combat degree fraud. Research by HEDD found that only 20% of employers verify applicants’ qualifications with the awarding body, relying instead on CVs or certificates and transcripts. Since its launch, HEDD has identified more than 230 bogus providers and websites selling fake degrees. 

Alongside this, we know that HEDD has processed over 160,000 individual verification checks, with 5% of these checks revealing false qualification claims, even after consent has been given for the check. 

Qualification Fraud – a worldwide issue. 

Through its extensive network within the international security print sector, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, Zunoma has uncovered evidence indicating that as much as 75% of certificates in circulation across Africa may be falsified. This number highlights the critical need for strengthened security measures, improved standardisation, and increased investment in secure document infrastructure. 

What this tells us is that the fight against fraud and counterfeiting also lies with the employer. Skipping these due diligence processes allows fraud and counterfeiting crimes to go unnoticed, leading to even more complications later.

Additionally, the relatively low levels of cybersecurity in some schools, colleges, and universities make them vulnerable to cyber-attacks, and the consequences can be catastrophic. The ITRC’s 2024 Annual Data Breach Report highlights a near-record number of data compromises, with 3,158 incidents reported in 2024. 

What we can gather from these reports is that qualification fraud is an ever-present risk to society – and being an integral building block in the progression of our future, the education sector is one of the primary targets. 

The effects of Qualification Fraud 

To keep it brief; Qualification Fraud undermines the integrity of the education system, undermines the achievements of genuine students, devalues legitimate qualifications, and poses significant risks to businesses, institutions, and society. Individuals using illegitimate qualifications can access restricted areas, potentially leading to serious health risks and national security threats.

Qualification fraud can also significantly harm the reputation and integrity of academic institutions. If an institution becomes associated with fake or easily forged qualifications, it risks losing accreditation, student enrolment, and industry partnerships. 

What can I do to protect against fraud? 

For those in the education sector, understanding how to prevent counterfeiting and fraud is essential. To assess your institution’s preparedness, consider these three key questions: 

1. Do we know what qualification fraud is?
   Do we know what it looks like? Do we know where the risks are?
2. Are we actively protecting our documents?
   How are we protecting ourselves? What measures are in place?
3. Are we taking further steps to tackle fraud and counterfeiting?
   Are we educating our staff and students on document fraud? 

If you work in Student Procurement or Administration, fully understanding your students’ journey from enrolment to graduation is essential. This will help you identify high-risk documentation and determine how to address it.

Taking steps to ensure your documents are protected. 

Protecting your documents with security features.

The primary line of defence against any kind of fraud and counterfeiting is to print your documents with implemented security features such as watermarks, holograms, and covert features such as invisible UV. Advanced printing technologies produce these security features, requiring highly skilled professionals to use them. Companies like Zunoma deliver a vast amount of custom, industry-standard secure print solutions to an array of industries.

These advanced security features make it very difficult for criminals to reproduce or tamper with these special documents. Watermarked paper, is produced in such a way where the watermark is embedded into the material itself, making it almost impossible to reproduce. Custom holograms can be created with intricate patterns that shift and change. Another specialist method is to implement invisible UV features into the document – attributes like this are created with special ink, and can once implemented, only visible under UV light. A combination of these features creates a ferocious deterrent to the efforts of would-be counterfeiters.

Examples: 

• Many UK based educational institutions have adopted security features such as holograms and secure ink into their certificates as standard practice, making their certificates extremely difficult to duplicate and protecting them against fraud. 

• Universities will also issue ID cards embedded with smart card technology, enabling secure access to campus facilities and services. These cards often include unique student numbers and photographs for personal identification. 

• Several universities provide official transcripts printed on parchment paper. These transcripts include watermarks and other security elements to ensure authenticity.

Further protection with digital verification tools.

Alongside traditional secure printing methods, utilising digital verification tools can also give you more of an edge over counterfeiters. Secure digital platforms verify qualifications and academic records in real-time, reducing the chances of fraudulent documents slipping through the cracks.

Examples: 

• Several UK universities have started digitising document circulation using advanced anti-fraud technology and information-sharing platforms. Zunoma has an established background developing solutions to help customers and their partners validate and share qualifications and achievements.

• Another effective method of securing student documents is the use of QR codes for instant verification. Zunoma can integrate QR codes into certificates, transcripts, and other academic records. This allows employers, universities, and third parties to instantly verify document authenticity by scanning the code. Check out our page here to find out more.

Are we taking further steps to tackle fraud and counterfeiting? 

When it comes to qualification fraud, prevention is better than cure. We strongly recommend investing in secure printing and educating staff and students on risks.

You can implement online training modules for staff and students to complete. For instance, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) offers resources tailored for educational institutions to bolster cybersecurity awareness. 

You can also integrate educational content focused on fraud awareness into your school’s curriculum. Cifas provides anti-fraud lesson plans that can be incorporated into teaching, helping students understand the importance of safeguarding their qualifications. 

What to do if I spot a fraudulent document? 

If you suspect that a document is fraudulent, it’s important to act quickly to prevent any further damage. 

The first step is to report the document to the relevant authorities. In the UK, you should report suspected fraud to Action Fraud via their website (actionfraud.police.uk), which is the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre.

If you suspect a document containing qualifications is fraudulent, it is vital you contact the awarding body or exam board for verification of these qualifications. If the document relates to a student loan or funding issue, contact the Student Loans Company, or relevant local authority. It’s also a good idea to notify Ofqual, Ofsted, or other relevant regulatory bodies, depending on the context, as they can investigate further.

In summary. 

Combatting qualification fraud is not only about protecting the integrity of academic institutions but also safeguarding the value of education. With sophisticated counterfeiting on the rise, schools, colleges, and universities must take proactive steps to secure their documents. Educating staff and students on the risks and consequences of fraud is therefore essential.

At Zunoma, we’re committed to supporting educational institutions in this fight by providing reliable security printing and digital solutions to help keep your documents safe.

Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can help protect your institution from the growing threat of qualification fraud. We’re happy to answer any questions and have an informal discussion about where you’re currently at.

Book a call with one of our specialists here.