Counterfeit and knockoff items are everywhere. If a new product is introduced, copies of it will be created and offered for sale at a lower price almost immediately. The fact that there is demand for these knockoff items, however, is what drives their production. Whether we are talking about bootlegged DVDs or fake designer handbags, there is actually consumer demand for imitation goods. And just like there is demand for fake designer handbags… there is also demand for fake college degrees.

These days, a college degree is almost considered a requirement to get ahead professionally. Data supporting this idea is provided by the results of a study done by the U.S. Census Bureau:

• Workers without a high school diploma or GED earn less than $20,000 a year.
• Workers with a high school diploma earn nearly $10,000 more, or over $28,000.
• Workers with a four-year Bachelor’s degree almost double their income over those with just a HS diploma—over $50,000 a year.
• Professionals with a degree above the level of a Bachelor’s earn in excess of $78,000 per year.

This data not only verifies that there is pressure for people to college degrees; it also explains the motivation that drives the demand for counterfeit degrees. While manufacturers of fake handbags generate income off of the consumer’s desire to appear wealthy, those who produce bogus degrees capitalize on consumers’ desire for a more competitive career edge. Diploma mills, the prime culprit in the production of fake degrees, have been known to generate around $500 million a year on the sale of these unaccredited education credentials.

Fighting Back

Last Thursday, US Congressman unveiled legislation that aims to stop diploma mills. The major points in the bill intend to:

• Define diploma mills and accreditation mills.
• Bar federal agencies from using degrees from diploma mills to provide jobs or promotions that depend of candidate’s educational credentials.
• Give the federal trade commission more authority to define and crack down on deceptive practices of the diploma mills.

This bill, which is further explained in a recent Inside High Ed article, is part of the nation’s much needed effort to rein in unauthorized colleges and degrees. Until now, it has been very difficult to prosecute diploma mills (and those who purchase from them) without a legal definition of what one is.

This new legislation will also make passing a fake degree off as an accredited diploma for personal gain a crime. Not only can you be prosecuted for selling fake degrees, you can also get in trouble for purchasing them. Because of this, it is very important to know about diploma mills in order to avoid getting scammed—or in trouble with the law.

Ways to Avoid Fake Degrees

There are two rules of thumb to avoid getting a fake degree online through a diploma mill:

• Make sure the online degree program you are considering is an accredited program offered by a legitimate, accredited school.
• No legitimate college degree program will offer you a degree without you submitting and completing coursework and examinations.

While working towards a legitimate college degree will require your time and hard work, there are many different program options that you can choose to fit your goals and lifestyle. So save your time and money for a legitimate degree program, and stay far away from that diploma mill’s tempting email offering a quick and easy alternative. “Quick and easy” will not win in the world of higher education.