ARTICLE · 08 MAY 2015

A risk-based approach: how due diligence can mitigate fraud being committed in your organisation

KordaMentha

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While trust is an important part of any work environment, employers should verify information from prospective employees.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

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Are P's (Passes) no longer the only way to get your degrees? Recent press coverage has discussed the ease by which people can procure fake degree certificates, supposedly from a number of leading Australian universities, and use them to obtain employment.¹ This isn't a new phenomenon, with many cases around the world, but the most recent scam appears more sophisticated than usual.

The Chinese business involved (whose name translates to 'Overseas Student Assistant HD') operates through social media. It allegedly charges customers thousands of dollars for forged degrees and diplomas purportedly from leading Australian tertiary institutions. The business claims to source from the same parchment paper providers used by the universities to create the certificates. For a premium price, the business also claims to be able to input the student details fraudulently into university databases, as well as the official qualification register system run by the Chinese government's

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