If you are a human resource professional, you review applications and resumes from people who want to work for your company or who want to be promoted. Some applicants may list credentials like a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, or a professional certification that sounds credible, but in fact, was not earned through a legitimate course of study at an accredited institution.
Federal officials caution that some people are buying phony credentials from diploma mills; companies that sell “degrees” or certificates on the Internet without requiring the buyer to do anything more than pay a fee. Most diploma mills charge a flat fee, require little course work, if any, and award a degree based solely on “work or life experience.”
According to officials from the FTC, the Department of Education, and the Office of Personnel Management, bogus credentials can compromise your credibility and the integrity of your hiring process.
You could place an unqualified person in a position of responsibility, leaving your organization liable if the employee’s actions harm someone. You could hire a person who is dishonest in other ways, exposing your organization and colleagues to potential damage. Underwriters Bureau is expert at collecting and authenticating employment and academic credentials, and, with our Internet Ordering System, it is easy to order and track credential authentication requests.
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Authentication of current license and bonding as well as verified academic degrees and professional certification are foundational to employment and commercial underwriting.
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