[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: This is
your Marketplace.
We expose the shady
business of fake degrees.
>> The magnitude
will blow your mind.
>> Asha: Who's fooling you?
We want to talk to you about
your questionable PhDs.
We track down the fakers.
Why would you purchase
a fake degree?
We follow the trail to
Pakistan, reveal the operation
behind it all.
>> Asha: You can't
afford to miss this.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> All right.
Eric, time to get schooled.
>> Asha: We're looking to
beef up our credentials.
>> There are so many
online programs out there.
>> Asha: Hundreds
to choose from.
But how do you know
which one to trust?
>> I just found you guys online,
and I was looking to see if I
could get a degree or inquire
about some education.
>> So what's involved
in the schooling?
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: This is just our
first step in exposing
an international
underground scheme.
>> So no courses, no classes.
I just pay a fee and
I get a degree?
>> Just out of curiosity,
there is no one I can meet up
with or chat with in person,
I guess?
>> I get to choose the
date when I graduate?
>> Asha: We're on a journey
to find out how long it will
take for these journalists
to become doctors.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: To get the lowdown,
I'm meeting up with former
FBI agent Allen Ezell.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> It's a bonanza.
There's a worldwide market for
academic credentials.
The paper opens the door to
getting the job, getting the
promotion, getting the raise.
>> Asha: He spent four decades
investigating schools offering
fake degrees.
They're called diploma mills.
>> We're not talking
about classroom.
We're not talking
about learning.
It's all smoke and mirrors
and a façade.
None of it exists.
>> Asha: American research
shows more than half of all
new PhDs in the US are fake.
[ ♪♪ ]
[ ♪♪ ]
>> We want to know how big
the problem is here in Canada.
Okay, guys, ready to
check out this database?
>> Let's do it.
>> I'm ready.
>> Asha: We get our hands on an
exclusive database of more than
800 Canadians from coast to
coast to coast that show they
could have fake degrees.
>> Check this out, a medical
doctor in a small town in BC.
>> A former police officer
on this list.
>> A professor who teaches
at Seneca college.
>> Asha: There's even an
ordained minister in here.
Politicians, pharmacists,
business owners, engineers,
they're all on our list.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: We're starting our
investigation with counsellors
treating serious medical
conditions with fake degrees.
>> On.
>> Turn this on too.
>> Asha: Getting wired up to see
what the'll reveal in person,
posing as a couple in crisis.
>> Asha: Are you two
prepared for some
relationship counseling?
>> As ready as we'll ever be.
>> Asha: Good luck.
>> Thank you.
>> Thanks.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: First up,
meet Alfred Ojo.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: He treats ADHD,
anger management,
depression, PTSD.
The list goes on.
>> Asha: Ojo says he was
educated in Nigeria and the US.
His online profile says he has a
Masters in Counseling Psychology
from Ashley University.
>> Asha: So Ojo's
degree is bogus.
But maybe his counseling
skills are real.
>> Asha: Much of this session is
focussed on giving us metaphors
about relationships like this
one about lasagna.
>> Asha: We're just journalists,
but this session seems odd.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: So at
Western University, I check
in with someone who can break
it down for us.
>> How many fingers?
>> Asha: Psychology
professor Dr Alan Leschied.
>> We hold the public's trust.
In that, the public has
an expectation of a
quality of service.
Because these are the
most vulnerable times in
their lives.
>> Asha: We show him
parts of our session with
Alfred Ojo.
His opinion...
>> I don't want to comment
so much directly on
this individual.
Although, probably anybody
seeing that would raise their
eyebrow, and say,
"Jeez, is that what therapy is?
"That's what I get over
"the clothesline with
"my neighbour."
That is not therapy.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Nice to see you again.
>> Asha: We go in a second
time with more questions
about Ojo's education.
>> Asha: This is the question
that really seems to throw
him for a loop.
>> Asha: Wait a second.
His LinkedIn profile says he
went there from 2007 to 2008.
>> Asha: And with that,
he walks out of the room,
looks like he needs a break
from our team's questions.
But now, I have some of my own.
We have tried to contact you
more than once to share your
perspective about your
Masters Degree from
Ashley University.
Please give us a call back.
Alfred Ojo never calls us back.
So we try again in person.
Remember, he's been counseling
patients for over two decades.
Mr Ojo.
My name is Asha Tomlinson.
I'm with CBC Marketplace.
We want to talk to you about
your questionable degree
from Ashley University.
>> Excuse me, I'm not ready
to talk to you about that.
>> Why not?
We've reached out
to you several times.
Why wouldn't you just share your
perspective on why you have
this fake degree from a
questionable institution?
>> Because you know, I don't
know how you got the
information, and I don't think--
>> Asha: We have
a list of Canadians,
and that includes you.
You're on that list.
Why would you purchase
a fake degree?
What about the people
who believe in you as a
counsellor who trust you
and your credentials?
Sir.
Ojo never admits to
buying his degree.
And after we reach out to him,
he pulls down his LinkedIn
profile and says he's no longer
taking new clients.
>> Actions speak
louder than words.
You got the message across.
He had a fake degree and
he's not going to expose
himself any further.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: We're still trying to
buy our very own fake degrees.
>> Hi, is this
Ashwood University?
>> This is Corrlins University,
correct?
>> So, check this out.
I just found Almeda University.
When you check them out online,
the first thing that pops up
is Life Experience Degree.
>> I'm looking to get a degree.
>> Asha: Almeda,
Corrlins, GatesVille,
Ashwood all say they'll
trade in life experience
for credit hours.
Send in your resume,
your money and just wait
for your degree in the mail.
>> So what's the total
I'd be paying?
>> Asha: We get the whole
package, including proof
we attended the school.
But we're told it's apparently
above board.
>> So, what you're saying
is Almeda is legit?
>> Asha: Not what we've heard.
>> Almeda has never been real.
It's never been legitimately,
traditionally accredited
by a recognized entity
in it's life, period.
>> Asha: While we wait for our
degrees to arrive, we notice
Almeda shows up dozens of times
in our research including with
this Toronto psychotherapist and
registered social worker.
>> Asha: Dr Gilbert Correces.
He says he has a Masters
in Social Work from the
Philippines and this PhD
in Biblical Counseling.
His online profile
boasts a 4.0 GPA.
Treating very serious issues.
Substance abuse, PTSD,
ADHD, child abuse, and more.
>> Asha: We don't need to ask
about his degree, it's hanging
on his wall.
>> And you have a
PhD from Almeda.
>> Asha: Remember,
Almeda does not exist.
>> Two years?
>> Can I stop you right there?
>> Yes, you can.
>> So, I can c--
Okay, it takes two years.
>> Asha: Two years.
>> No.
>> Asha: Psychology professor
Dr Alan Leschied says writing
a dissertations usually
takes much longer than that.
>> Typically four years,
sometimes five years and
sometimes even longer.
Original work.
It's not a click
and paste activity.
>> Asha: We give
Gilbert Correces a
second chance to
explain his schooling.
>> Asha: Wait.
What?
It's in California now.
>> Asha: And when our producers
continue to test his skills
asking for advice on
how to handle long
distance relationships,
things get really bizarre.
>> Asha: Professor Leschied
is not impressed.
>> You don't disclose things of
a personal nature inappropriate
that are focussed on yourself.
If you're just telling these
stories because you're trying to
be seen by your clients in
certain ways because it makes
you feel better or whatever,
those are boundary violations.
>> Asha: We spent weeks
asking Correces for an on
camera interview.
He says no.
So we meet up with
him near his work.
I'm Asha Tomlinson with
CBC Marketplace.
>> You put me right
on the spot, hey?
>> Asha: Our investigation
shows that Almeda University
is a fake institution.
Why did you get your
degree from them?
>> Well, how did I
know about that?
>> Asha: We just paid a fee and
we were able to order a PhD.
>> Really?
That's good for you.
Well, if you don't do any work.
Some people work and
some people cheat.
>> Asha: Did you cheat?
>> I did not cheat.
>> Asha: But when we check
his thesis, over 30%
was plagiarized.
Don't you think you're
breaking the trust of
your clients?
>> I'm not, I'm using my
knowledge and skills.
>> Asha: Correces says he
understood his thesis had been
approved by Almeda.
But now, he's taken down
his LinkedIn profile and
is no longer listed as
a therapist on the
clinic's website.
>> Asha: Why is your profile
removed from the website
where you work?
>> Well, things change,
you know.
>> Asha: So you're no
longer working there?
>> No.
>> Asha: When we check,
the clinic confirms they
terminated his contract.
Does this professor
have a fake degree?
>> You did your
post grad online?
>> Yeah.
>> Where did you do it?
Here at Seneca?
>> Asha: Who else is faking it?
This is your Marketplace.
>> Asha: The real deal
on your Marketplace.
We've spent months undercover
investigating Canadians with
bogus degrees.
And now, we're about to
get some of our own.
>> All right.
Moment of truth.
>> Let's see what we have.
>> Wow!
>> So our degrees are here.
>> They are.
I have a PhD in Psychology
from Almeda University.
>> PhD in Psychology,
GatesVille University.
>> Asha: Take a look.
We get our degrees.
But that's not all.
We also get transcripts with a
list of bogus courses we never
took, attendance records.
And your GPA, 3.92.
Nicely done.
>> And it was just too easy.
>> Asha: And that name
we used, check it out.
That's right.
It's Marketplace.
Back on the case, we find others
who have degrees just like ours.
>> So I just found a
professor at Seneca college
in Toronto here.
>> Asha: Dubravko Zgrablic has
a Masters Degree in Computer
Science from Almeda University.
We have heard that
school name before.
>> He teaches
computer applications
and business applications.
He's also taught at the
University of Toronto and
Ryerson University too.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: Posing as potential
students, our team meets
up with him...
>> Asha: ..to find out
more about his so-called
Masters from Almeda.
>> Asha: He can't remember where
he got his degree from?
>> Asha: 11 phone exams,
never heard of that before.
>> Asha: Now, this isn't
the first time an educator
has been exposed.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: We travelled to
Pittsburgh, Kansas,
where a group of high school
students made international
headlines after they
investigated their principal
and her two fake degrees.
>> A group of students had
their doubts about their
new principal.
>> Their incoming principal
resigned after their
investigation into
her credentials.
>> Asha: The story went viral.
>> When you started
to dig deeper, what were
you finding?
>> A lot of discrepancies arose,
even just a simple google search
brought up articles that
mentioned the university she
attended may be a scam and
that it possibly could be a
diploma mill.
>> Asha: The school they looked
into, Corrlins University,
it's also on our list.
>> We were calling the city in
California where it was
supposedly located and a city
council official saying that
that university had never
even existed, helped piece
that together.
>> Asha: We tell them about
the prof we're investigating.
He's taught at several
top Canadian universities
and colleges.
And he's still teaching.
>> The main concern for me, if I
would be one of those students,
what does that say about
the degree I have
from that university?
What does it say about the
validity because if the
university has this fraudulent
professor, who's to say that
there weren't more?
>> Asha: We ask professor
Zgrablic repeatedly for an
on-camera interview.
He maintains his degree from
Almeda is legitimate.
And he did do 11 phone exams
to complete his Masters.
So why can't we
speak with you?
>> Asha: You don't want to speak
to us on camera at all to talk
about your Masters and why you
attended this school that is
linked to a diploma mill scheme?
>> Asha: So we follow up
with Seneca college.
We're hoping you'll reconsider
an interview to discuss this.
But they won't talk
on camera either.
They say they have
processes in place to vet
their employees credentials.
And weeks after we contact
Zgrablic, he removes
Almeda University from
his LinkedIn profile.
Retired FBI agent Allen Ezell
says that's not good enough.
>> What signal are they sending
the other faculty members
and their students?
They must set the example.
If they're not going to
vet their own people,
who in the heck is?
That's 1,000% unacceptable.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: Where do all these
fake degrees come from?
The paper trail
leads to Pakistan.
>> Asha: This insider tells all.
This is your Marketplace.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: Get more Marketplace.
Sign up for our weekly
newsletter at
CBC.ca/Marketplace.
>> Asha: The real deal
on fake schools.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: We've uncovered
more than 800 Canadians who
could have fake degrees from
hundreds of fake online schools.
I've been noticing that
some of the school's websites
look pretty similar.
When we dig a little deeper,
a pattern emerges.
>> I'm on Baychester right now
and just looking at a picture
of the dean here.
I'm looking at another school
Regent, also a picture of the
dean who has the same photo,
same name and same write-up
on both schools.
>> Asha: Turns out, the faculty
at some of these schools are
just stock photos used on
multiple websites.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: And many of those
schools track back to one
major company in Pakistan.
Axact, the largest international
diploma mill scheme out there.
>> The magnitude will blow your
mind, I mean, really.
It makes a volcano look small.
We're talking probably grossing
a billion dollars a year,
35 bank accounts
in 19 countries.
>> Asha: Axact denies any
involvement in the scheme
and tells us they don't
condone any alleged
fraud by these fake schools.
But we track down a man
on the inside.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: A sales agent
working out of this Axact
office in Islamabad a
number of years ago.
He's asked us to conceal his
identity due to safety concerns.
>> Asha: He was the first
point of contact for many
people buying their degrees.
His pitch --
>> Asha: He says he quit
because he didn't agree with
the company's practices.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Asha: The crackdown begins
in New York City,
where one of the top
Axact executives Umar Hamid
is being sentenced here today.
We're going in to
get the details.
The judge spoke directly
to Hamid saying there
are real victims and they
are your victims.
In the end, he was sentenced
to 21 months in prison for
conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Then he'll be deported
back to Pakistan.
He was also ordered to forfeit
over $5 million for his role
in the scheme.
This conviction wasn't enough
to stop Axact.
Fake schools are
still up and running.
But our story
doesn't end here.
We will be following this in the
months to come.
[ ♪♪ ]
>> Fasten your seat belts.
Is your car dealership
ripping you off?
>> $1,200 service
they were recommending,
none of which was needed.
>> High pressure sales.
>> Felt like he was
trying to scare me.
>> Plus insider secrets.
>> When you're 100%
commission, you don't
have a choice.
You live or die by this
customer that's walking in.
>> ..why you're recommending
service that isn't required
on a vehicle.
>> Auto repair rip-offs.
You can't afford
to miss this ride.
[ ♪♪ ]
