by Carl Slicer
Some things just never change. The circumstances change but the intent is to defraud the consumer. One of our customers, I will call them “Staffing Advantage”.
Staffing Advantage had asked our company, BestHire, to process an applicant to work in their laboratory environment where new drugs were being developed. The applicant, Mr X, had indicated that he was a Medical Doctor (MD) with a background in pharmacological studies. BestHire took to task to verify the basics on Mr X. The college where he acquired his Bachelors’ degree and then the verification of his medical degree.
The Medical Degree was to be verified first as it was the most recent and therefore should be the quicker to be completed. The college was located in west Africa and about due East of Nigeria. BestHire and the industry verify not just the degree but must also verify the school is legitimate and is a school accepted amongst its peers.
Clue #1. We were having a very hard time verifying this school was accredited anywhere. The main telephone number, located in New York City and an address at UPS Shipping local made the process even more suspect. Upon calling the school, we found the same person answering the phone asking us to call back later when the registrar was in. Next, we found a “Cease & Desist” order with the Attorney General office in the state of Utah. Apparently, Utah was not convinced that the East African School was accredited and Utah did something about it.
Clue #2. When we obtained a photograph and the main office was located on the 2nd floor over a hamburger chain restaurant. Needless to say we looked nor further for confirmation.
BestHire denied the verification and the applicant was not hired.
Education needs to be verified properly, quickly and the school must be accredited as well. “Diploma Mills” threaten society as a whole and Besthire believes efforts should be made to shut them down.
BestHire predicts that by the end of 2010, the US Senate or US House of Congress will take a stand and pass laws to prevent and punish this type of fraud.
For more information, news and trends one can find information at Google news.
Carl Slicer, blog editor, www.BestHire.com
