Criminals sell higher education diplomas for R$ 6 thousand

Criminals are selling diplomas from Estácio de Sá College, in Rio de Janeiro, over the internet. They present themselves as “a group of dispatchers specializing in graduation without bureaucracy”, and charge more than BRL 6,000 for a graduation certificate.

A People’s Gazette spoke with a businessman who purchased the material to prove the fraud and then reported the case to the police. Higor de Souza, from Londrina (PR), found out about the scheme when he received a proposal by email. “I am writing to you to present you with a definitive solution to a problem that is preventing you from growing in your profession. Do you still need an Original Higher Level DIPLOMA?” the message read. “Since my e-mail address is available on the company’s website, we receive all kinds of advertisements”, explains Higor. But this was the first time he had come across such an offer. He decided to go ahead and denounce the illegal practice.

The negotiation took place via WhatsApp. From the beginning, it was clear that the business offered by the “dispatchers” is the simple sale of university degrees. Higor sent a message June 3, saying he was interested in a law degree. The scammer responds quickly and, after asking for some of Higor’s personal data, claims that he will “enter the process.” A few days later, the confirmation: “I was able to approve with the coordinator a class that graduated in 2018”, says the criminal. In the same week, he informs about the details of the case. “The coordination is already reviewing your monograph. I will get access tomorrow morning and send you a copy, ”he says. On June 12, he announces that the operation has been successful. “I’m here at the college to release your documentation.” Hours later, Higor received a photo with his new diploma.

In addition, so that the fake student’s name appears in the internal system, the “package” includes a complete monograph (which was not written by the buyer) and a school transcript. In the case of Higor, the course work was entitled “The effectiveness of priority regime rites implemented in special adoption.” The material has 26 pages, full of Portuguese errors. Higor didn’t write a single line. He wasn’t at Estácio either. The package also includes the graduation certificate (dated July 17, 2018) and other documents needed to prove completion of the course.

In just 9 days, the criminal managed to get Higor registered in Estácio’s system as someone who graduated in law in 2018. The diploma appears to have the signature of the institution’s dean – but it is not possible to know, in advance, if the initials are forged.

After the criminal sent the images proving that the diploma had been issued, Higor paid BRL 6,200 to receive the certificate by mail. It is possible to know that the document was actually issued by the college because the certificate has a unique QR code, linked to the General Register of Diplomas of the Ministry of Education. The platform data is registered by the faculties.

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fictitious identity

In conversations, the scammer introduces himself as “Professor Cristiano Gomes”. One of the email addresses copied in the message sent by him is [email protected]. The final part of the address could indicate some connection with the Ministry of Education (MEC). But the folder’s server board does not include anyone with the name of Cristiano Gomes. The report of People’s Gazette also found that the email address is not active or simply does not exist. Furthermore, the MEC email address standard would not allow the use of “professor.gomes” as a prefix. Everything indicates that Cristiano Gomes is a fictitious name.

The phone used by the criminal is from São Paulo. But the most likely thing is that the person responsible for the scheme is in Rio de Janeiro. The recipient of the bank transfer is Leandro Silva dos Santos. In his name, he has a micro-enterprise registered on a residential street, with simple houses, in the Nova Campinas neighborhood in Duque de Caxias (RJ).

Those responsible for the scheme can be indicted for falsifying documents and embezzlement. Higor — who studied medicine for six semesters before dropping out — hopes that cases like Estácio’s will no longer happen. “What drove me forward is the fact that countless people try to access an institution, whether public or private, and do not have the opportunity”, says he, who filed a police report with the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro.

A People’s Gazette contacted the Ministry of Education, but did not receive a response until the closing of this report.

In a note, Estácio’s press office stated that it “repudiates this criminal practice and any others that are contrary to its values”. According to the institution, the diploma and other documents sold by the criminals would be forgeries. The college claims that, in 2022, it replaced paper diplomas with digital ones. Estácio also says that it “strictly follows the code of ethics and conduct”, in addition to having a program of compliance with best governance practices.