Naples: fake university dismantled; over 500 degree certificates seized
Pippo Franco is also said to be among the victims of the scam; he was awarded an honorary degree in Communication Sciences in 2016
Criminal association, forgery committed by a private individual and forgery of official seals. These are the offences for which 37 people are under investigation on various grounds; according to the findings of the Naples Financial Police, they are believed to be involved in a fraud scheme centred on the issuance of fake degree certificates. Thirty-four of these are believed to be the recipients of the certificates, whilst the remaining three are suspected of being members of the criminal organisation.
The fake university
The investigations by the Guardia di Finanza were launched following a report from the Ministry of Universities and Research. The investigation brought to light the existence of an organisation which, via a website and social media, was promoting three-year and master’s degree courses in sociology and tourism studies.
To access the service, customers paid a fee of 1,500 euros per year . However, the qualification was awarded by a university that was not accredited by the Ministry of Education (Mur) nor legally recognised within the Italian university system. Consequently, the certificates had no legal validity whatsoever.
On the organisation’s website, the police subsequently found references to alleged accreditations and registrations with public bodies and registers. The organisation is said to have used the Campania Region’s logo with the aim of lending credibility and apparent authority to the qualifications it issued.
Articles, images and videos depicting degree conferment ceremonies and honorary degrees have also been found online. According to reports, the victims of the scam also include Pippo Franco, who was awarded an honorary degree in Communication Sciences in 2016. The comedian was unaware of the scam and is not under investigation.
