In the digital age, fake diploma fraud is growing. Social networks and online platforms facilitate access to these false documents, exposing businesses and institutions to legal and reputational risks. Between legal obligations and innovative solutions such as Finovox's artificial intelligence, vigilance is more necessary than ever to detect and prevent these frauds. We tell you more in this article.
False degree fraud consists in manufacturing or using a falsified document for the purpose To attest to skills or qualifications that you do not have actually.
It also concerns many university degrees (licenses, masters or doctorates), that of vocational training certificates or even internship certificates.
While the phenomenon is not new, it is currently experiencing a worrying upsurge. According to several surveys carried out with recruitment agencies, Around one in two French people admit to having modified their CV to make it more attractive. Among these changes, the falsification of diplomas remains one of the most serious.
What are the most common forms of falsification?
This fraud is based on the creation of a Totally invented diploma, reproducing the official aspect of an academic document in exactly the same way.
The name of a reputable university or school is then usurped in order to give credibility to the fake. These documents are generally offered for sale on online platforms.
In this type of fraud, the individual did attend the institution mentioned, but Alters the information on the diploma. It changes the mention obtained, make it longer length of studies or even at Is attributed to the success of a program not validated.
This process remains difficult to identify when recruiters do not have the opportunity to check directly with the institution concerned.
Added to this is the Fraud known as “homonyms”, where an individual takes advantage of the academic background of another person with the same name.
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In some sectors, in particular the health, engineering or Teaching, the use of a fake diploma can have major consequences for the safety of users.
If, in the past, it was necessary to use illegal printers or organized networks to obtain a false document, the democratization of social networks has changed the situation.
Today, a few clicks are enough to get in touch with resellers of fake diplomas.
Private groups on Facebook, encrypted discussions via Telegram or WhatsApp, or even hidden ads on Snapchat make it possible to get hold of these falsified documents. Prices vary according to the quality and credibility of the fake:
The appeal is obvious: a minimal investment can open the door to a better paid job, internal promotion or access to a regulated profession.
However, beyond fraud, this trade feeds criminal networks and endangers the integrity of the job market.
Do you need to know more about how fraud works? Read our article: What are the different profiles of fraudsters?
Employers have an important responsibility when recruiting. He must ensure that the person hired has the necessary qualifications, in particular for regulated professions (doctors, lawyers, architects, etc.).
Not verifying the authenticity of a diploma can expose the company to risks at the same time legal and reputational.
However, employment law strictly regulates the employer's reaction to the discovery of a fake diploma. Indeed, even if the employee has lied, the employment contract cannot be automatically cancelled.
The Court of Cassation has ruled on several occasions that a Dismissal is only possible if the lie makes it impossible for the employee to remain in the company.
For example, a fake engineering degree used to fill a position requiring real technical skills is a serious reason for dismissal.
On the other hand, if the missions entrusted to the employee do not directly require the falsified diploma, the termination of the contract may be more difficult to justify.
In all cases, the employer must react quickly and proportionately!
On the part of individuals, the use of false diplomas exposes them to criminal proceedings. THEarticle 441-7 of the Penal Code Sanctions the untruthful statements done to a public authority d2 years in prison and a fine of 30,000 euros.
Thus, a candidate who presents a false diploma to pass an administrative competition, or a student who files a falsified university file, is directly exposed to these sanctions. Contrary to a simple lie about his hobbies or his language level, Diploma fraud incurs the criminal liability of the offender.
From a legal point of view, diploma fraud is assimilated to the use of forgeries. THEArticle 441-1 of the Penal Code Clarify that “is a forgery any fraudulent alteration of the truth, likely to cause harm, and carried out by any means whatsoever, in a writing whose purpose or which may have the effect of establishing proof of a right or a fact”.
The penalty is severe: three years in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros.
Faced with the magnitude of document fraud, several devices are put in place, whether by the State, or by companies.
Some French higher education institutions provide employers with an online service to verify the authenticity of a diploma.
These platforms make it possible to confirm that a degree has Well issued by the establishment And that he corresponds to the announced course by the candidate.
The operation is as follows: the employer enters the diploma information (name of the holder, type of diploma, year of graduation) and the platform sends a confirmation of authenticity or reports an anomaly.
For some regulated professions (doctors, lawyers, pharmacists, architects...), diplomas alone are not enough: registration with a professional order is mandatory to exercise legally.
Professional orders then provide public directories available online. These databases make it possible to check whether a person is registered and therefore authorized to practice, or not.
Continue reading on the subject with our article 5 reasons to target fake document detection software !
While national credential verification platforms and government databases offer valuable tools for verifying the authenticity of documents, they do not always detect all forms of fraud. Les sophisticated falsifications or Foreign diplomas remain, in particular, difficult to verify.
This is where Finovox, a French startup specialized in detection of false documents. Thanks to its technology based on artificial intelligence, it is able to detect automatically falsified documents, including fake degrees.
The solution analyzes the metadata, the substructure And the graphic elements of a document to identify inconsistencies invisible to the naked eye.
This approach allows companies to quickly and effectively verify the authenticity of the supporting documents presented by a candidate.
Do you want to discover more? Do not hesitate to ask for a demo from one of our experts, they will be happy to help you.
