High Court finally halts internet trade in fake degrees

An entrepreneur selling fake degree certificates on the internet has been hit with a High Court injunction, over two years after The THES exposed the controversial business, writes Phil Baty.

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and the Standing Conference of Principals have coordinated a joint action on behalf of 146 universities and colleges against Merseyside businessman Peter Quinn.

This week the High Court granted an interim injunction to stop Mr Quinn from advertising, producing or selling any documents purporting to have been produced by the 146. CVCP and SCOP are claiming trademark and copyright infringement.

The THES revealed in February 1997 that Mr Quinn was offering fake degree certificates for Pounds 70 each to those "who have never had a chance at a university or college education". His internet site promised certificates from almost any institution that would be "accepted at face value as the genuine article".

Police have had problems establishing whether the business was illegal, as Mr Quinn had claimed the certificates were "purely for fun". But Sheffield University was fooled when it accepted an applicant with fake A-level certificates sold by him.

Police have warned that students using the fake certificates to gain a university place or a job could be charged with "pecuniary advantage by deception".

Under the injunction, Mr Quinn must give CVCP solicitors the names and addresses of

everyone who has supplied him, and everyone he has supplied with fake documents.