Printing company faces lawsuit

By Sean Coughlan
BBC News education reporter

Higher Education institutions claim they are also being defrauded

Advanced workplace screening services are reporting a sharp increase in the use of counterfeit GCSE and A-level certificates .

An Oxfordshire based certificate replacement company, Boppsquare.co.uk is facing a lawsuit by qualifications and examinations regulator Ofqual.

Ofqual have accused the printing firm of copyright infringement and fuelling CV fraud.

But a spokesman for Boppsquare.co.uk says the identical replacement certificates are within legal boundaries as they are sold as novelty products.

University fees

"It's another example of universities turning into businesses. With increasing fees and a record high number of applicants, however not all graduates will get the job they feel they deserve, hence they will begin taking shortcuts" says Edward Hallam, spokesman for the printing firm explaining the increase in demand for their services.

The rise in students buying certificates, he claims, reflects the number of students studying in the UK with "very poor written and verbal skills with a very competitive job market".

As such they seek help from certificate printing services, he says, with some students buying amended certificates throughout their time in UK universities.

CV fraud

In 2014, 63% of all the confirmed employment frauds reported to Cifas, the UK's fraud prevention service, involved people lying about their education, former employment or qualifications.

This has serious consequences for employees and employers alike. But checking the veracity of all claims made on CVs is time-consuming, costly and difficult.

Digital Proof

There are piecemeal tools that help with some qualifications, but no over-arching system.

For instance, in the UK many universities subscribe to the Higher Education Degree Datacheck system that logs who got what at which university. It can also help unmask bogus universities and colleges.

Beyond that, firms have to interrogate search engines and social networks to test people's CV claims.

Accused Oliver Shaw, MD of the printing firm maintained at the trial that there was insufficient evidence proving intent to defraud employers.

If the case continues it will hear testimony from Pearson Edexcel and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

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