5 Ways to easily identify fake certificates!

by Imane Mourassilo | Nov 11, 2022 | All Articles, Blockchain, Business, Education, Technology, Trending

With the emergence of all kinds of fake certificates and diploma mills, coming across unscrupulous candidates with fake certificates has become a new norm for recruiters and higher education universities.

This phenomenon has led many institutions to take consistent measures to limit the damage that fake certificates can cause them in terms of money, time and reputation-wise. And most importantly, making sure that a fraudster doesn’t take the spot of a more deserving individual, be it a job position or for student enrollment.

However, recognizing a fake diploma can be challenging. Here are five ways to detect fake certificates.

1) Inspecting the Design and components

Let’s start with the most obvious measure: Inspecting the Design

As simple as it may seem, this might be your key to identifying the fake certificate from the genuine one. You need to pay extra attention and check the following:

If it has any verification code
If it’s embossed
If it has a branded seal
If there’s a hologram watermark (can be visible in the light)
If it has a Written Signature
Do not contain spelling mistakes ( Not Printed)

Another giveaway is using outdated typographical fonts, such as ornate or Gothic Typeface. Many fraudsters use it as a technic to make the certificate appears more academic and sophisticated. Still, you know now that it is nothing but an outdated scam.

Lastly, to be more cautious, check the certificate’s symbol on the university website. If you’re still unsure, you can ask the candidate to bring the original certificate instead of the photocopy. That will make it easier for you to pinpoint the matters mentioned earlier.

2) Pay attention to the language.

You can pick up many warning signs from thoroughly analyzing the language of the certificates. ( Inspected Thoroughly)

For instance, Latin terminology should be a warning as it is rarely used nowadays. Certain expressions are used depending on the country. In The US, for example, the phrase ‘cum laude’ is widely used in certificates. In contrast, the United Kingdom institutions use mostly ‘with honours’ Instead. For southeast Asia, the use of “Distinction” is more common.

Refrain from being suspicious only of certificates with weak language. Beware of those tries too hard to sound refined and intellectual as well.

3) Double-check the University location

Fake university websites usually provide fabricated contact information or use the wrong properties, sometimes even suspicious Domaine links.

An effective way to identify fake degrees via location or Domaine is to:

1) Notice inconsistencies or insufficiencies in the address

2) Obtain confirmation of the University’s address

3) Use Google or another mapping platform to locate the exact address provided and see if it’s a bogus university, as sometimes the certificates

4) Check the suffix used by the universities in that specific country. For example, in Malaysia, most universities use “.edu.my” at the end of their Domaine, which is carefully restricted.

5) Trust your guts if you doubt the university website address. It probably isn’t.

The good news is that many government bodies are making Domaine name providers work to shut down such sites that impressions an established university.

4) Contacting the source:

As the forgery techniques are becoming more advanced, identifying fake certificates is becoming more challenging. It is, therefore, critical to contact the institutions that supposedly issued these certificates.

This method is verification, although old-school, is the most effective way and is recommended when in doubt about a candidate.

5) Trust the professionals

Many individuals are reluctant to go through this verification process themselves as it is time-consuming and tiring, especially if it involves contacting several institutions and intermediaries. Not to mention the struggles if your certificates are undertaken overseas. That is when a professional solution to verify qualifications is the most effective option.

So How can Universities make their Certificates forgery-proof and easily verified by third parties?

Universities can stop this fake certificate phenomenon by implementing an effective certificate management and verification system, DocuTag. It is one of the solutions available; it’s an all-in-one certification management solution that simplifies the entire process of certificate issuance and verification.

How? Docutag uses blockchain, a technology that renders your certificates impossible to counterfeit. Our solution gives each of your credentials a unique QR code that anyone can scan to verify the authenticity of the certificates in seconds.

Want to find out more about DocuTag? Check out our website.

More About DocuTag

DocuTag allows universities to digitize their certification process and secure their certificates’ authenticity.

Docutag uses the latest technologies, such as blockchain, to give each of your certificates a unique QR code that can’t get copied and that anyone can scan to verify the authenticity of the certificates in seconds.

DocuTag enables the universities to: