Belford University was an organization that offered online unaccredited degrees for "life experience". The organization maintained a post office box in Humble, Texas, but its certificates were mailed from the United Arab Emirates.[1] Along with many similar websites, it was owned by the Karachi-based company Axact, the main business of which, according to an investigation by The New York Times, is "to take the centuries-old scam of selling fake academic degrees and turn it into an Internet-era scheme on a global scale".[2] In July 2018, Shoaib Ahmed Sheikh, the CEO of Axact was arrested and sentenced to prison for 20 years for his role in perpetuating this scam.[3]
On August 31, 2012, Belford University was shut down and its alleged founder, Salem Kureshi, "ordered to pay $22.7 million in damages".[4] "The judgment established the truth of allegations that Belford High School and Belford University are fake schools that do not actually exist."[5] Court documents from McClusley v. Belford University revealed that Belford University was run by 30-year-old Salem Kureshi from his apartment in Karachi, Pakistan.[6][7] The court found that Kureshi "operates a sophisticated internet ripoff scheme through various websites, which falsely represent the existence of an accredited and legitimate high school, whose diplomas will be widely accepted by employers, professional associations, other schools, colleges and universities".[6] Kureshi has admitted that he created 44 online universities and more than 100 promotional websites. "With an inkjet printer, a Microsoft Word template, and a few cheap websites, Kureshi allegedly became an overnight millionaire."[8]
^Walsh, Declan (17 May 2015). "Fake Diplomas, Real Cash: Pakistani Company Axact Reaps Millions". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
^Asad, Malik (July 5, 2018). "Axact CEO, 22 others sentenced to 20 years in jail in fake degrees case". Dawn. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
^"Rochville University Scam. Read reviews, comments, ratings and more". 2012-03-17. Archived from the original on March 17, 2012. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
^The Googasian Firm, P.C. "Belford Class Action Lawsuit". Retrieved 25 February 2013.
^ ab"McCluskey v. Belford University" (PDF). Retrieved 25 February 2013.
^Rogalski, Jeremy. "Alleged diploma mill program traced to Pakistan". KHOU 11 News I-Team. KHOU.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
^Coalition for Advocates of Online Education. "Kureshi's Extravagant Global Diploma Mill Scam". Online Consumer Fraud Monitoring Advocates of America. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
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