Hawaii's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) has warned residents about scams that leave buyers with a worthless degree or certificate, Hawaii News Now reported on 18 October.

The warning was delivered through the Hawaii Post-secondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP), which sits within the DCCA. According to the department's own website, HPEAP was created in 2013 and authorises certain post-secondary institutions that have a physical presence in the state.

How diploma mills operate

HPEAP administrator Jayson Horiuchi described diploma mills as businesses that sell credentials rather than education, issuing degrees or certificates without requiring genuine coursework. He cautioned that a purchased credential can damage job prospects rather than improve them, and that people who claim qualifications they did not earn may be dismissed and, depending on the circumstances, could face legal consequences.

The warning signs he listed include:

No real classes or assessed work. A degree granted entirely for life or work experience; accredited institutions may award limited credit for prior learning, but not a full degree. Promises of a degree within days, weeks or a couple of months; accelerated programmes exist, but they still demand sustained study.

Checking a school before paying

Residents were advised to confirm a school's accreditation through trusted sources and to use College Navigator, a free US Department of Education tool that shows graduation, retention and loan default rates for institutions. Anyone who believes they have been scammed was urged to report it to the Federal Trade Commission and to the DCCA's Office of Consumer Protection, with Horiuchi saying such reports help investigators identify fraudulent schools.

Relevance for students and employers in India

The same tactics are used to market so-called international or online degrees to Indian students and job seekers. Before enrolling, students can check whether a foreign institution is recognised by the education authority in its home country and whether its degrees are accepted for their intended purpose in India. Employers reviewing a foreign credential can confirm it directly with the awarding institution and the relevant national accreditation body, and treat degrees awarded only for experience, or within weeks, as a reason for closer scrutiny.

Sources

This News Desk report summarises information published by the sources above, written in our own words. Persons named in criminal matters are accused, not convicted, unless a court has ruled otherwise. To report an error, use our contact page.

diploma millsUnited Statesaccreditationonline degreesconsumer protection

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