Dr. John Bear, a consultant on the issue for the FBI for 13 years, has spoken to more than 500 people who have taken courses from diploma mills. Many are angry and defensive at first when the validity of the college and their diploma is questioned. Still, it's easy to be duped. He said several on-line universities use addresses in Canada, or the Caribbean, and are difficult to track down. People are with schools, but they have no idea where they are.
People wire money to banks without knowing where they are.
Checking with provincial or state education officials provides no magic solutions. Odds are good they haven't heard of it. It's a major, big-time business. A spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Education and colleges and universities says the province does not accredit or evaluate courses. Donna McMillan, of Mohawk College, agrees.