Saudi Crown Prince, Italian PM Meloni discuss regional security in phone call    Musaned tops 2024 Beneficiary Satisfaction Index among 39 platforms with a rate of 96%    Saudi Arabia launches loan guarantees for SMEs to stimulate investment in environmental projects    Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah is among top three 5-star hospitals in Middle East and North Africa    Antenna: Saudi artist Ahmed Mater opens first solo exhibition in China    79 hospitality facilities in Makkah and Madinah face penalties for closure order violations    S&P upgrades Saudi Arabia's credit rating to A+    Trump orders 'decisive' military action against Houthis in Yemen    US Senate passes Republican spending bill to avert government shutdown    Zelenskyy says territorial control key to peace talks, rejects recognition of occupied regions    Pakistan says train hijacking death toll rises to 30, accuses India and Afghanistan of supporting militants    Al Nassr climbs to third with dominant win over Al Khaleej, Al Qadsiah slips after loss to Damac    CEDA reviews role of reforms in diversification of economy and surge in non-oil revenues    Crown Prince receives Yazeed Al-Rajhi after historic Dakar Rally 2025 victory    Saleh Al-Shehri's late penalty rescues Al Ittihad against Al Riyadh    SR17 million fines slapped on 16 individuals and companies convicted of violating Capital Market Law    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Man lives for 100 days with titanium heart in successful new trial    Argentinian court begins trial of seven healthcare professionals over Maradona's death    Singer Wheesung who wooed Korea with his ballads, found dead at 43    Prince Frederik of Luxembourg dies from rare disease    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Axact is not alone
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 27 - 05 - 2015


Molouk Y. Ba-Isa
Saudi Gazette


“Vindicated,” that's how Declan Walsh of The New York Times described my reaction to Axact's current predicament in his report, “Pakistan widens inquiry into fake diplomas.”
The Pakistani company that bills itself as the “World's Leading IT Company,” is facing increasing scrutiny from government investigators over Walsh's allegations that it has “made millions selling fake degrees through a sprawling empire of school websites.”
Walsh uncovered the extent of the fraud, but back on October 6, 2009, while working for Arab News, I authored a story, “Degree fraud attracts global players.”
In that report, I revealed Axact's connection to Rochville University, a diploma mill that was selling fake degrees in the United States.
The article focused on the awarding of a Master's degree in Business Administration to a pug named Chester Ludlow. In 2009, internet search and social media weren't what they are now.
By email, the dog's owner had provided me with a scan of the DHL shipping label showing that the fake degree had been sent from Dubai. I started making phone calls.
It took three days to find someone in DHL in Dubai who would give me the information needed to track the fake degree back to its origin.
The document did not originate from Dubai but had been transferred to DHL by a freight forwarder, “First Flight.” The freight forwarder had received the package containing the fake degree at their office in Karachi. The shipping fee had been paid in cash. The sender was Axact Private Limited.
The report identifying Axact as the source of the fake degree was published on October 6, 2009 in print and online.
On October 7, 2009, I received an email from Abdul Karim Khan & Company with a subject line “Cease and Desist.” The email was sent from [email protected], copied to [email protected].
Abdul Karim Khan & Company, claimed to be “Advocates, Attorneys and Legal Consultants,” located at Suite No. 1108, 11th Floor, Kashif Centre, Sharah-e-Faisal, Karachi.
The email stated that the lawyers represented Axact (Pvt.) Ltd and they were putting forward a Cease and Desist Letter authored by Fahim ul Karim.
The letter demanded that the article published on October 6 be removed from arabnews.com or prosecution would proceed. Arab News was also included and threatened in the Cease and Desist Letter.
Immediately, I was asked by senior Arab News staff to provide evidence for all allegations in my report. I turned over my notes and the taped interview with Vicky Phillips, the founder of GetEducated.com, whose dog had been awarded the degree.
I provided telephone numbers for the shippers in Dubai and images of the shipping label. Within a week of the first email, the legal documents arrived from Pakistan to Jeddah by courier.
Once the article had been up on the website for two weeks, senior management at the newspaper made the decision to take the report down to stop any lawsuit.
However, no apology was issued and my report was never retracted. I continued to dig for information about Axact's illegal activities.
I found that Axact, serving as the defendant, had lost a legal dispute in the UK involving its fraudulent registration of two .co.uk domain names: essayrelief.co.uk and originalthesiswriting.co.uk.
By email, I sent all the information I had uncovered to a government official in Pakistan. He did nothing. Meanwhile, fraudulent educational credentials continued to be sold, causing damage to employers who were unknowingly hiring unqualified staff.
It might be thought that Axact is the only Pakistani company involved in questionable activities targeting people desperate for better jobs.
Unfortunately, that is not true. Mirza Asrar Baig, CEO, IT Matrix, who has assisted me in other cybercrime investigations, stated that supposed “HR recruitment agencies” have set up in Pakistan, reaching out globally through the internet.
“These HR recruiters use social media, including LinkedIn.com, to promise people jobs that do not exist,” Baig advised. “We have seen that these companies are registered in Pakistan and their email addresses belong to internet domains registered to Pakistani addresses.
Their goal is to get people to pay recruitment fees for jobs that never materialize. While similar scams are running out of other nations, it is incumbent on the Pakistani authorities to close down the illegal activity within their borders.”
What was done by Axact with the millions made from its fraudulent degree business can only be speculated upon at this time.
However, with money laundering and terrorism financing on the rise, the use of those funds must be thoroughly investigated.
Reports state that Interpol and the FBI have been asked for assistance in scrutinizing Axact's activities and accounts. That may keep the criminal activity from being hidden and ignored.
My thanks go out to all those who have helped to publicize Axact's alleged malfeasance. Keep up the good work.


Clic here to read the story from its source.