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31-year-old Umair Hamid, the vice president of Axact pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to prison for 21 months for his role in international diploma mill scheme. According to the Acting US Attorney Joon H. Kim, Hamid played an active role in plotting the scheme with Axact.
On 6th April 2017, Hamid from Karachi pleaded guilty for conspiring wire fraud. In addition to spending 21 months in prison, he has been ordered to forfeit $5,303,020 as well.
According to attorney H. Kim, “Umair Hamid and Axact operated a massive diploma mill that preyed on consumers who thought their tuition would pay for a college education. Instead, Hamid provided victims with worthless fake diplomas. Defendants like Hamid who profit from fake schools face very real penalties, including prison time.”
As per the statements and documents filed in the case of the court proceedings, it is stated the that the VP Hamid has an active contribution in plotting the scheme with his employer. “Hamid helped run a massive diploma mill through his employer, Axact, which has held itself out as one of the world’s leading information technology providers.”
According to the US Justice Department, “Hamid and his co-conspirators deceived individuals across the world, including throughout the US, into enrolling in supposed high schools, colleges, and universities. Consumers paid upfront fees, believing that in return they would be enrolled in real educational courses and, eventually, receive legitimate degrees. Instead, consumers received no instruction and worthless diplomas.”
As per the reports released that led to catching the culprits, Axact, while labelling themselves as the world’s largest service, made a series of fake websites where actors were paid to work as teachers.
The company had then given out fake degrees and diplomas to students all around the world. From the United States banks alone, the institution collected $140 million.
With the Vice President pleading guilty, the conclusion of Axact boils down to how they actively committed fraud with not only Pakistanis but tens and thousands of foreigners as well.
