Axact: Difference between revisions

Axact Pvt. Ltd.
Native name	ایگزیکٹ
Industry	Software
Founded	1997
Founder	Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh
Headquarters	Karachi, Pakistan
Products	IT software, illegitimate academic qualifications
Owner	Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh
Website	www.axact.com

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Latest revision as of 12:32, 26 October 2024

Axact (Urdu: ایگزیکٹ) is a Pakistan software company that runs numerous websites selling fraudulent academic degrees for fictional universities.^[1] The company used to own the media company BOL Network.^[2]^[3]^[4]

History

Axact was founded by Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, who serves as its chairman. It is based in Karachi, and has over 2,000 employees.^[2] According to Shaikh, the company was founded in 1997 with fewer than 10 employees working in a single room. In 2013 he said Axact was the world's leading IT company and that it had eight broad-business units and products, more than 5,200 employees, and associated globally and as many as 8.3 million customers worldwide.^[5] The company website said in 2015 that the company had 10 diverse business units that offer more than 23 products, more than two billion users, and a global presence across 6 continents, 120 countries and 1,300 cities with more than 25,000 employees and associates.^[6] Axact's employee figures on its website contradict each other.

According to Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan records, the company was registered in June 2006 and had a paid up capital of Rs. 6 million (US$58,860) by 2010. Government records show that it paid an income tax of approximately Rs. 18,90,000 (US$18,543) for the year 2014, and that Shaikh paid a personal income tax of Rs. 26 (US$0.26) for the same year.^[6]

In September 2018, Shoaib Shaikh, the owner and CEO was arrested and sentenced to 20 years for the scam along with 22 of his staff members.^[7]

Fake diplomas scandal

The New York Times investigation

On 17 May 2015, The New York Times published an investigative story reporting that Axact ran at least 370 degree and accreditation mill websites. The report alleged that, although the company did sell software, its main business was to sell fraudulent degrees and certifications on a global scale.^[2] The Times further reported that the company had around 2,000 employees, some of whom pretended to be American educational officials and worked in shifts to keep the company open 24 hours per day.^[2]

Company response

Axact denied all allegations.^[8]^[9] The company accused The New York Times of "baseless, substandard reporting", and of sabotaging its expansion into TV and related media with BOL Network, which was scheduled to begin operations soon. It also threatened several news organizations and bloggers reporting on the issue with lawsuits.^[10]

Initially, Shoaib denied any association with the fake educational websites besides selling them software. He later claimed that Axact did provide office support and call center services to the websites, but it did not itself "issue any degree or diploma, whether fake or real."^[11]

Investigations

Following the publication of the New York Times article, Pakistan's interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan directed the country's Federal Investigation Agency to begin inquiry into whether the company was involved in any illegal business.^[12] Following the interior minister's order, a cyber crime team of the FIA raided Axact's offices in Karachi and Islamabad and seized computers, recorded statements of employees, and took into custody 25 employees of the company and 28 employees from Rawalpindi office.^[13]^[14] The FIA team found and seized several blank degrees as well as fake letterhead of the US State Department.^[15] The investigation was transferred from the FIA's cyber crime department to its corporate department.^[16]^{[citation needed]}

On 26 May 2015, the Federal Investigation Agency arrested Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh for investigation.^[17]^[18] As the FBR had received intelligence that BOL had been using illegal equipment, Shoaib was ordered to submit evidence of legitimate procurement.^[19] On 5 June 2015, Ayesha Sheikh, Shoaib's wife was indicted on charges of money laundering in connection with Axact and BOL.^[20]

The issue was also taken up in the Senate of Pakistan where Chairman of the Senate Raza Rabbani constituted a committee to probe into the issue.^[14] Pakistan's tax authorities and the SECP also initiated investigations into the company.^[11]

It is alleged that Axact took money from over 215,000 people in 197 countries; that the CEO Shoaib Shaikh is the owner of several shell companies in the US and other Caribbean countries that were used to route the monies into Pakistan; that Shaikh used an alias on documentation linked to these offshore companies; that Shaikh became a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis, a small Caribbean island nation that sells passports to rich investors; that Axact sales agents' employees used "threats and false promises" and impersonated government officials to take money from customers generally in the Middle East; and that the company earned at least US$89 million in its final year of operation.^[21]

Aftermath

Axact CEO Shoaib was acquitted of money laundering charges in August 2016.

Shoaib was initially acquitted of all other related criminal charges, but this was reversed when it became clear that the presiding judge had been bribed.^[22]

During the investigations, Pakistan Chief Justice called the scam a national shame.^[23] In 2018, Shoaib and 22 others were convicted and sentenced to 7 years in prison. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs1.3 million on each of the convicts.^[24]

In December 2016, Axact's Assistant Vice President of International Relations Umair Hamid was arrested in the United States. He was charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in a US federal district court for his Axact-related activities.^[25]^[26]^[27]^[28] Hamid was found guilty in August 2017 and sentenced to 21 months in prison.^[29]

In March 2023, Shoaib was arrested and remanded to custody on a charge of bribing the judge in the 2016 case to secure an acquittal. Shoaib was reported in the 2023 bribery case to have confessed to having completed a transaction worth Rs1,500,000 to the judge in the prior case.^[30]

Shoaib has since been acquitted of all charges by the Sindh High Court and the Islamabad High Court.^[31]

Further revelations

Most of Axact's revenues from its fake diploma sales came from the United Arab Emirates, where hundreds of residents used Axact diplomas to obtain high-paying jobs.^[32] Axact sold over 200,000 fake degrees in Gulf countries.^[33] More recently, Axact employees have impersonated Emirati government officials in an effort to extort "legalisation fees" from unsuspecting fake degree and diploma holders in that country.^[34]

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's television series Marketplace carried out an investigation into the prevalence of fake academic credentials in September 2017. The documentary focused on Canadians with fake degrees occupying positions such as college instructors and medical doctors. All fraudulent certificates were found to be from Axact.^[35]^{[further explanation needed]}

Employee leak

In February 2024, the IT podcast Darknet Diaries published excerpts from an interview with a former Axact sales employee in episode 142 ("Axact"), who provided insights into the company's alleged sales strategy. According to the witness, Axact was able to develop a completely new website for non-existent universities within days. Axact created very detailed profiles of its potential victims. For example, passwords were stored in plain text and then used to log into social media accounts. These profiles were then used to personalize the marketing of said fake universities by exploiting psychological weaknesses. The former employee also alleged that Axact invented not only its universities, but also accreditations, including from a US politician. Further, while the employee didn't believe that Axact sold medical degrees, the podcast mentions Canadian broadcaster CBC being able to track down a practitioner with a fake degree from Axact.^[36]

Network of websites

A New York Times investigation identified more than 370 websites associated with Axact's alleged fake diploma operations, including 145 sites for fictitious universities, 41 for high schools, 18 for fake accreditation boards, and 121 degree portals.^[10] The following is an incomplete list of those websites:

Educational websites

Accredited Degrees Pro^[37]
Accredited Online Degrees Now^[37]
Adamsville University^[37]
Advance Online Degrees^[37]
Affordable Accredited Degrees^[37]
Affordable Degrees Pro^[37]
Al Arab University^[37]
Al Khaleej University^[37]
Al Khalifa American University^[37]
Alford High School^[37]
Almeda University
Alpine University^[37]
American Gulf University^[37]
American Mideast University^[37]
Anchor Point University^[37]
Arab Continental University^[37]
Arab Women University^[37]
Ashbery University^[37]
Ashley University^[37]
Ashwood University^[38]
Bakerville University^[37]
Barkley University^[37]
Bay View University^[37]
Baycity University^[37]
Baytown University^[37]
Beacon Falls High School^[37]
Belford High School^[2]
Belford University^[2]
Belltown University^[37]
Branton University^[37]
Brooklyn Park University^[37]
Brooksville High School^[37]
Brooksville University^[37]
Buffville High School^[37]
California Creek University^[38]
Cambell State University^[37]
Camp Lake University^[37]
Chapel University^[37]
Columbiana University^[37]
Corllins University^[38]
Creek View University^[37]
Crestford University^[37]
Drumount University
Fast Online University^[37]
Federal High School^[37]
Ford Worth High School^[37]
Fort Jones University^[37]
Foster City High School^[37]
Galewood University^[37]
Gatesville University
Gene Kranz University^[37]
Gibson University^[37]
Glenford University^[37]
Global Institute of English Language Training and Certification^[37]
Grant Town University^[37]
GreenLake University^[37]
Grendal University^[37]
Hadly University^[37]
Hansford University^[37]
Harvey University^[37]
Headway University^[37]
High School Diploma Experience^[37]
High School Diploma Fast^[37]
High School Diploma Pro^[37]
High School Diploma Professionals^[37]
High School Diploma Profs^[37]
Hill Online Degrees^[37]
Hill University^[37]
James Adam University^[37]
James Harding University^[37]
Jersey High School^[37]
Johnstown University^[37]
Kennedy University^[37]
Kings Lake University^[37]
Kingsbridge University^[37]
Laurus University^[37]
Lorenz High School^[37]
Luther City High School^[37]
Madison Hills University^[37]
Mary Grand High School^[37]
Mayfield University^[37]
McCain High School^[37]
McFord High School^[37]
McFord University^[37]
McGraw Online Degrees^[37]
McGraw University^[37]
McHill High School^[37]
McKinley University^[37]
Midtown University^[37]
Mount Lincoln University^[37]
MUST University^[38]
Nelson Bay University^[37]
Nicholson University^[37]
Nixon University^[37]
Northern Port University^[37]
Northway University^[37]
Oscarmount University
Olford Walters University^[37]
Online University Profs^[37]
Online University Programs Pro^[37]
Olympia Creek University ^[37]
Oxdell University
Pacific High School^[37]
Panworld High School^[37]
Panworld University^[37]
Paramount California University^[37]
Parkfield University^[37]
Payne Springs University^[37]
Pine Hill University^[37]
Pittsford University^[37]
Port Jefferson University^[37]
Queen City University^[37]
Queens Bay University^[37]
Queensville University^[37]
Ray University^[37]
Redding University^[37]
Riverwood University^[37]
Rochville University^[37]
Roseville Community College^[37]
St. Angelo High School^[37]
Stenford High School^[37]
Thompson University^[37]
Universal Online Degrees^[37]
Victorville High School^[37]
WalesBridge University^[37]
Walford University^[37]
West Coast High School^[37]
Western Advanced Central University^[37]
Western Valley Central University^[37]
Westland University^[37]
Wilburton University^[37]
Wiley University^[37]
Wilford University^[37]
Willington University^[37]
WinFord High School^[37]
Windham University^[37]
Woodbridge University^[37]
Woodfield High School^[37]
Woodfield University^[37]
Woodrow University^[37]

Accreditation websites

Accreditation Bureau of Online Education and Training^[37]
Arab Accreditation Council^[37]
Association for Accreditation of Business Schools and Programs^[37]
European Accreditation Board for Online Education^[37]
European Accreditation Council for Online Learning^[37]
Global Accreditation Board for Distance Learning^[37]
Global Doctorate Council^[37]
Gulf Accreditation Council^[37]
Gulf Bureau of Higher Education^[37]
Gulf Engineering Council^[37]
International Accreditation Board for Business Studies^[37]
International Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Education^[37]
Education International Accreditation Board for Psychology Education^[37]
Education International Accreditation Council for Open Education^[37]
International Accreditation Organization^[37]
International Business Accreditation and Regulatory Commission^[37]
International Medical Science Commission Ghotki.^[37]

References

^ "Pakistan jails Axact boss over $140m fake diploma scam". gulfnews.com. 26 September 2018. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Declan Walsh (May 17, 2015). "Fake Diplomas, Real Cash: Pakistani Company Axact Reaps Millions". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
^ "Former Axactian reveals he lured customers into buying degrees from Karachi office". GEO. May 26, 2015. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
^ "Unabated disclosures: Axact's ex-employee spills the beans". Express Tribune. May 26, 2015. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
^ Shah, Benazir; Mohydin, Rimmel (13 October 2013). "Axactly Right". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
^ ^a ^b Devjyot Ghoshal (18 May 2015). "The Pakistani man accused of making millions from fake degrees paid 26 cents in tax last year". Quartz. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
^ Mazhar Marouqui. "Pakistan jails Axact boss over $140m fake diploma scam". Quartz. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
^ "Fake degrees? Axact-ly!". Pakistan Today. 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
^ Kugelman, Michael (18 May 2015). "The Axact Scandal and Pakistan's Growing Tech Sector". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
^ ^a ^b Imtiaz, Saba; Walsh, Declan (20 May 2015). "Pakistani Investigators Raid Offices of Axact, Fake Diploma Company". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
^ ^a ^b Walsh, Declan (22 May 2015). "Pakistan Widens Inquiry Into Fake Diplomas". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
^ "Chaudhry Nisar orders inquiry into NYT report on Axact". Dawn. 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
^ "FIA raids Axact's offices, computers confiscated". Daily Pakistan Global. 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
^ ^a ^b "An Insider Discloses How Axact Seduces Individuals With Certified US Degrees". Today Streams. 20 May 2015. Archived from the original on 12 June 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
^ "Live Updates: Dozens of Axact employees detained for questioning after FIA raids in Karachi & Islamabad — 2 main servers to be shut down". ARY News. 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
^ Castel, J.-G. (1969-12-31). "Custody Orders - Jurisdiction and Recognition". Alberta Law Review: 15. doi:10.29173/alr2404. ISSN 1925-8356.
^ Imtiaz Ali (27 May 2015). "FIR registered against Axact CEO, six others in fake degree scam". Dawn. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
^ "Axact CEO Shoaib Shaikh arrested". Dunya News. 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
^ "Equipment at Bol TV 'imported illegally'". The Express Tribune. 2015-05-26. Archived from the original on 2016-09-18. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
^ "Axct Scandal: FIA likely to arrest Shoaib Sheikh's wife". thenewstribe. thenewstribe. Archived from the original on 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
^ Walsh, Declan (10 April 2016). "Behind Fake Degrees From Pakistan, a Maze of Deceit and a Case in Peril". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
^ Asad, Malik (2018-07-05). "Axact CEO, 22 others sentenced to 20 years in jail in fake degrees case". dawn.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
^ "Axact scam embarrassed the country globally: CJP". tribune.com.pk. January 19, 2018. Archived from the original on 11 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
^ "Axact CEO, 22 others sentenced to 20 years in jail in fake degrees case". dawn.com. July 5, 2018. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
^ "US charges Pakistani executive in $140m fake diploma scheme". dawn.com. 22 December 2016. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
^ "Axact executive could face 20 years in US prison over fake degree scam". www.geo.tv. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
^ "Fake-diploma mill: US authorities charge Axact official in $140m scam". tribune.com.pk. 23 December 2016. Archived from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
^ "Pakistani man charged in $140 million 'diploma mill' fraud in US - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dnaindia.com. 23 December 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
^ Helen Clifton & Matthew Chapman (2018-01-16). "'Staggering' trade in fake degrees revealed". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2018-01-16. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
^ Geo News, Arfa Feroz Zake (13 March 2023). "Axact CEO Shoaib Shaikh's remand extended for two days". Geo.tv. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
^ Usborne, David (January 2024) [27 May 2015]. "Fake degrees: Software tycoon arrested as police investigate credentials from 'Barkley' and 'Columbiana'". Independent.
^ "Exposed: VPs, CEOs with fake degrees in the UAE". www.xpress4me.com. May 27, 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-03-21.
^ "Xpress". Archived from the original on 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
^ "www.xpress4me.com". Xpress. Archived from the original on 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
^ "Fake Degrees - Exposing Canadians with phoney credentials". CBC Marketplace. 2017-09-15. Archived from the original on 2017-11-25.
^ "Axact – Darknet Diaries". darknetdiaries.com. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae ^af ^ag ^ah ^ai ^aj ^ak ^al ^am ^an ^ao ^ap ^aq ^ar ^as ^at ^au ^av ^aw ^ax ^ay ^az ^ba ^bb ^bc ^bd ^be ^bf ^bg ^bh ^bi ^bj ^bk ^bl ^bm ^bn ^bo ^bp ^bq ^br ^bs ^bt ^bu ^bv ^bw ^bx ^by ^bz ^ca ^cb ^cc ^cd ^ce ^cf ^cg ^ch ^ci ^cj ^ck ^cl ^cm ^cn ^co ^cp ^cq ^cr ^cs ^ct ^cu ^cv ^cw ^cx ^cy ^cz ^da ^db ^dc ^dd ^de ^df ^dg ^dh ^di ^dj ^dk ^dl ^dm ^dn ^do ^dp ^dq ^dr ^ds ^dt ^du ^dv ^dw ^dx ^dy ^dz ^ea ^eb ^ec ^ed ^ee ^ef ^eg ^eh ^ei ^ej ^ek ^el ^em ^en ^eo ^ep Palmer, Griff (17 May 2015). "Tracking Axact's Websites". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "List of schools linked to Axact - Marketplace - CBC News". Archived from the original on 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2019-01-29.

External links

Official website

[1] "Pakistan jails Axact boss over $140m fake diploma scam". gulfnews.com. 26 September 2018. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.

[nyt-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Declan Walsh (May 17, 2015). "Fake Diplomas, Real Cash: Pakistani Company Axact Reaps Millions". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2017.

[thenews.com.pk-3] "Former Axactian reveals he lured customers into buying degrees from Karachi office". GEO. May 26, 2015. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.

[tribune-4] "Unabated disclosures: Axact's ex-employee spills the beans". Express Tribune. May 26, 2015. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.

[Newsweek-5] Shah, Benazir; Mohydin, Rimmel (13 October 2013). "Axactly Right". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2015.

[qz-6] Devjyot Ghoshal (18 May 2015). "The Pakistani man accused of making millions from fake degrees paid 26 cents in tax last year". Quartz. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.

[7] Mazhar Marouqui. "Pakistan jails Axact boss over $140m fake diploma scam". Quartz. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2019.

[pt-8] "Fake degrees? Axact-ly!". Pakistan Today. 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.

[9] Kugelman, Michael (18 May 2015). "The Axact Scandal and Pakistan's Growing Tech Sector". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.

[NYT_20May2015-10] Imtiaz, Saba; Walsh, Declan (20 May 2015). "Pakistani Investigators Raid Offices of Axact, Fake Diploma Company". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.

[NYT_22May2015-11] Walsh, Declan (22 May 2015). "Pakistan Widens Inquiry Into Fake Diplomas". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.

[12] "Chaudhry Nisar orders inquiry into NYT report on Axact". Dawn. 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.

[13] "FIA raids Axact's offices, computers confiscated". Daily Pakistan Global. 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.

[tribunes-14] "An Insider Discloses How Axact Seduces Individuals With Certified US Degrees". Today Streams. 20 May 2015. Archived from the original on 12 June 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.

[15] "Live Updates: Dozens of Axact employees detained for questioning after FIA raids in Karachi & Islamabad — 2 main servers to be shut down". ARY News. 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.

[16] Castel, J.-G. (1969-12-31). "Custody Orders - Jurisdiction and Recognition". Alberta Law Review: 15. doi:10.29173/alr2404. ISSN 1925-8356.

[dawn.com-17] Imtiaz Ali (27 May 2015). "FIR registered against Axact CEO, six others in fake degree scam". Dawn. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.

[dunyanews.tv-18] "Axact CEO Shoaib Shaikh arrested". Dunya News. 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2015.

[:0-19] "Equipment at Bol TV 'imported illegally'". The Express Tribune. 2015-05-26. Archived from the original on 2016-09-18. Retrieved 2016-09-17.

[20] "Axct Scandal: FIA likely to arrest Shoaib Sheikh's wife". thenewstribe. thenewstribe. Archived from the original on 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2023-05-30.

[21] Walsh, Declan (10 April 2016). "Behind Fake Degrees From Pakistan, a Maze of Deceit and a Case in Peril". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.

[22] Asad, Malik (2018-07-05). "Axact CEO, 22 others sentenced to 20 years in jail in fake degrees case". dawn.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 2023-05-30.

[23] "Axact scam embarrassed the country globally: CJP". tribune.com.pk. January 19, 2018. Archived from the original on 11 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.

[24] "Axact CEO, 22 others sentenced to 20 years in jail in fake degrees case". dawn.com. July 5, 2018. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2019.

[25] "US charges Pakistani executive in $140m fake diploma scheme". dawn.com. 22 December 2016. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.

[26] "Axact executive could face 20 years in US prison over fake degree scam". www.geo.tv. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.

[27] "Fake-diploma mill: US authorities charge Axact official in $140m scam". tribune.com.pk. 23 December 2016. Archived from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.

[28] "Pakistani man charged in $140 million 'diploma mill' fraud in US - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dnaindia.com. 23 December 2016. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.

[29] Helen Clifton & Matthew Chapman (2018-01-16). "'Staggering' trade in fake degrees revealed". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2018-01-16. Retrieved 2018-01-16.

[30] Geo News, Arfa Feroz Zake (13 March 2023). "Axact CEO Shoaib Shaikh's remand extended for two days". Geo.tv. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.

[31] Usborne, David (January 2024) [27 May 2015]. "Fake degrees: Software tycoon arrested as police investigate credentials from 'Barkley' and 'Columbiana'". Independent.

[32] "Exposed: VPs, CEOs with fake degrees in the UAE". www.xpress4me.com. May 27, 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-03-21.

[33] "Xpress". Archived from the original on 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2018-02-09.

[34] "www.xpress4me.com". Xpress. Archived from the original on 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2018-02-09.

[35] "Fake Degrees - Exposing Canadians with phoney credentials". CBC Marketplace. 2017-09-15. Archived from the original on 2017-11-25.

[36] "Axact – Darknet Diaries". darknetdiaries.com. Retrieved 2024-02-07.

[nytlist-37] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y ^z ^aa ^ab ^ac ^ad ^ae ^af ^ag ^ah ^ai ^aj ^ak ^al ^am ^an ^ao ^ap ^aq ^ar ^as ^at ^au ^av ^aw ^ax ^ay ^az ^ba ^bb ^bc ^bd ^be ^bf ^bg ^bh ^bi ^bj ^bk ^bl ^bm ^bn ^bo ^bp ^bq ^br ^bs ^bt ^bu ^bv ^bw ^bx ^by ^bz ^ca ^cb ^cc ^cd ^ce ^cf ^cg ^ch ^ci ^cj ^ck ^cl ^cm ^cn ^co ^cp ^cq ^cr ^cs ^ct ^cu ^cv ^cw ^cx ^cy ^cz ^da ^db ^dc ^dd ^de ^df ^dg ^dh ^di ^dj ^dk ^dl ^dm ^dn ^do ^dp ^dq ^dr ^ds ^dt ^du ^dv ^dw ^dx ^dy ^dz ^ea ^eb ^ec ^ed ^ee ^ef ^eg ^eh ^ei ^ej ^ek ^el ^em ^en ^eo ^ep Palmer, Griff (17 May 2015). "Tracking Axact's Websites". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.

[cbc.ca-38] "List of schools linked to Axact - Marketplace - CBC News". Archived from the original on 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2019-01-29.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|Degree mill}}
+{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
 {{Infobox company
 | name                = Axact Pvt. Ltd.
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-'''Axact''' ({{lang-ur|{{URDU|ایگزیکٹ}}}}) is a Pakistan [[software company]] that runs numerous [[diploma mill|websites selling fraudulent academic degrees]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistan-jails-axact-boss-over-140m-fake-diploma-scam-1.2283215|title=Pakistan jails Axact boss over $140m fake diploma scam|website=gulfnews.com}}</ref> The company also owns the media company [[BOL Network]].<ref name="nyt">{{cite news |author=Declan Walsh |author-link=Declan Walsh (journalist) |title=Fake Diplomas, Real Cash: Pakistani Company Axact Reaps Millions |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/18/world/asia/fake-diplomas-real-cash-pakistani-company-axact-reaps-millions-columbiana-barkley.html|newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 17, 2015}}</ref><ref name="thenews.com.pk">{{cite web | url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-185988-Former-Axactian-reveals-he-lured-customers-into-buying-degrees-from-Karachi-office | title=Former Axactian reveals he lured customers into buying degrees from Karachi office | publisher=GEO | date=May 26, 2015 | access-date=May 26, 2015}}</ref><ref name="tribune">{{cite web | url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/892395/unabated-disclosures-axacts-ex-employee-spills-the-beans/ | title=Unabated disclosures: Axact's ex-employee spills the beans | publisher=Express Tribune | date=May 26, 2015 | access-date=May 26, 2015}}</ref>
+'''Axact''' ({{langx|ur|{{URDU|ایگزیکٹ}}}}) is a Pakistan [[software company]] that runs numerous [[diploma mill|websites selling fraudulent academic degrees]] for fictional universities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pakistan jails Axact boss over $140m fake diploma scam |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistan-jails-axact-boss-over-140m-fake-diploma-scam-1.2283215 |website=gulfnews.com |date=26 September 2018 |access-date=11 January 2019 |archive-date=3 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103005319/https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistan-jails-axact-boss-over-140m-fake-diploma-scam-1.2283215 |url-status=live }}</ref> The company used to own the media company [[BOL Network]].<ref name="nyt">{{Cite news |last=Declan Walsh |author-link=Declan Walsh (journalist) |date=May 17, 2015 |title=Fake Diplomas, Real Cash: Pakistani Company Axact Reaps Millions |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/18/world/asia/fake-diplomas-real-cash-pakistani-company-axact-reaps-millions-columbiana-barkley.html |access-date=March 1, 2017 |archive-date=May 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509065740/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/18/world/asia/fake-diplomas-real-cash-pakistani-company-axact-reaps-millions-columbiana-barkley.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="thenews.com.pk">{{Cite web |date=May 26, 2015 |title=Former Axactian reveals he lured customers into buying degrees from Karachi office |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-185988-Former-Axactian-reveals-he-lured-customers-into-buying-degrees-from-Karachi-office |access-date=May 26, 2015 |publisher=GEO |archive-date=May 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526064527/http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-185988-Former-Axactian-reveals-he-lured-customers-into-buying-degrees-from-Karachi-office |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="tribune">{{Cite web |date=May 26, 2015 |title=Unabated disclosures: Axact's ex-employee spills the beans |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/892395/unabated-disclosures-axacts-ex-employee-spills-the-beans/ |access-date=May 26, 2015 |publisher=Express Tribune |archive-date=May 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526132133/http://tribune.com.pk/story/892395/unabated-disclosures-axacts-ex-employee-spills-the-beans/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
 == History ==
-Axact was founded by [[Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh]], who serves as its chairman. It is based in [[Karachi]], and has over 2,000 employees.<ref name="nyt"/>  According to Shaikh, the company was founded in 1997 with fewer than 10 employees working in a single room. In 2013 he said Axact was the world's leading IT company and that it had eight broad-business units and products, more than 5,200 employees, and associated globally and as many as 8.3 million customers worldwide.<ref name=Newsweek>{{cite news|last1=Shah|first1=Benazir|last2=Mohydin|first2=Rimmel|title=Axactly Right|url=http://newsweekpakistan.com/axactly-right/|access-date=23 May 2015|work=Newsweek|date=13 October 2013}}</ref> The company website said in 2015 that the company had 10 diverse business units that offer more than 23 products, more than two billion users, and a global presence across 6 continents, 120 countries and 1,300 cities with more than 25,000 employees and associates.<ref name= "qz">{{cite web|url=http://qz.com/406701/the-pakistani-man-accused-of-making-millions-from-fake-degrees-paid-26-cents-in-tax-last-year/|title=The Pakistani man accused of making millions from fake degrees paid 26 cents in tax last year|author=Devjyot Ghoshal|work=Quartz|access-date=19 May 2015}}</ref>
+Axact was founded by [[Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh]], who serves as its chairman. It is based in [[Karachi]], and has over 2,000 employees.<ref name="nyt" />  According to Shaikh, the company was founded in 1997 with fewer than 10 employees working in a single room. In 2013 he said Axact was the world's leading IT company and that it had eight broad-business units and products, more than 5,200 employees, and associated globally and as many as 8.3 million customers worldwide.<ref name="Newsweek">{{Cite news |last1=Shah |first1=Benazir |last2=Mohydin |first2=Rimmel |date=13 October 2013 |title=Axactly Right |work=Newsweek |url=http://newsweekpakistan.com/axactly-right/ |access-date=23 May 2015 |archive-date=2 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102202253/http://newsweekpakistan.com/axactly-right/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The company website said in 2015 that the company had 10 diverse business units that offer more than 23 products, more than two billion users, and a global presence across 6 continents, 120 countries and 1,300 cities with more than 25,000 employees and associates.<ref name="qz">{{Cite web |last=Devjyot Ghoshal |title=The Pakistani man accused of making millions from fake degrees paid 26 cents in tax last year |url=http://qz.com/406701/the-pakistani-man-accused-of-making-millions-from-fake-degrees-paid-26-cents-in-tax-last-year/ |access-date=19 May 2015 |website=Quartz |date=18 May 2015 |archive-date=20 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520000944/http://qz.com/406701/the-pakistani-man-accused-of-making-millions-from-fake-degrees-paid-26-cents-in-tax-last-year/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Axact's employee figures on its website contradict each other.
-According to [[Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan]] records, the company was registered in June 2006 and had a [[share capital|paid up capital]] of [[Pakistani rupee|Rs.]] 6 million ({{USD|58,860}}) by 2010. Government records show that it paid an income tax of approximately  Rs. 18,90,000 ({{USD|18,543}}) for the year 2014, and that Shaikh paid a personal income tax of Rs. 26 ({{USD|0.26}}) for the same year.<ref name= "qz"/>
+According to [[Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan]] records, the company was registered in June 2006 and had a [[share capital|paid up capital]] of [[Pakistani rupee|Rs.]] 6 million ({{USD|58,860}}) by 2010. Government records show that it paid an income tax of approximately  Rs. 18,90,000 ({{USD|18,543}}) for the year 2014, and that Shaikh paid a personal income tax of Rs. 26 ({{USD|0.26}}) for the same year.<ref name="qz" />
-In September 2018, Shoaib Shaikh, the owner and CEO was arrested and sentenced to 20 years for the scam along with 22 of his staff members.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistan-jails-axact-boss-over-140m-fake-diploma-scam-1.2283215/|title=Pakistan jails Axact boss over $140m fake diploma scam|author=Mazhar Marouqui|work=Quartz|access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref>
+In September 2018, Shoaib Shaikh, the owner and CEO was arrested and sentenced to 20 years for the scam along with 22 of his staff members.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mazhar Marouqui |title=Pakistan jails Axact boss over $140m fake diploma scam |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistan-jails-axact-boss-over-140m-fake-diploma-scam-1.2283215/ |access-date=January 11, 2019 |website=Quartz |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008222841/https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistan-jails-axact-boss-over-140m-fake-diploma-scam-1.2283215 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 ==Fake diplomas scandal==
 === ''The New York Times'' investigation===
-On {{date|2015-05-17}}, ''[[The New York Times]]'' published an investigative story reporting that Axact ran at least 370 [[diploma mill|degree]] and [[accreditation mill]] websites. The report said that although the company did sell software, chiefly website design and smartphone applications, its main business was "to take the centuries-old scam of selling fake academic degrees and turn it into an Internet-era scheme on a global scale." The ''Times'' further reported that the company had around 2,000 employees, some of whom pretended to be American educational officials and worked in shifts to keep the company open 24 hours per day.<ref name="nyt" />
+On 17 May 2015, ''[[The New York Times]]'' published an investigative story reporting that Axact ran at least 370 [[diploma mill|degree]] and [[accreditation mill]] websites. The report alleged that, although the company did sell software, its main business was to sell fraudulent degrees and certifications on a global scale.<ref name="nyt" /> The ''Times'' further reported that the company had around 2,000 employees, some of whom pretended to be American educational officials and worked in shifts to keep the company open 24 hours per day.<ref name="nyt" />
 ===Company response===
-Axact has denied all the allegations.<ref name="pt">{{cite news|title=Fake degrees? Axact-ly!|url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/05/19/national/fake-degrees-axact-ly/|access-date=19 May 2015|work=Pakistan Today|date=19 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kugelman|first1=Michael|title=The Axact Scandal and Pakistan's Growing Tech Sector|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/05/18/the-axact-scandal-and-pakistans-growing-tech-sector/|access-date=19 May 2015|work=Wall Street Journal|date=18 May 2015}}</ref> The company accused ''The New York Times'' of "baseless, substandard reporting" as part of a plot by rival news organizations to stop the [[BOL Network]], which was scheduled to start operations soon. It also threatened several news organizations and bloggers reporting on the issue with lawsuits.<ref name="NYT 20May2015">{{cite news|last1=Imtiaz|first1=Saba|last2=Walsh|first2=Declan|title=Pakistani Investigators Raid Offices of Axact, Fake Diploma Company|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/20/world/asia/pakistani-investigators-raid-offices-of-axact-fake-diploma-company.html|access-date=23 May 2015|work=The New York Times|date=20 May 2015}}</ref>
+Axact denied all allegations.<ref name="pt">{{Cite news |date=19 May 2015 |title=Fake degrees? Axact-ly! |work=Pakistan Today |url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/05/19/national/fake-degrees-axact-ly/ |access-date=19 May 2015 |archive-date=18 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518215639/http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/05/19/national/fake-degrees-axact-ly/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kugelman |first=Michael |date=18 May 2015 |title=The Axact Scandal and Pakistan's Growing Tech Sector |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/05/18/the-axact-scandal-and-pakistans-growing-tech-sector/ |access-date=19 May 2015 |archive-date=20 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520090930/http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/05/18/the-axact-scandal-and-pakistans-growing-tech-sector/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The company accused ''The New York Times'' of "baseless, substandard reporting", and of sabotaging its expansion into TV and related media with [[BOL Network]], which was scheduled to begin operations soon. It also threatened several news organizations and bloggers reporting on the issue with lawsuits.<ref name="NYT 20May2015">{{Cite news |last1=Imtiaz |first1=Saba |last2=Walsh |first2=Declan |date=20 May 2015 |title=Pakistani Investigators Raid Offices of Axact, Fake Diploma Company |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/20/world/asia/pakistani-investigators-raid-offices-of-axact-fake-diploma-company.html |access-date=23 May 2015 |archive-date=26 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526120634/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/20/world/asia/pakistani-investigators-raid-offices-of-axact-fake-diploma-company.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
-Initially Shaikh denied any association with the fake educational websites besides selling them software. Later he said that while Axact did provide office support and call center services to the websites, it did not itself "issue any degree or diploma, whether fake or real."<ref name="NYT 22May2015" />
+Initially, Shoaib denied any association with the fake educational websites besides selling them software. He later claimed that Axact did provide office support and call center services to the websites, but it did not itself "issue any degree or diploma, whether fake or real."<ref name="NYT 22May2015" />
-===Official investigations===
+===Investigations===
-Following the publication of the ''New York Times'' article, Pakistan's interior minister [[Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan]] directed the country's  [[Federal Investigation Agency]] to begin inquiry  into whether the company was involved in any illegal business.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chaudhry Nisar orders inquiry into NYT report on Axact|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1182928|access-date=19 May 2015|publisher=Dawn|date=19 May 2015}}</ref> Following the interior minister's order, a cyber crime team of the FIA raided Axact's offices in Karachi and Islamabad and seized computers, recorded statements of employees and took into custody 25 employees of the company<ref name="tribunes" /> and 28 employees from Rawalpindi office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/fia-raids-axacts-offices-seals-records-765/|title=FIA raids Axact's offices, computers confiscated|work=Daily Pakistan Global|access-date=19 May 2015}}</ref> The FIA team found and seized several blank degrees as well as fake letterhead of the [[US State Department]].<ref>{{cite news|title=LIVE UPDATES: Dozens of Axact employees detained for questioning after FIA raids in Karachi & Islamabad — 2 main servers to be shut down|url=http://arynews.tv/en/axact-scam-aitzaz-demands-inquiry-of-nyt-claims|access-date=19 May 2015|publisher=ARY News|date=19 May 2015}}</ref> The investigation was transferred from the FIA's cyber crime department to its corporate department.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Castel|first=J.-G.|date=1969-12-31|title=Custody Orders - Jurisdiction and Recognition|journal=Alberta Law Review|pages=15|doi=10.29173/alr2404|issn=1925-8356|doi-access=free}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}
+Following the publication of the ''New York Times'' article, Pakistan's interior minister [[Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan]] directed the country's  [[Federal Investigation Agency]] to begin inquiry  into whether the company was involved in any illegal business.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 May 2015 |title=Chaudhry Nisar orders inquiry into NYT report on Axact |publisher=Dawn |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1182928 |access-date=19 May 2015 |archive-date=20 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520175827/http://www.dawn.com/news/1182928 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the interior minister's order, a cyber crime team of the FIA raided Axact's offices in Karachi and Islamabad and seized computers, recorded statements of employees, and took into custody 25 employees of the company and 28 employees from Rawalpindi office.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FIA raids Axact's offices, computers confiscated |url=http://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/fia-raids-axacts-offices-seals-records-765/ |access-date=19 May 2015 |website=Daily Pakistan Global |date=19 May 2015 |archive-date=20 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520125015/http://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/fia-raids-axacts-offices-seals-records-765/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="tribunes" /> The FIA team found and seized several blank degrees as well as fake letterhead of the [[US State Department]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 May 2015 |title=Live Updates: Dozens of Axact employees detained for questioning after FIA raids in Karachi & Islamabad — 2 main servers to be shut down |publisher=ARY News |url=http://arynews.tv/en/axact-scam-aitzaz-demands-inquiry-of-nyt-claims |access-date=19 May 2015 |archive-date=21 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521133820/http://arynews.tv/en/axact-scam-aitzaz-demands-inquiry-of-nyt-claims |url-status=dead}}</ref> The investigation was transferred from the FIA's cyber crime department to its corporate department.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Castel |first=J.-G. |date=1969-12-31 |title=Custody Orders - Jurisdiction and Recognition |journal=Alberta Law Review |pages=15 |doi=10.29173/alr2404 |issn=1925-8356 |doi-access=free}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}
+On 26 May 2015, the [[Federal Investigation Agency]] arrested [[Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh]] for investigation.<ref name="dawn.com">{{cite web |author=Imtiaz Ali |title=FIR registered against Axact CEO, six others in fake degree scam |date=27 May 2015 |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1184433 |access-date=27 May 2015 |publisher=Dawn |archive-date=27 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527230538/http://www.dawn.com/news/1184433 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="dunyanews.tv">{{cite web |date=27 May 2015 |title=Axact CEO Shoaib Shaikh arrested |url=http://dunyanews.tv/index.php/en/Pakistan/281231-Axact-CEO-Shoaib-Shaikh-arrested |access-date=27 May 2015 |publisher=Dunya News |archive-date=3 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803080453/https://dunyanews.tv/error_404.php |url-status=live }}</ref> As the [[Federal Board of Revenue (Pakistan)|FBR]] had received intelligence that BOL had been using illegal equipment, Shoaib was ordered to submit evidence of legitimate procurement.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2015-05-26 |title=Equipment at Bol TV 'imported illegally' |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/892412/equipment-at-bol-tv-imported-illegally/ |access-date=2016-09-17 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en-US |archive-date=2016-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918095602/http://tribune.com.pk/story/892412/equipment-at-bol-tv-imported-illegally/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 5 June 2015, Ayesha Sheikh, Shoaib's wife was indicted on charges of money laundering in connection with Axact and BOL.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Axct Scandal: FIA likely to arrest Shoaib Sheikh's wife |url=https://www.thenewstribe.com/2015/06/09/axct-scandal-fia-likely-to-arrest-shoaib-sheikhs-wife/ |website=thenewstribe |publisher=thenewstribe |access-date=2023-05-30 |archive-date=2019-02-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228192022/https://www.thenewstribe.com/2015/06/09/axct-scandal-fia-likely-to-arrest-shoaib-sheikhs-wife/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
-The issue was also taken up in the [[Senate of Pakistan]] where Chairman of the Senate [[Raza Rabbani]] constituted a committee to probe into the issue.<ref name=tribunes>{{cite news|title=An Insider Discloses How Axact Seduces Individuals With Certified US Degrees |url=http://www.todaystreams.com/News/an-insider-discloses-how-axact-seduces-individuals-with-certified-us-degrees |access-date=20 May 2015 |publisher=Today Streams |date=20 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612010448/http://www.todaystreams.com/News/an-insider-discloses-how-axact-seduces-individuals-with-certified-us-degrees/ |archive-date=12 June 2015 }}</ref> Pakistan's tax authorities and the [[Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan|SECP]] also initiated investigations into the company.<ref name="NYT 22May2015">{{cite news|last1=Walsh|first1=Declan|title=Pakistan Widens Inquiry Into Fake Diplomas|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/23/world/asia/pakistan-widens-inquiry-into-fake-diplomas.html|access-date=23 May 2015|work=The New York Times|date=22 May 2015}}</ref>
-New details released on 10 April 2016 in the report state that this scandal is “bigger than initially imagined."
+The issue was also taken up in the [[Senate of Pakistan]] where Chairman of the Senate [[Raza Rabbani]] constituted a committee to probe into the issue.<ref name="tribunes">{{Cite news |date=20 May 2015 |title=An Insider Discloses How Axact Seduces Individuals With Certified US Degrees |publisher=Today Streams |url=http://www.todaystreams.com/News/an-insider-discloses-how-axact-seduces-individuals-with-certified-us-degrees |url-status=dead |access-date=20 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612010448/http://www.todaystreams.com/News/an-insider-discloses-how-axact-seduces-individuals-with-certified-us-degrees/ |archive-date=12 June 2015}}</ref> Pakistan's tax authorities and the [[Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan|SECP]] also initiated investigations into the company.<ref name="NYT 22May2015">{{Cite news |last=Walsh |first=Declan |date=22 May 2015 |title=Pakistan Widens Inquiry Into Fake Diplomas |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/23/world/asia/pakistan-widens-inquiry-into-fake-diplomas.html |access-date=23 May 2015 |archive-date=26 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526002943/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/23/world/asia/pakistan-widens-inquiry-into-fake-diplomas.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
-It is alleged that Axact took money from over 215,000 people in 197 countries; that the CEO Shoaib Shaikh is the owner of several shell companies in the US and other Caribbean countries that were used to route the monies into Pakistan; that Shaikh used an alias on documentation linked to these offshore companies; that Shaikh became a citizen of [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]], a small Caribbean island nation that sells passports to rich investors; that Axact sales agents' employees used "threats and false promises" and impersonated government officials to take money from customers generally in the Middle East; and that the company earned at least {{USD|89 million}} in its final year of operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/11/world/asia/pakistan-axact-degree-scam.html|title=Behind Fake Degrees From Pakistan, a Maze of Deceit and a Case in Peril|first=Declan|last=Walsh|date=10 April 2016|access-date=23 June 2017|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>
+It is alleged that Axact took money from over 215,000 people in 197 countries; that the CEO Shoaib Shaikh is the owner of several shell companies in the US and other Caribbean countries that were used to route the monies into Pakistan; that Shaikh used an alias on documentation linked to these offshore companies; that Shaikh became a citizen of [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]], a small Caribbean island nation that sells passports to rich investors; that Axact sales agents' employees used "threats and false promises" and impersonated government officials to take money from customers generally in the Middle East; and that the company earned at least {{USD|89 million}} in its final year of operation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walsh |first=Declan |date=10 April 2016 |title=Behind Fake Degrees From Pakistan, a Maze of Deceit and a Case in Peril |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/11/world/asia/pakistan-axact-degree-scam.html |access-date=23 June 2017 |archive-date=5 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105130455/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/11/world/asia/pakistan-axact-degree-scam.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
-Axact CEO Shoaib Shaikh was acquitted of money laundering charges in August 2016 due to lack of evidence. Criminal charges concerning alleged fake degrees were concluded in 2018. During the investigations, Pakistan Chief Justice called the scam a national shame.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1611033/1-cjp-takes-suo-motu-notice-axact-fake-degrees-scandal/|title=Axact scam embarrassed the country globally: CJP|first=tribune,com.pk |last=Reuters|date=January 19, 2018|website=tribune.com.pk|access-date=4 January 2019}}</ref> A sessions court in Pakistan on July 5, 2018 convicted Shoaib Sheikh and 22 others in the case and sentenced them to 20 years in prison. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs1.3 million on each of the convicts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1418156|title=Axact CEO, 22 others sentenced to 20 years in jail in fake degrees case|first=dawn.com |last=Reuters|date=July 5, 2018|website=dawn.com|access-date=4 January 2019}}</ref>
+=== Aftermath ===
-In Dec 2016, Umair Hamid, 30, the Axact's Assistant Vice President of International Relations was arrested and charged in a criminal complaint filed in [[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York|federal court in Manhattan]] with [[wire fraud]], [[conspiracy (criminal)|conspiracy]] to commit wire fraud and aggravated [[identity theft]] for his Axact-related activities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1303824/us-charges-pakistani-executive-in-140m-fake-diploma-scheme|title=US charges Pakistani executive in $140m fake diploma scheme|first=Dawn.com |last=Reuters|date=22 December 2016|website=dawn.com|access-date=23 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/124765-Axact-executive-could-face-20-years-in-US-prison-over-fake-degree-scam|title=Axact executive could face 20 years in US prison over fake degree scam|website=www.geo.tv|access-date=23 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1272424/fake-diploma-mill-us-authorities-charge-axact-official-140m-scam/|title=Fake-diploma mill: US authorities charge Axact official in $140m scam - The Express Tribune|date=23 December 2016|website=tribune.com.pk|access-date=23 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-pakistani-man-charged-in-140-million-diploma-mill-fraud-in-us-2285713|title=Pakistani man charged in $140 million 'diploma mill' fraud in US - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=23 December 2016|website=dnaindia.com|access-date=23 June 2017}}</ref> Hamid was found guilty in August 2017 and sentenced to 21&nbsp;months in prison.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42579634|title='Staggering' trade in fake degrees revealed|work=BBC News|author=Helen Clifton & Matthew Chapman|date=2018-01-16|access-date=2018-01-16}}</ref>
+Axact CEO Shoaib was acquitted of money laundering charges in August 2016.
+Shoaib was initially acquitted of all other related criminal charges, but this was reversed when it became clear that the presiding judge had been [[Bribery|bribed]].<ref>{{Cite web |first=Malik |last=Asad |date=2018-07-05 |title=Axact CEO, 22 others sentenced to 20 years in jail in fake degrees case |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1418156 |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=dawn.com |language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705173852/https://www.dawn.com/news/1418156 |archivedate=5 July 2018}}</ref>
+During the investigations, Pakistan Chief Justice called the scam a national shame.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=January 19, 2018 |title=Axact scam embarrassed the country globally: CJP |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1611033/1-cjp-takes-suo-motu-notice-axact-fake-degrees-scandal/ |access-date=4 January 2019 |website=tribune.com.pk |archive-date=11 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111175527/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1611033/1-cjp-takes-suo-motu-notice-axact-fake-degrees-scandal/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, Shoaib and 22 others were convicted and sentenced to 7 years in prison. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs1.3 million on each of the convicts.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=July 5, 2018 |title=Axact CEO, 22 others sentenced to 20 years in jail in fake degrees case |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1418156 |access-date=4 January 2019 |website=dawn.com |archive-date=3 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103005104/https://www.dawn.com/news/1418156 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+In December 2016, Axact's Assistant Vice President of International Relations Umair Hamid was arrested in the [[United States]]. He was charged with [[wire fraud]], [[conspiracy (criminal)|conspiracy]] to commit wire fraud, and aggravated [[identity theft]] in a [[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York|US federal district court]] for his Axact-related activities.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=22 December 2016 |title=US charges Pakistani executive in $140m fake diploma scheme |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1303824/us-charges-pakistani-executive-in-140m-fake-diploma-scheme |access-date=23 June 2017 |website=dawn.com |archive-date=11 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511170154/https://www.dawn.com/news/1303824/us-charges-pakistani-executive-in-140m-fake-diploma-scheme |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Axact executive could face 20 years in US prison over fake degree scam |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/124765-Axact-executive-could-face-20-years-in-US-prison-over-fake-degree-scam |access-date=23 June 2017 |website=www.geo.tv |archive-date=10 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510150342/https://www.geo.tv/latest/124765-Axact-executive-could-face-20-years-in-US-prison-over-fake-degree-scam |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 December 2016 |title=Fake-diploma mill: US authorities charge Axact official in $140m scam |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1272424/fake-diploma-mill-us-authorities-charge-axact-official-140m-scam/ |access-date=23 June 2017 |website=tribune.com.pk |archive-date=18 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518052622/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1272424/fake-diploma-mill-us-authorities-charge-axact-official-140m-scam/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 December 2016 |title=Pakistani man charged in $140 million 'diploma mill' fraud in US - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-pakistani-man-charged-in-140-million-diploma-mill-fraud-in-us-2285713 |access-date=23 June 2017 |website=dnaindia.com |archive-date=8 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808134718/http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-pakistani-man-charged-in-140-million-diploma-mill-fraud-in-us-2285713 |url-status=live }}</ref> Hamid was found guilty in August 2017 and sentenced to 21&nbsp;months in prison.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Helen Clifton & Matthew Chapman |date=2018-01-16 |title='Staggering' trade in fake degrees revealed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42579634 |access-date=2018-01-16 |website=BBC News |archive-date=2018-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116025314/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42579634 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+In March 2023, Shoaib was arrested and remanded to custody on a charge of bribing the judge in the 2016 case to secure an acquittal. Shoaib was reported in the 2023 bribery case to have confessed to having completed a transaction worth Rs1,500,000 to the judge in the prior case.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Geo News |first=Arfa Feroz Zake |date=13 March 2023 |title=Axact CEO Shoaib Shaikh’s remand extended for two days |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1418156 |access-date=1 August 2023 |website=Geo.tv |language=en|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315130133/https://www.geo.tv/latest/476137-axact-ceo-shoaib-shaikhs-remand-extended-for-two-days |archivedate=15 March 2023}}</ref>
+Shoaib has since been acquitted of all charges by the Sindh High Court and the Islamabad High Court.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Usborne |first=David |orig-date=27 May 2015 |date=January 2024 |title=Fake degrees: Software tycoon arrested as police investigate credentials from 'Barkley' and 'Columbiana' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/fake-degrees-software-tycoon-arrested-as-police-investigate-credentials-from-barkley-and-columbiana-10279699.html |website=Independent}}</ref>
 === Further revelations ===
-Most of Axact's revenues from its fake diploma sales came from the [[United Arab Emirates]], where hundreds of residents used Axact diplomas to obtain high-paying jobs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://gulfnews.com/xpress/courts-crime/exposed-vps-ceos-with-fake-degrees-in-uae-1.1522897|title=Exposed: VPs, CEOs with fake degrees in the UAE|date=May 27, 2015|work=www.xpress4me.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321202909/http://gulfnews.com/xpress/courts-crime/exposed-vps-ceos-with-fake-degrees-in-uae-1.1522897|archive-date=2016-03-21|url-status=dead}}</ref> Axact sold over 200,000 fake degrees in Gulf countries.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://gulfnews.com/xpress/courts-crime/axact-sold-over-200-000-fake-degrees-in-gulf-countries-1.1533046|title=XPRESS}}</ref> More recently, Axact employees have impersonated Emirati government officials in an effort to extort "legalisation fees" from unsuspecting fake degree and diploma holders in that country.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://gulfnews.com/xpress/news/fake-degree-holders-get-fake-calls-1.2158749|title=www.xpress4me.com|work=XPRESS}}</ref>
+Most of Axact's revenues from its fake diploma sales came from the [[United Arab Emirates]], where hundreds of residents used Axact diplomas to obtain high-paying jobs.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 27, 2015 |title=Exposed: VPs, CEOs with fake degrees in the UAE |work=www.xpress4me.com |url=http://gulfnews.com/xpress/courts-crime/exposed-vps-ceos-with-fake-degrees-in-uae-1.1522897 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321202909/http://gulfnews.com/xpress/courts-crime/exposed-vps-ceos-with-fake-degrees-in-uae-1.1522897 |archive-date=2016-03-21}}</ref> Axact sold over 200,000 fake degrees in Gulf countries.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Xpress |url=http://gulfnews.com/xpress/courts-crime/axact-sold-over-200-000-fake-degrees-in-gulf-countries-1.1533046 |access-date=2018-02-09 |archive-date=2018-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209182345/http://gulfnews.com/xpress/courts-crime/axact-sold-over-200-000-fake-degrees-in-gulf-countries-1.1533046 |url-status=live }}</ref> More recently, Axact employees have impersonated Emirati government officials in an effort to extort "legalisation fees" from unsuspecting fake degree and diploma holders in that country.<ref>{{Cite news |title=www.xpress4me.com |work=Xpress |url=http://gulfnews.com/xpress/news/fake-degree-holders-get-fake-calls-1.2158749 |access-date=2018-02-09 |archive-date=2018-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209182324/http://gulfnews.com/xpress/news/fake-degree-holders-get-fake-calls-1.2158749 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+The [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]'s television series ''[[Marketplace (Canadian TV program)|Marketplace]]'' carried out an investigation into the prevalence of fake academic credentials in September 2017. The documentary focused on Canadians with fake degrees occupying positions such as college instructors and medical doctors.  All fraudulent certificates were found to be from Axact.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-09-15 |title=Fake Degrees - Exposing Canadians with phoney credentials |work=[[CBC Marketplace]] |url=http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2017-2018/fake-degrees-exposing-canadians-with-phoney-credentials |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125025520/http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2017-2018/fake-degrees-exposing-canadians-with-phoney-credentials |archive-date=2017-11-25}}</ref>{{explain|date=February 2018}}
+=== Employee leak ===
-The [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]'s television series ''[[Marketplace (Canadian TV program)|Marketplace]]'' carried out an investigation into the prevalence of fake academic credentials.  Its September 15, 2017 documentary focused on Canadians with fake degrees occupying positions such as college instructors and medical doctors.  All the suspect certificates were found to be from Axact.<ref>Fake Degrees - Exposing Canadians with phoney credentials.  Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, September 15, 2017.  http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2017-2018/fake-degrees-exposing-canadians-with-phoney-credentials</ref>{{explain|date=February 2018}}
+In February 2024, the IT podcast [[Darknet Diaries]] published excerpts from an interview with a former Axact sales employee in episode 142 ("Axact"), who provided insights into the company's alleged sales strategy. According to the witness, Axact was able to develop a completely new website for non-existent universities within days. Axact created very detailed profiles of its potential victims. For example, passwords were stored in plain text and then used to log into social media accounts. These profiles were then used to personalize the marketing of said fake universities by exploiting psychological weaknesses. The former employee also alleged that Axact invented not only its universities, but also accreditations, including from a US politician. Further, while the employee didn't believe that Axact sold medical degrees, the podcast mentions Canadian broadcaster CBC being able to track down a practitioner with a fake degree from Axact.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Axact – Darknet Diaries |url=https://darknetdiaries.com/transcript/142/ |access-date=2024-02-07 |website=darknetdiaries.com |language=en}}</ref>
 == Network of websites==
@@ Line 61: / Line 75: @@
 ===Educational websites===
 {{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
-* Accredited Degrees Pro<ref name="nytlist">{{cite news|title=Tracking Axact's Websites|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/world/asia/tracking-axacts-websites.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date={{date|2015-05-17}}|first=Griff|last=Palmer}}</ref>
+* Accredited Degrees Pro<ref name="nytlist">{{Cite news |last=Palmer |first=Griff |date=17 May 2015 |title=Tracking Axact's Websites |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/world/asia/tracking-axacts-websites.html |access-date=1 March 2017 |archive-date=10 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110113245/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/world/asia/tracking-axacts-websites.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
 * Accredited Online Degrees Now<ref name="nytlist" />
 * Adamsville University<ref name="nytlist" />
@@ Line 80: / Line 94: @@
 * Ashbery University<ref name="nytlist" />
 * Ashley University<ref name="nytlist" />
-* Ashwood University<ref name="cbc.ca">https://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/blog/list-of-schools-linked-to-axact</ref>
+* [[Ashwood University]]<ref name="cbc.ca">{{Cite web |title=List of schools linked to Axact - Marketplace - CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/blog/list-of-schools-linked-to-axact |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816012128/http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/blog/list-of-schools-linked-to-axact |archive-date=2018-08-16 |access-date=2019-01-29}}</ref>
 * Bakerville University<ref name="nytlist" />
 * Barkley University<ref name="nytlist" />
@@ Line 95: / Line 109: @@
 * Brooksville University<ref name="nytlist" />
 * Buffville High School<ref name="nytlist" />
-* California Creek University<ref name="cbc.ca">https://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/blog/list-of-schools-linked-to-axact</ref>
+* California Creek University<ref name="cbc.ca"/>
 * Cambell State University<ref name="nytlist" />
 * Camp Lake University<ref name="nytlist" />
 * Chapel University<ref name="nytlist" />
 * Columbiana University<ref name="nytlist" />
-* Corllins University<ref name="cbc.ca">https://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/blog/list-of-schools-linked-to-axact</ref>
+* Corllins University<ref name="cbc.ca"/>
 * Creek View University<ref name="nytlist" />
 * Crestford University<ref name="nytlist" />
@@ Line 151: / Line 165: @@
 * Midtown University<ref name="nytlist" />
 * Mount Lincoln University<ref name="nytlist" />
-* MUST University<ref name="cbc.ca">https://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/blog/list-of-schools-linked-to-axact</ref>
+* MUST University<ref name="cbc.ca"/>
 * Nelson Bay University<ref name="nytlist" />
 * Nicholson University<ref name="nytlist" />
@@ Line 237: / Line 251: @@
 [[Category:Fraud in Pakistan]]
 [[Category:Private universities and colleges in California]]
-[[Category:Résumé frauds and controversies]]
 [[Category:Internet fraud]]
 [[Category:Unaccredited institutions of higher learning in Pakistan]]
 [[Category:Unaccredited institutions of higher learning in the United States]]
-[[Category:Pakistani fraudsters]]