Verify any certificate · Detect fakes
How to check if a certificate is fake or real
Start with the document in front of you. Paste its verification link or ID, or upload the file, and you get a security level back in seconds. It is the same check TRUE runs for issuers and recipients worldwide, against blockchain records, digital signatures and 80+ credential platforms.
Is your document authentic?
Paste any certificate URL, document ID or PDF into TRUE Verify. Get your security level rating in seconds.
Open TRUE VerifyTL;DR
Scan the QR code on the certificate with your phone camera, or type the verification URL printed on it into a browser. A genuine credential opens the issuer's verification page and shows the recipient's name, the credential, the issuing organisation and the issue date. If no verification path exists, if the page fails to load, or if it contradicts the printed document, treat the certificate as unverified. Blockchain-secured certificates go further: the document is compared against a cryptographic record written when it was issued, so a single altered character breaks the match. Visual inspection on its own is no longer enough, because editing software and AI image tools reproduce logos, seals and signatures well enough to pass a human eye.
- Scan the QR code with your phone camera. It opens the issuer's verification page.
- Type the verification URL printed on the certificate into any browser.
- Look up the blockchain record, which works even when the issuer is closed or offline.
How can an organisation verify a digital diploma or professional certificate?
An organisation verifies a digital diploma or professional certificate with the body that issued it, not by its looks. Open the certificate's own link or scan its QR code, and check that the page sits on the issuer's domain and matches the document. Or paste the link, the document ID or the PDF into TRUE Verify, the free tool from TRUE Original, which checks blockchain anchors, digital signatures, issuer databases and more than 80 credential platforms and returns a security level in seconds. A paper diploma goes to the registrar, to Hedd in the UK or to the National Student Clearinghouse in the US.
How do you check if a diploma or certificate is fake?
A diploma or certificate is proven genuine or fake by the institution that issued it, never by the look of the paper. Ask that institution directly, through contact details you find on its official website rather than the ones printed on the document. A paper diploma goes to the registrar or a national service such as Hedd (UK) or the National Student Clearinghouse (US); a certificate with a QR code or link can be opened directly or pasted into TRUE Verify, the free checking tool from TRUE Original.
Two facts decide the matter, and the document can prove neither. The first is that the institution issued this award to this person. The second is that the institution is a real school with the right to award it. A forged diploma fails the first test. A diploma bought from a diploma mill passes it, because the mill printed the diploma itself, and fails the second.
- Find the issuer yourself. Search for the institution's official website and its registrar or verification office. Ignore the contact details printed on the document.
- Ask the issuer or its official service. Universities confirm awards through the registrar, through Hedd in the UK and through the National Student Clearinghouse in the US. A certificate with a QR code or verification link answers on the issuer's behalf: open it, or paste it into TRUE Verify.
- Check that the institution is real. Look it up on an official register of recognised or accredited institutions, not on its own website.
- Compare every detail. Ask whether the institution awarded this qualification to this person on this date. The name, the award, the grade and the dates must all match the issuer's record.
- Treat the paper as a filter. Seals, signatures, paper and fonts tell you when to dig deeper. None of them tells you that a diploma is genuine.
For a document that carries a link, an ID or a file, TRUE Verify also reports which kind of proof sits behind it: see what TRUE Verify’s security levels mean and what it means when a certificate cannot be verified.
How can I tell if a certificate is fake?
Check the certificate against its issuer, not against your own eye. Scan its QR code or open its verification URL, then read what the issuer's verification page reports: the recipient, the credential and the issue date. If the document was issued through TRUE, you can paste its verification URL into TRUE Verify and get the result in seconds. If there is no verification path, or the page contradicts the printed document, the certificate is unverified and should be treated that way until the issuer confirms it.
1. Scan the QR code
Most modern certificates have a QR code. Open your phone camera, point it at the code, and tap the link that appears. The verification page shows the certificate details and confirms the credential is genuine. For the mechanics behind this, see our guide on how QR code verification works. If the page errors or doesn't load, the certificate is likely forged.
2. Open the verification URL directly
Even without a QR code, a real certificate carries a unique verification URL, usually printed in small text near the bottom or on the back. Type it into a browser. The verification page should load instantly, displaying the certificate's details, the issuer, the recipient's name, and the issue date. Anything missing is a red flag.
3. Check the blockchain record
Blockchain-secured certificates (like those issued through TRUE) write a cryptographic fingerprint to a blockchain at issuance. You can look up that record independently, without contacting the issuer. If the certificate's data matches the on-chain record, it is authentic. Any tampering, even a single character changed, breaks the match. The same cryptographic check can prove that any file, not only a certificate, has existed unchanged. Learn how TRUE Vault anchors document proof on blockchain. You can run this check yourself at TRUE Verify.
4. Inspect the document for visual red flags
Common signs of a fake: poor print quality, mismatched fonts, missing certificate numbers, vague language about what was certified, and incorrect logos. Compare against a known genuine certificate from the same issuer. If anything looks "off", investigate further. See the full checklist of 10 warning signs of a fake certificate, our guide to certificate fraud prevention, and the case studies of famous document fraud cases.
Looking for the technical detail behind blockchain verification? See how blockchain certificate verification works or how QR-code verification works.
How do you verify someone's degree or diploma?
You verify someone's degree or diploma with the institution that awarded it, either through its registrar's office or through a national service that checks the institution's own records for you. In the UK that service is Hedd, which calls itself "the UK's official degree verification hub"; in the US it is the National Student Clearinghouse, whose business verification page listed its national coverage as 96% of US four-year postsecondary degrees in October 2026. For other countries, ask the national recognition centre whether the institution is recognised.
The registrar's office
The registrar's office keeps the university's record of who graduated, with which award and when. Reach it through the university's official website. A phone number printed on a diploma can ring at the seller of the fake. According to the complaint announced by the US Attorney in Manhattan on 21 December 2016, the diploma mill Axact received approximately 5,000 phone calls a day during certain periods since 2014. Some of those callers appeared to believe they were phoning the schools themselves.
Hedd (United Kingdom)
Hedd, operated by Jisc, is the UK's official degree verification service. An organisation registers, enters the graduate's details with proof of the graduate's consent, and the university confirms the place of study, the award, the grade and the dates of attendance against its own records. Hedd is built for employers, recruitment agencies, universities, embassies and other organisations. "Hedd is not intended for individuals," its FAQ says, and graduates checking their own degree are sent to their university. A request returned as "cancelled" is not proof of fraud. The most common reason, according to Hedd's FAQ, is that the details entered do not match the university's records.
National Student Clearinghouse (United States)
The National Student Clearinghouse verifies US college degrees and attendance online through its DegreeVerify service. High school diplomas go through DiplomaVerify, which needs the individual's written consent. The Clearinghouse lists national coverage of 96% of US four-year postsecondary degrees and says its online service is available 24/7. A school outside that coverage is checked the old way, through its registrar.
Degrees from other countries
For a degree awarded elsewhere, ask the country's national recognition centre whether the institution is recognised, then ask the institution to confirm the award. The ENIC-NARIC networks connect the national information centres on academic recognition of 56 countries, a joint initiative of the European Commission, the Council of Europe and UNESCO.
TRUE Verify (documents with a link, an ID or a file)
TRUE Verify, the free tool from TRUE Original, checks what proof a document carries. Paste a certificate URL or document ID, or upload the PDF, and it looks for blockchain anchors, embedded digital signatures, issuer databases and more than 80 external credential platforms, then returns a security level in seconds, with no account required. A document with nothing behind it comes back at the lowest level, no proof found, which means unproven rather than fake. For that document, the registrar is still the route.
How do you check if a university is real or a diploma mill?
A diploma mill is a college degree scam, which the US Federal Trade Commission describes as a programme that does not require studying, exams or interaction with professors. Its diplomas can survive a call to the school, because the mill issued them itself. What exposes a mill is a lookup of the institution on an official register, never on its own website: Hedd's institution check in the UK, and College Navigator and the Department of Education's accreditation database in the US.
The FTC's warning signs are ones a hiring manager can test against a CV. "If a school promises that you can earn a degree in a few days, weeks, or even months, it's probably a scam," the FTC writes in its guidance on college degree scams (May 2021). Accreditation can be invented too: the FTC warns that fake degree programmes sometimes make up an accreditor, or claim accreditation from a real one that never gave it. Look the accreditor up in the Department of Education's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs, and the school in College Navigator. "A web address that ends in '.edu' doesn't mean a school is real or trustworthy," the FTC adds.
For UK degrees, Chris Rea, head of strategic relationships at Prospects, Luminate and Hedd, wrote in October 2025 on Prospects Luminate: "The Office for Students Register is the standard reference for checking if a provider has degree-awarding powers. If a provider isn't on the Register, they cannot award degrees." Hedd's institution check shows whether a UK university or college is a recognised degree-awarding body. In October 2026 Hedd's website listed details of 243 bogus institutions.
Bogus universities borrow the sound of real ones. Hedd once received a certificate from "Marylebone University", sent in by a charity checking the background of a newly hired director. There is no such university. "Ridgeshire University" claimed a home in a county that does not exist either, and the address it gave turned out to be a doorway in Hawick, Scotland, between a pet food shop and a butcher. A map lookup takes a minute. So does the word order: on paper the institution is The University of Manchester, and Hedd says any degree certificate that reads "Manchester University" is a fake. An unfamiliar name is not proof of fraud on its own, because universities merge and rename. Manchester Polytechnic is now Manchester Metropolitan University.
Axact, a Pakistani company, shows how far a mill can go. On 21 December 2016 the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York charged Umair Hamid, an Axact executive, over a diploma mill that, according to the complaint, collected at least approximately $140 million from tens of thousands of consumers. The complaint says Axact claimed an affiliation with approximately 350 fictitious high schools and universities, sold buyers extra "accreditation" to make their diplomas look more legitimate, and had diplomas affixed with fake stamps supposedly bearing the seal and signature of the US Secretary of State. Hamid pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced on 28 August 2017 to 21 months in prison. Axact's buyers got real paper from fake schools. Some of it carried the fake seal of a real office.
“Hamid allegedly took hefty upfront fees from young men and women seeking an education, leaving them with little more than useless pieces of paper.”
How can you tell if a paper diploma is fake?
A paper diploma can tell you when to look closer, never that it is genuine, because every physical sign from the raised seal to the ink signature can be copied. Hedd, the UK's degree verification service, put it plainly in November 2025: "traditional checks like visual inspection of certificates are no longer enough" (Prospects Luminate). In the Hedd and YouGov survey of 526 HR decision makers behind that warning, carried out in April 2025, 67% of large companies had seen an increase in fraudulent job applications, with AI tools seen as a key reason.
| Sign on the diploma | What it can tell you | What it cannot tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Name of the institution | A misspelt or reordered name is a strong warning. Hedd says any certificate that reads "Manchester University" is a fake, because the award says The University of Manchester. | Whether this person graduated. An unfamiliar name is not proof of fraud either: universities merge and rename. |
| Address and location | Whether the campus exists. Hedd traced one bogus university's address to a doorway between a pet food shop and a butcher. | Whether the institution may award degrees. Only a national register answers that. |
| Raised or embossed seal | A flat, printed or blurred seal where the institution normally embosses one is a warning. | That the diploma is genuine. Axact's diplomas carried fake stamps bearing the seal and signature of the US Secretary of State (US Department of Justice, 2016). |
| Signatures | A signature with sharp pasted edges, or the name of someone who did not hold the office at the time, is a warning. | Who signed. Editing software and AI image tools reproduce signatures well enough to pass a human eye. |
| Paper, watermark and hologram | Thin office paper, or no watermark when you hold the sheet to the light, is a warning if the issuer uses security paper. | That the diploma is genuine. Hedd notes that high-end fakes reproduce paper and print quality, watermarks and holograms. |
| Fonts, layout and wording | Spelling mistakes, mixed fonts and ornate old-fashioned wording are warnings. For UK universities, Hedd says that style "went out of fashion decades ago". | Anything, when the layout is clean. A copy of a genuine diploma looks like a genuine diploma. |
| Dates and length of study | A degree finished faster than the course allows, or dates that clash with the CV. The FTC treats a degree promised in "a few days, weeks, or even months" as a likely scam. | Whether the dates are true. Plausible dates prove nothing until the registrar confirms them. |
| Accreditation statement | An accreditor missing from the Department of Education's database (US), or a provider missing from the Office for Students Register (UK), is a serious warning. | Recognition. The FTC warns that fake degree programmes sometimes make up an accreditor. |
| Web address, phone number or email on the document | A domain that does not match the institution's official website. Genuine UK degree-awarding bodies use ac.uk addresses, with some exceptions among private institutions, according to Hedd. | Who answers. Axact's sales staff were instructed to give fictitious addresses, so use the contact details on the official website. |
| QR code or verification link | A link that opens a matching record on the issuer's own domain is the issuer speaking. Paste it into TRUE Verify to see which kind of proof sits behind it. | Anything, if it opens a lookalike page or a copy of the same PDF. A QR code is a printed link. |
Ask to see the original, not a photocopy, as Hedd advises. Then take the question to the issuer. In TRUE Verify's data, nearly nine in ten of the documents people uploaded between 20 April and 13 August 2026 to find out whether they were real came back at the lowest level, with no proof found. Chris Rea of Hedd ends his own checklist in the same place: "The only sure way of not being conned by a fake certificate, of course, is to check the authenticity of the certificate with the university that issued it."
How common is fake certificate and degree fraud?
Common enough that visual inspection fails routinely, and most organisations never check with the issuer at all. Independent UK research puts the share of adults who admit lying on a job application close to a fifth, and finds that almost half of large employers have caught a false qualification claim. The gap is in checking: barely half of large employers verify every academic credential they are shown.
- 18% of UK adults say they have lied on a CV or job application, or know someone who has, within the last 12 months. Published by Cifas, the UK fraud prevention service, on 3 February 2025, from an Opinion Matters survey of 2,000 UK adults.
- 45% of large employers have uncovered a false qualification claim, and only 52% verify all academic credentials. Verification falls to 37% at medium sized organisations and 29% at small ones. Source: Prospects Luminate, November 2025, from a YouGov survey of 526 HR decision makers.
- More than 1.75 million degree verifications have been processed since 2011 by Hedd, UK higher education's official degree verification service, reported in the same Prospects Luminate analysis.
Those numbers describe the detection side of the problem. The rest of this page covers the issuing side, where a certificate can be built so that checking it takes seconds and needs nobody's cooperation.
Why are PDF certificates so easy to fake?
A PDF is a file, and any file can be copied and edited. Someone with a PDF editor can change a name, a date or a grade in under a minute, and the result prints exactly like the original. Nothing inside the file points back to the issuer, so the holder cannot prove it is genuine and the verifier has no way to check. That leaves issuers with three problems:
- Brand risk. Your credential loses value the moment fakes circulate.
- Verification overload. Employers, admissions teams and partners contact you to confirm legitimacy, one request at a time.
- No scalable proof. A certificate that looks real is not a verification method.
Issuers need something simple: a certificate that anyone can verify independently, at any hour, without calling your team.
Certificate fraud is one part of a broader document fraud problem. Read our guide to understanding and combatting document fraud.
Verify certificates online should therefore mean something specific: clear, consistent and controlled by the issuer. The next section sets that standard.
What does genuine certificate verification require?
Verification is only real when a third party can reach it without you. That takes a public verification path, a result displayed on a page rather than asserted in an email, and an issuer who controls both. A real verification experience has three ingredients:
- A verification path (QR scan or link) that any verifier can use
- A verification result displayed on a dedicated verification page (not “trust me”)
- Issuer control over the brand, the domain and the credibility of the result
If any of the three is missing, verification becomes a matter of opinion, and fakes slip through.
How does TRUE make certificates verify themselves?
TRUE issues the credential as a verifiable document rather than as a file. At issuance a cryptographic fingerprint of the document is written to a blockchain, and the credential is published at a permanent address on the issuer's own domain, carrying a QR code and a verification URL. Anyone holding the certificate can therefore prove it without contacting anybody.
TRUE Original is a platform for creating, issuing and verifying secure digital documents: certificates, diplomas, awards, licenses, memberships, transcripts and vouchers. Documents are secured using blockchain technology, making them tamper-proof and permanently verifiable.
With TRUE, your documents become:
- Tamper-proof once blockchain-secured
- Instantly verifiable through a QR code and a verification portal
- Shared as links rather than files, which are far easier to validate
- Published on your own domain, so your brand stays front and centre
“Verify” is a user experience. If the verifier can’t get a clear result in seconds, fakes win.
How does a verifier check a TRUE certificate?
In one of two ways, and both take seconds. Scanning the QR code on the document opens the verification page directly; opening the printed verification link does the same on any device with a browser. Both routes end on a page stating the credential, the recipient, the issuer and the issue date. Either path ends at the same place: the live verification page, which you can also reach directly through TRUE Verify.
Option A: QR scan, fastest in practice
- Recipient shows the document (digital or printed)
- Verifier scans the QR code
- A verification page confirms authenticity instantly
Option B: verification link, works on any device
- Verifier opens the verification link/portal
- The credential details are displayed
- Verification status is clear, with no follow-up emails
How many organisations issue verifiable certificates with TRUE?
More than 200 issuers in over 15 countries, and more than 900,000 documents issued through the platform to date.
900,000+
documents issued
200+
issuing organisations
15+
countries with customers
- Documents can be secured on several blockchains: Ethereum, AVAX, Fantom and Polygon
- A REST API with five endpoints automates issuing, and built in Analytics tracks opens and shares
Which issuing workflow fits your team?
One of four, and you can move between them as volume grows. Small teams issue by hand from the dashboard, operational teams issue by email, and high volume issuers call the REST API. Existing LMS and CRM systems connect through integrations.
- Dashboard issuing for manual or small-batch workflows
- Email-based issuing for simple operational setups
- REST API (5 endpoints) for automation at scale
- Integrations (connect to your LMS/CRM where it makes sense)
The result is fewer manual steps, fewer verification requests, and a document format recipients want to share.
What do issuers ask about certificate verification?
Quick answers for teams evaluating certificate verification software and issuer workflows. Choosing a trustworthy credential platform is the first step to preventing fakes, so it is worth comparing them: see our 2026 guide to the best digital credential platforms.
Can TRUE help us verify if a certificate is fake?
TRUE helps issuers issue verifiable documents so authenticity can be checked instantly via QR code or a verification portal, which reduces the chance that a forged PDF is accepted as genuine.
Is this only for certificates?
No. TRUE supports many document types, including diplomas, licenses, memberships, transcripts and vouchers.
Do documents have to live on TRUE’s website?
No. TRUE supports custom domains, so documents live on your own domain.
How technical is implementation?
You can start with dashboard issuing, then move to automation. TRUE also supports email-based issuing and a REST API (5 endpoints).
What makes this better than a PDF?
PDFs can be edited and re-shared without a reliable verification method. TRUE documents are blockchain-secured, tamper-proof, and verifiable forever.
Is manual inspection or blockchain verification more reliable?
Blockchain verification, by a wide margin. A manual check asks whether a document looks right, which modern forgery tools defeat; a cryptographic check asks whether the document matches a record written when it was issued, which they cannot. The table sets the two side by side.
| Capability | Manual / visual check | Blockchain verification (TRUE) |
|---|---|---|
| Detection method | Inspect logo, signature, layout, paper | Cryptographic hash compared on-chain |
| Time to verify | Hours to days, by phone, email or registry | Seconds, by QR scan or URL |
| AI-generated forgery | Often passes visual inspection | Fails immediately on a hash mismatch |
| Photoshopped edits | Hard to spot without expert | Any change produces a different hash |
| Available 24/7 | Office hours only | Always-on, decentralised |
| Works internationally | Cross-border calls and translation | Same QR works in any country |
| Cost per verification | Staff time, registry fees | Effectively zero |
| Audit trail | Inconsistent and slow to assemble | Immutable, timestamped, on-chain |
What do TRUE customers say?
“For us, it’s only natural to collaborate with the player in secure document management that has the highest quality, and stands for world-class security.”
“SSF offer extensive training in Security to our customers, both physically and digitally. It has been particularly important for us to be able to ensure that our Proofs of Education, in the form of Certificates and Diplomas are correct and secure.”
“A clear advantage of our new digital certificates is how easily they can be added as a reference to LinkedIn or a digital CV. The ease of use and verifiability creates trust!”
“This is absolutely brilliant! A thousand thank you’s!!”
Ready to stop fake certificates at the source?
Issue documents that are tamper-proof, verifiable and easy to trust, without adding verification work to your team.
Comparing platforms? Looking for a Credly alternative? Compare TRUE → · TRUE vs Accredible · TRUE vs Certifier
How do you spot a fake certificate by eye?
By looking for the details a forger has to reproduce and usually gets slightly wrong: logo resolution, font consistency, spacing, certificate numbers and security features. Treat any visual check as a first filter rather than a verdict, because editing software and AI image tools now clear that bar routinely. The questions below cover what to look for and what to do once something looks off.
What are the most common signs of a fake certificate?
The most telling signs are poor print quality, inconsistent typography, and missing verification details. Fake certificates often use slightly wrong logos, mismatched fonts, or uneven spacing that wouldn't pass quality control at a legitimate issuing organisation. Look for missing certificate numbers, absent security features, and vague language that avoids specifics about what was certified. Legitimate certificates include precise details: the credential name, issuing authority, date, and a way to verify authenticity. If any of these are missing or look off, investigate further before accepting the credential.
How can employers verify certificate authenticity?
Start by contacting the issuing organisation directly using contact details from their official website, not from the certificate itself. Many certification bodies offer online verification portals where you can enter a certificate number and confirm validity. For blockchain-secured credentials, verification is instant: scan the QR code or visit the verification URL to check the credential against an immutable blockchain record. This is the fastest and most reliable method, requiring no phone calls or waiting. If the issuer doesn't offer digital verification, request confirmation in writing from their registrar or certification department.
What visual indicators suggest a certificate is fraudulent?
Check for blurry or pixelated logos, which indicate the forger used low-resolution images. Look at font consistency. Legitimate certificates use carefully chosen, consistent typography throughout. Examine alignment: text should be evenly spaced and properly centred. Check colour accuracy against the issuer's brand guidelines. Inspect signatures for signs of digital pasting (sharp edges, inconsistent backgrounds). Security features like embossed seals, holograms, or watermarks should feel and look consistent with known authentic examples. Any visual inconsistency warrants further investigation through the issuer's official verification channels.
How do fake certificates differ from authentic ones?
Authentic certificates contain specific, verifiable details: unique certificate numbers, precise credential titles, issuer identification, and verification mechanisms (QR codes, verification URLs, or registry numbers). Fake certificates often use generic language such as "certificate of completion" without specifying what was completed. Authentic credentials reference specific programmes, standards, or qualification frameworks. Fake ones stay vague to avoid easy checking. Most critically, authentic blockchain-secured certificates have cryptographic records that can be verified instantly, while fakes have no corresponding record. The difference is absolute: either the blockchain record exists or it doesn't.
What should HR teams look for during background checks?
Verify every credential that is material to the hiring decision, especially certifications required by regulation, safety qualifications and professional licences. Cross-reference certification dates with the candidate's employment history to check plausibility. Ask candidates to provide verification links or certificate numbers, then check through the issuer's official channels. Watch for candidates who resist verification, provide excuses for delays, or offer alternative documents when you request specific credentials. Establish a standard verification procedure so every hire gets the same scrutiny. Document verification outcomes for compliance records.
How can technology help detect fake credentials?
The most effective technology does not detect fakes. It makes faking impossible. Blockchain-secured credentials create an immutable record when issued. Verification is a mathematical comparison: does the credential's cryptographic hash match the blockchain record? If yes, it's genuine. If no, it's been altered or was never issued. This approach is superior to AI-powered detection, which must constantly update to catch new forgery techniques. Blockchain verification is permanent and absolute. No amount of sophistication can forge a credential that has no corresponding blockchain record.
What are the legal risks of accepting fake certificates?
Organisations that hire based on fraudulent credentials face regulatory penalties, professional liability, and reputational damage. In regulated industries such as healthcare, construction and financial services, employing unqualified individuals can result in fines, licence revocations and legal action from affected parties. If a workplace incident traces back to an unqualified employee, the hiring organisation may bear liability for negligent credentialing. Insurance coverage may be voided if required qualifications weren't properly verified. Beyond legal exposure, credential fraud undermines workforce quality, team trust, and organisational credibility with clients and partners.
How do fraudsters create convincing fake documents?
Modern forgery tools have made credential fraud disturbingly accessible. PDF editing software can modify any digital certificate, changing names, dates or credential levels in minutes. AI-powered tools generate realistic signatures, seals, and layouts. Online services sell custom-designed fake certificates that replicate specific issuers' branding. Template marketplaces offer ready-made designs for common credential types. Some fraudsters create entirely fictional issuing organisations with professional-looking websites. The quality of forgeries has increased dramatically, making visual inspection alone unreliable. Only cryptographic verification against an immutable record provides certainty.
What verification steps should employers follow?
Follow a structured verification process: First, request the original credential or a verifiable digital version with a certificate number. Second, identify the issuing organisation and locate their official verification channel (not contact details from the credential). Third, submit the verification request: scan the QR code for blockchain credentials, use the online portal for digital registries, or contact the issuer directly. Fourth, confirm that the credential details (name, date, qualification level) match what the candidate presented. Fifth, document the verification result. For high-volume hiring, consider platforms that automate credential verification at scale.
How does TRUE prevent certificate fraud?
TRUE eliminates certificate fraud at the source. Every credential issued through TRUE is written to blockchain creating a permanent, tamper-proof record across thousands of independent computers. When someone needs to verify a TRUE credential, they scan the QR code for instant confirmation. No phone calls, no waiting, no ambiguity. The credential either has a valid blockchain record or it doesn't. TRUE credentials live on the issuer's own domain, are eIDAS compliant, and have been used to issue 900,000+ documents for 200+ organisations across 15+ countries. That is not fraud detection. It is fraud prevention by design.
What does "This QR code is duplicate and only valid for its original printed certificate" mean?
The sentence says that the QR code you scanned is a copy, whether a photocopy, screenshot, scan or reprint, and that only the original printed certificate counts. On its own it does not make the certificate fake. If you're verifying someone's credential and see this message, ask them for the original certificate (the one they received directly from the issuer) and scan that. A certificate issued with TRUE is a true original, published online on the issuer's web page, and its QR code opens that original. Anyone can check it free in TRUE Verify. If someone can only provide a copy that triggers this message, treat the credential as unverified until you can check the original. This is the difference between a document that looks official and one that is provably authentic. The full guide: what "This QR code is duplicate" means and how to check the certificate.
How can I check if a certificate is original or fake online, for free?
Scan the certificate's QR code or enter its verification URL at trueoriginal.com/verify. It's free, no account needed. A genuine TRUE certificate verifies instantly against the blockchain and shows the issuer, recipient and issue date. That proof comes from cryptographic mathematics, not from trusting a website. If a certificate has no verifiable QR code or URL, that itself is a warning sign. For certificates not secured by TRUE, ask the issuing organisation to confirm directly, and check for the warning signs of forgery (inconsistent fonts, missing security features, unverifiable issuer details).
How do I check if a degree certificate is original or fake online?
Contact the university that awarded the degree, through contact details on its official website, or use its national verification service: Hedd in the UK, the National Student Clearinghouse in the US. If the certificate has a QR code or verification link, open it or paste it into TRUE Verify, which is free and returns a security level in seconds. Seals, signatures and paper can raise doubts, but only the issuer's record proves that a degree is real.
How do I know if a university is real or a diploma mill?
Look the institution up on an official register, not on its own website: Hedd's institution check or the Office for Students Register in the UK, and College Navigator and the Department of Education's accreditation database in the US. The US Federal Trade Commission treats a promise of a degree in days, weeks or months as a likely scam, and warns that some fake programmes make up their accreditor. A .edu web address proves nothing on its own.
Is a raised seal or stamp proof that a diploma is real?
No. The diploma mill Axact had its diplomas affixed with fake stamps supposedly bearing the seal and signature of the US Secretary of State, according to the US Department of Justice in 2016. Only the institution's own record, or a cryptographic proof such as a blockchain record, shows that a diploma is genuine.
What does it mean if the university cannot confirm a degree?
It means the degree is unconfirmed, not that it is fake. Hedd, the UK's official degree verification service, says a request returned as "cancelled" most often means the details entered do not match the university's records or are not detailed enough to find the record. Check the spelling of the name, the dates and the course title, then ask again.
Who issues verifiable certificates with TRUE?
TRUE is used by certifying bodies, universities and training providers, including: