Last Updated on 12/01/2026 by TheDigitalHacker
January 12, 2026 – Australia moved India to its highest-risk category for student visas after discovering 1 million+ fake degrees from a single Kerala racket. This problem is now solved. MixCertificate’s technology makes fake certificates impossible.
The Problem
Kerala Police busted a fake degree operation with 100,000 forged certificates from 22 universities. The damage: Indian students now face stricter visa scrutiny, legitimate graduates are under suspicion, and Australia’s education system lost trust in Indian credentials.
The root cause? Email-based verification. Universities verify degrees through emails that can be faked, intercepted, or spoofed. Fraudsters exploited this weakness for years.
The MixCertificate Solution
Rana Jayant, Founder of MixCertificate, built a platform that eliminates certificate fraud at its source.
“Email verification is slow like snail,” says Jayant. Authorities don’t have time for 3 days verification. “We’ve replaced it with something fraud-proof: QR codes verified directly from university domains.”
How It Works: 3 Features That Stop Fraud
1. QR Code Instant Verification Every certificate gets a unique QR code. Scan it, get instant authentication. No emails. No waiting. No human error.
2. University Subdomain Hosting Example: Verification portals live on official university domains: certificate.harvard.edu.
This is critical. Fraudsters can fake emails and websites. They cannot fake a university’s official subdomain. When verification happens on the university’s own domain, there’s no way to spoof it.
3. Distributed Accountability System Every verification is logged and traceable. If a university issues fraudulent certificates, the trail leads directly back to them. Institutions can’t claim ignorance. The system creates automatic accountability.
Why Email Verification Failed
The Kerala racket worked because email verification is broken:
- Universities need staff to respond to thousands of verification emails
- Emails can be faked with spoofed addresses
- Response times take days or weeks
- No way to track if a university is issuing fake certificates
- The system relies on trust, not technology
MixCertificate removes all these vulnerabilities.
The Business Case
For universities: No more verification emails. No dedicated staff needed. Deploy once, verify forever. Your reputation protected by technology, not by hope.
For employers and visa authorities: Verify any certificate in 3 seconds. From your phone. From anywhere in the world. Zero doubt.
For students: Your legitimate degree is instantly verifiable. No delays. No suspicion. No diplomatic incidents.
This Scandal Was Preventable
“The Kerala fraud wouldn’t have happened with MixCertificate,” says Jayant. “When certificates are verified through official university subdomains with QR technology, fraud becomes impossible. You can’t fake a university’s domain. You can’t forge a cryptographic QR code. The technology simply doesn’t allow it.”
The MixCertificate Advantage
✓ Instant verification – 3-second QR scan vs. 3-day email wait
✓ Fraud-proof – Cryptographic security + official domain hosting
✓ Zero staff overhead – Automated system replaces verification teams
✓ Full transparency – Every certificate issuance is tracked and auditable
✓ Global standard – Works across borders, languages, and institutions
A Global Problem, Not Just India
This isn’t an India problem. This is a global verification problem. Fake degree mills operate in every major destination country:
- United States – Diploma mills and fake credentials cost employers billions annually
- United Kingdom – HEDD receives thousands of fraudulent verification requests yearly
- Australia – Now facing the largest documented fake degree scandal
- Switzerland – European credential fraud networks target Swiss institutions
- Canada – Fake international degrees used for immigration applications
- Germany – Rising cases of forged academic credentials from multiple countries
Email-based verification fails everywhere. The Kerala scandal exposed the system’s weakness, but the vulnerability exists worldwide.
Universities Must Act Now
This is a call to action for every university and college globally. Your reputation is at stake. Your students’ futures are at stake.
Protect Your Reputation
Every fake certificate issued in your institution’s name damages your brand. When fraud happens, legitimate graduates suffer. Employers lose trust. Visa authorities add restrictions. Your institution’s credibility erodes.
MixCertificate protects your reputation by making it impossible for fraudsters to fake your certificates. When verification happens on your official subdomain with cryptographic QR codes, no one can claim to have your degree unless they actually do.
Shape the Future of Your Students
Your legitimate students deserve instant, global recognition of their achievements. They shouldn’t wait days for verification emails. They shouldn’t face suspicion because of fraud committed by others. They shouldn’t lose opportunities because outdated systems can’t confirm their credentials quickly.
By adopting MixCertificate, universities give their students:
- Instant proof of their qualifications anywhere in the world
- Protection from being lumped in with fraudsters
- Competitive advantage with instantly verifiable credentials
- Peace of mind that their hard-earned degrees are recognized
The Choice Is Clear
Continue with email verification and remain vulnerable to the next scandal, or adopt technology that makes fraud impossible.
Universities and colleges that act now will: ✓ Protect their institutional reputation
✓ Safeguard their students from unfair scrutiny
✓ Eliminate verification staff overhead
✓ Demonstrate commitment to credential integrity
✓ Lead the global shift to fraud-proof verification
The Solution Exists. The Time Is Now.
Australia’s decision affects millions of students. But the solution exists and is ready to deploy globally. Every day universities delay adopting proper verification technology is another day fraudsters have an advantage.
MixCertificate is ready to deploy at universities and colleges worldwide.
About MixCertificate
MixCertificate is a technology company specializing in secure, blockchain-enabled credential verification systems. Founded by Rana Jayant, the company provides educational institutions with modern tools to issue tamper-proof certificates and enable instant verification through QR code technology.
Media Contact:
Rana Jayant
Founder, MixCertificate
Email: [email protected]
For more information about MixCertificate’s verification technology, visit www.mixcertificate.com
Sources & References
- India Today – “Fake degree scam racket across India sets off political firestorm in Australia“
- Key Facts:
- 100,000 forged certificates seized by Kerala Police
- 22 universities implicated in the racket
- Over 1 million fake degrees estimated to have been issued
- Australia moved India to highest-risk category for student visas
- Citing “emerging integrity risks” in credential verification
Editor’s Notes:
- The Kerala fake degree racket involved 100,000 forged certificates from 22 universities
- Authorities estimate over 1 million fake degrees were issued through this operation
- Australia has moved India to its highest-risk category for student visas, citing “emerging integrity risks”
- Current verification systems rely primarily on email communication between institutions
- No official reports specify where the majority of fake degree holders are located
Reference: India Today, “Fake degree scam racket across India sets off political firestorm in Australia,” January 7, 2026
