{{short description|Degree mill}} {{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}} {{Infobox company | name = Axact Pvt. Ltd. | native_name = {{script/Nastaliq|ایگزیکٹ}} | native_name_lang = ur | logo = Axact logo.png | type = | industry = Software | founded = 1997 | founder = Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh | owner = Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh | hq_location_city = Karachi | hq_location_country = Pakistan | key_people = | products = IT software, illegitimate academic qualifications | brands = | services = | website = {{Official URL}} }}
'''Axact''' ({{langx|ur|{{URDU|ایگزیکٹ}}}}) is a Pakistan software company that runs numerous 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 |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 paid up capital of 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 |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 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.<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 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, 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" />
===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 |date=19 May 2015 |title=Chaudhry Nisar orders inquiry into NYT report on Axact |publisher=Dawn |url=https://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=https://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 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=usurped }}</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 |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 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 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>
=== 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.<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 to commit wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in a 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=https://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 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 |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'' 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 === 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== 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.<ref name="NYT 20May2015" /> The following is an incomplete list of those websites:
===Educational websites=== {{columns-list|colwidth=20em| * 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" /> * Advance Online Degrees<ref name="nytlist" /> * Affordable Accredited Degrees<ref name="nytlist" /> * Affordable Degrees Pro<ref name="nytlist" /> * Al Arab University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Al Khaleej University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Al Khalifa American University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Alford High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Almeda University * Alpine University<ref name="nytlist" /> * American Gulf University<ref name="nytlist" /> * American Mideast University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Anchor Point University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Arab Continental University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Arab Women University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Ashbery University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Ashley University<ref name="nytlist" /> * 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" /> * Bay View University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Baycity University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Baytown University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Beacon Falls High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Belford High School<ref name="nyt" /> * Belford University<ref name="nyt" /> * Belltown University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Branton University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Brooklyn Park University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Brooksville High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Brooksville University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Buffville High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * 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"/> * Creek View University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Crestford University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Drumount University * Fast Online University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Federal High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Ford Worth High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Fort Jones University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Foster City High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Galewood University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Gatesville University * Gene Kranz University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Gibson University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Glenford University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Global Institute of English Language Training and Certification<ref name="nytlist" /> * Grant Town University<ref name="nytlist" /> * GreenLake University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Grendal University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Hadly University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Hansford University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Harvey University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Headway University<ref name="nytlist" /> * High School Diploma Experience<ref name="nytlist" /> * High School Diploma Fast<ref name="nytlist" /> * High School Diploma Pro<ref name="nytlist" /> * High School Diploma Professionals<ref name="nytlist" /> * High School Diploma Profs<ref name="nytlist" /> * Hill Online Degrees<ref name="nytlist" /> * Hill University<ref name="nytlist" /> * James Adam University<ref name="nytlist" /> * James Harding University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Jersey High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Johnstown University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Kennedy University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Kings Lake University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Kingsbridge University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Laurus University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Lorenz High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Luther City High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Madison Hills University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Mary Grand High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Mayfield University<ref name="nytlist" /> * McCain High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * McFord High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * McFord University<ref name="nytlist" /> * McGraw Online Degrees<ref name="nytlist" /> * McGraw University<ref name="nytlist" /> * McHill High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * McKinley University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Midtown University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Mount Lincoln University<ref name="nytlist" /> * MUST University<ref name="cbc.ca"/> * Nelson Bay University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Nicholson University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Nixon University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Northern Port University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Northway University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Oscarmount University * Olford Walters University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Online University Profs<ref name="nytlist" /> * Online University Programs Pro<ref name="nytlist" /> * Olympia Creek University <ref name="nytlist" /> * Oxdell University * Pacific High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Panworld High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Panworld University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Paramount California University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Parkfield University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Payne Springs University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Pine Hill University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Pittsford University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Port Jefferson University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Queen City University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Queens Bay University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Queensville University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Ray University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Redding University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Riverwood University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Rochville University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Roseville Community College<ref name="nytlist" /> * St. Angelo High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Stenford High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Thompson University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Universal Online Degrees<ref name="nytlist" /> * Victorville High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * WalesBridge University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Walford University<ref name="nytlist" /> * West Coast High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Western Advanced Central University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Western Valley Central University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Westland University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Wilburton University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Wiley University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Wilford University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Willington University<ref name="nytlist" /> * WinFord High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Windham University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Woodbridge University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Woodfield High School<ref name="nytlist" /> * Woodfield University<ref name="nytlist" /> * Woodrow University<ref name="nytlist" /> }}
===Accreditation websites ===
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em| * Accreditation Bureau of Online Education and Training<ref name="nytlist" /> * Arab Accreditation Council<ref name="nytlist" /> * Association for Accreditation of Business Schools and Programs<ref name="nytlist" /> * European Accreditation Board for Online Education<ref name="nytlist" /> * European Accreditation Council for Online Learning<ref name="nytlist" /> * Global Accreditation Board for Distance Learning<ref name="nytlist" /> * Global Doctorate Council<ref name="nytlist" /> * Gulf Accreditation Council<ref name="nytlist" /> * Gulf Bureau of Higher Education<ref name="nytlist" /> * Gulf Engineering Council<ref name="nytlist" /> * International Accreditation Board for Business Studies<ref name="nytlist" /> * International Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Education<ref name="nytlist" /> * Education International Accreditation Board for Psychology Education<ref name="nytlist" /> * Education International Accreditation Council for Open Education<ref name="nytlist" /> * International Accreditation Organization<ref name="nytlist" /> * International Business Accreditation and Regulatory Commission<ref name="nytlist" /> * International Medical Science Commission Ghotki.<ref name="nytlist" /> }}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website}}
Category:Axact Category:Pakistani companies established in 1997 Category:Companies based in Karachi Category:Software companies established in 1997 Category:Fraud in Pakistan Category:Private universities and colleges in California Category:Internet fraud Category:Unaccredited institutions of higher learning in Pakistan Category:Unaccredited institutions of higher learning in the United States