Identification Processes in the Higher Education Sector: Risks and Countermeasures

• NCJ Number: 212665
• Author(s): Russell G. Smith
• Date Published: December 2005
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: AIC Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice No. 305, December 2005.

Annotation

This paper explores the problem of identity-related fraud in the higher education sector and identifies strategies to reduce the risks of identity fraud.

Abstract

Identity fraud has emerged as one of the most pervasive crime problems of the 21st century. While most people relate identity fraud with crimes that affect the financial sector, the higher education sector is increasingly finding evidence of identity-related fraud across many domains, including in the enrollment of students, in the examination process, and in the payment process. The risks of identity fraud in the higher education sector in Australia are described and include the risk of enrollment fraud, student identity card fraud, examination fraud, qualifications fraud, and administration fraud. Risks of these types of identity frauds can be minimized by the effective and consistent use of verification of information with the issuing source. New technologies that assist in identity verification are reviewed, such as polymer banknote technology and iris recognition systems. Strategies that can be used to reduce plagiarism are presented followed by a discussion of privacy issues. In closing, the author observes how technologies that have allowed identity fraud to proliferate by enabling the easy fabrication or alteration of documents is the same technology that can be used by legitimate sectors to verify the authenticity of information and identity. Figures, references