[Oacrao-l] Fraudulent applications increasing

[McLain, Liz]

We currently use an identity verification that is built into our Slate admissions process. We have identified several potential fraudulent students when they refuse to provide the proper verification (picture ID) or provide verification that does not match their application details-mainly online. We have also been able to catch some fraudulent students through financial aid verification.

We are also fortunate to have tech savvy folks that have found bad applications by researching the person on LinkedIn and Facebook when information wasn't matching up. It definitely sends up a red flag when someone with a JD in New York is trying to get admitted for an online undergraduate degree in Oklahoma.

Liz McLain, DPA
Director of Admissions and Recruitment
East Central University
1100 E 14th Street
Ada, Oklahoma 74820
580-559-5528
[cid:image002.png at 01DCA70B.9BB7DFF0]

[A close-up of a black background  AI-generated content may be incorrect.]<https://apply.ecok.edu/apply/>
[A white text on a black background  AI-generated content may be incorrect.]<https://apply.ecok.edu/portal/tours>

From: Oacrao-l <oacrao-l-bounces at lists.onenet.net> On Behalf Of Johnson, Adam
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2026 9:52 AM
To: oacrao-l at lists.onenet.net
Subject: [Oacrao-l] Fraudulent applications increasing

[CAUTION] This email originated from outside East Central University. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Good morning!

SWOSU has seen a growing number of fraudulent applications come through in the past several months. While others were easier to spot/track, they are becoming increasingly more difficult to identify. In a recent example, the fraudulent applicant used someone else's identity to gain admission (and Financial Aid), and someone is actually submitting assignments in their enrolled courses (asynchronous fully online).

Here's my question for you all - what are you doing to help prevent these kinds of fraudulent applications coming through? Are you using some kind of in-house process to verify every student's identity or partnering with an outside vendor? If in-house, is the process in your Admissions area or Financial Aid office (or both/other)?

Thank you for your insight!

[created with MySignature.io]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/mysignature.io/?utm_source=logo__;!!IMGxvw!EOO4m3wq8o0u6_mS4Ot1JiAeUGvQ7LvTfmP16Vsz78BaGA9FMnauDn5Q9Fa38cGSPNQFOSkwthrwdA_EmrH7EhJs$>
Dr. Adam Johnson
Vice-President for Student Services
Office of Student Services
p:  580-774-3<tel:580-774-3063>177
f:   580-774-7035
w:  swosu.edu<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.swosu.edu/__;!!IMGxvw!EOO4m3wq8o0u6_mS4Ot1JiAeUGvQ7LvTfmP16Vsz78BaGA9FMnauDn5Q9Fa38cGSPNQFOSkwthrwdA_EmpIU61Zt$>
e:   adam.johnson at swosu.edu<mailto:adam.johnson at swosu.edu>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.onenet.net/pipermail/oacrao-l/attachments/20260226/8c69e615/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.png
Type: image/png
Size: 5882 bytes
Desc: image002.png
URL: <http://lists.onenet.net/pipermail/oacrao-l/attachments/20260226/8c69e615/attachment-0004.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.png
Type: image/png
Size: 9591 bytes
Desc: image003.png
URL: <http://lists.onenet.net/pipermail/oacrao-l/attachments/20260226/8c69e615/attachment-0005.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image004.png
Type: image/png
Size: 9878 bytes
Desc: image004.png
URL: <http://lists.onenet.net/pipermail/oacrao-l/attachments/20260226/8c69e615/attachment-0006.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image005.png
Type: image/png
Size: 41807 bytes
Desc: image005.png
URL: <http://lists.onenet.net/pipermail/oacrao-l/attachments/20260226/8c69e615/attachment-0007.png>