The federal government was duped into hiring fake nurses, engineers and other fraudsters findings by the Public Service Commission show.
According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the commission audited credential validation and found that the public service was “not immune to such fraud.”
“Indeed, past Public Service Commission investigations have uncovered a variety of fraudulent credentials claimed by applicants and appointees to positions such as nurses, architects and engineers,” said the Results of The Horizontal Audit on Credential Validation report.
The audit reviewed resumes at fifteen federal agencies and found that out of 287 employees, seven of them had credentials which could not be verified, while thirteen didn’t have the proper documents to show that their credentials were vetted.
“Concern over fraudulent or inadequate academic and professional credentials goes beyond the potential impact on the integrity of the staffing system or the reputational risk to the public service,” said the commission.
“The greater risk is assumed by Canadians if such fraud occurs with professionals who have a role in ensuring their health, safety or security.”
The investigation was sparked by Sylvie Lemeling, who was appointed as the national coordinator of the Canadian Coast Guard after having purchased a fake degree from Belford University, a Texas based operation running out of a post office box.
The fraudulent university sold degrees to prospecting clients for as much as $1,500.
