Pakistan

Axact’s fake colleges hosted on the same server

Many of the websites for the purported universities were created the same day

Our Correspondent May 21, 2015

senate takes up issue says axact 039 s management must provide explanation photo courtesy forbes

Senate takes up issue, says Axact's management must provide explanation. PHOTO COURTESY: FORBES

KARACHI: As the crackdown on Axact and its fake degree operations continues, it has been learnt that the websites of the purported online colleges run by the controversial IT company are hosted on the same server, with the same address and telephone listings.

Feeding the domain addresses of the websites of the colleges run by Axact – a list of which was released along with the New York Times report that prompted FIA action against the IT company – to a domain registry tool such as Whois.com revealed that most of them were hosted by http://www.directnic.com, a server run by DNC Holdings Inc.

The company is registered with the address PO Box 6592 in Los Angeles, California, with the phone number +1.5043550082. It is also listed against an alternative address – PO Box 1979 – in Panama City, with the phone number +507.7798796.

The websites of the Axact-run online colleges hosted by DNC Holdings’ server include AlfordHighSchool.com, mcgrawuniversity.com, nixonuniversity.com, northernportuniversity.com, mountlincolnuniversity.com, mcforduniversity.com, olwauniversity.com, queensbayuniversity.com, walforduniversity.com, rochvilleuniversity.org and harveyuniversity.com.

All these websites share the addresses and phone numbers of DNC Holdings. Some of these were even created on the same day – June 6, 2013 – scrutiny using Whois.com revealed.

In addition to hosting the websites of such a large number of universities and schools, DNC Holdings’ server also hosts the websites of some of the purported accreditation bodies which sanctioned them. These include the Association for Accreditation of Business Schools & Programs (http://aabsp.com) and the International Accreditation Board for Business Studies (http://iabbs.org).

The server also hosts other sites such as universal-onlinedegrees.com and affordableaccrediteddegrees.com.

It also appears Axact did not expand its degree mill to the Middle East until 2013. Websites for alkhaleejuniversity.net, alarabuniversity.com, alkhalifaamericanuniversity.com, americangulfuniversity.com, americanmideastuniversity.com and arabcontinentaluniversity.com were created between March and September 2013. Unsurprisingly, all these universities too were hosted by DNC Holdings on directnic.com, with the same PO box and phone numbers.

The websites of corresponding Middle East oriented accreditation boards, such as the Gulf Accreditation Council (http://gacc.me) and the Gulf Bureau of Higher Education (http://www.gulfbhe.me) were also registered by the DNC Holdings’ server.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2015.

COMMENTS (5)

Sheece Gardezi | 9 years ago | Reply The is the most pathetic report i have read. I am a software engineer doing my master in computing. What is the link between any of these site and Axact ? The only thing i was understanding after reading this artical is defamation of a Pakistani software house. Toy should be ashamed of publishing such stories with no proof.

Ali | 9 years ago | Reply The genius reporter seems to have no clue about software as a service. If you create a shop using shopify.com or Amazon.com, your web address along with several other shoppers will have same ip. It doesn't mean Amazon or shopify own the shops created using their platforms. Same is the case with axact. They provide a platform anyone can use to create an educational institute website along with complete process management. Nothing wrong with that. Also you did not give any proof that these universities are register to axact, one of its founders or one of its subsidiaries in anyway. But I understand, you are doing propaganda against them. Just realize, your logic and reporting makes you look even sillier and it won't affect axact much.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

sehr.siddiqui | 9 years ago | Reply The structure of building clearly suggests the connivance and approval of DHA whereby it gave permission for unlawful construction. As the story unfolds we will hear some unbelievable connections. Nothing will happen to culprits due to strong backing.

Shoaib Sheikh, CEO | 9 years ago | Reply Here's one comment on the net that shows how clever Mr.Shoaib is. The way they sell it is quite innovative. First they collect information on people looking for jobs through their own sites made for this purpose only. Then they contact them for these jobs (posing as internationally recognized companies), report that the applicant needs at least XYZ degree for a guaranteed letter of employment. Target is enticed into applying for that degree through various means and when he is done with the course neither the job company contacts him nor the degree is of any use.

Shoaib Sheikh, CEO | 9 years ago | Reply At Axact, we follow the principle of equal-opportunity. Even pets can earn online degrees if they have the relevant life experience. There is not other organization that can match our humane approach to business.

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