Dear All,
I am a student of a university in Ireland. I am in a difficult situation. Struggling with my literature review, I sought assistance from a UK-based research writing company. Initially, they attempted to persuade me to utilize their services for my entire dissertation. However, I insisted that I only required help with the literature review. Subsequently, they requested all the necessary details such as reference papers, formatting requirements, and the research proposal I had drafted. I provided them with everything they asked for, only to receive a substandard literature review that was unusable. Disappointed, I ceased contact with them.
Yesterday, I received an email from the Department of Education, informing me that they had detected my association with the aforementioned company through my IP address. They instructed me to contact the research writing company to obtain authorship and a No Objection Certificate (NOC). This news has left me feeling incredibly anxious.
Upon reaching out to the company, they directed me to their legal team. The legal team asserted that they are aware of my case and have received communication from the Department of Education. They claimed to be willing to provide authorship. When I insisted that I had not used their content they said that does not matter. According to them, the Department of Education lacks evidence against me, and therefore, they are pressuring the company to either provide evidence of my involvement or issue authorship. Failure to comply would result in the Department of Education involving my university and potentially seizing the company's database. However, they have offered to assist me in exchange for a payment of £2950. I expressed my inability to afford such a sum and voiced suspicions about the legitimacy of their claims. In response, I informed them that I had already informed my college about the situation.
Subsequently, they emailed me again, stating that due to my failure to adhere to their instructions, they would proceed to provide all evidence to the Department of Education and absolve themselves of any responsibility. I am deeply concerned about the potential ramifications, particularly the possibility of them contacting my university.
Any guidance on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated..
Was the email from the "Department of Education" real? It could be faked.
Hey, I feel it's fake because the email came from a government domain, but it was sent via 5ymail, and the signature block at the end of the email just said "Department of Education" with a link to the Department of Education's website. There were punctuation mistakes, and which department and why they're asking me to talk to a research writing company is unclear. The email sent to the company from the Department of Education is different, and in theirs, it said they are refraining from telling students about this, but I got the mail before the research company did. Just with an IP address, you cannot find my complete name and research topic, and since I haven't yet submitted work, how is it cheating? I've never used their work and authorship and NOC (no objection certificate) costing 2950 pounds does not make sense. Why didn't the Department of Education contact my college instead of contacting the research company? They also mentioned that if the company doesn't give authorship and NOC or evidence against me, the Department of Education will visit their office to get their database. But what crime have I committed here? When I was talking to the legal team, suddenly, out of nowhere, he became a solicitor of the company. Yesterday, I got an email from an advocate stating that they don't want to ruin their company's name, and they don't want officers to visit their company. Since I didn't pay them for authorship and NOC, they will be giving all the evidence to the department. When I thought it was a scam, I emailed them, informing them that I had already informed the university about it. They mentioned in the last email that even my university will have to face charges because they are helping me to breach the code of conduct.
I am really not sure, weather this is a scam or real. I am really confused
If it has "via" in the "From" area, it's a scam email. Department of Education doesn't care about individual students. Btw, they also have no "legal team" - it's the same scammer responding to your emails. I suggest to ignore them.
Yes, thank you for that. I was just worried about what might happen if they were to reach out to my university. However, as I read some articles and answers from this forum, it seems that it's not easy and the chances of them exposing themselves are much less, as it is illegal for research companies to operate. I have not submitted my dissertation to the university yet, but could there be any consequences just because I contacted them?
No consequences. These Kenyan scammers will move on to another potential victim if you just ignore them. They may try to send you more emails but whatever they say they have nothing on you.
Yes, I received two emails today: one from the Department of Education asking me to resolve the issue with the research company, and another from the research company stating that if I ignore their email, they will contact the university. They threatened that if they find me guilty, my case will be taken to the Supreme Court. Their threats are intense and mentally exhausting, but I am choosing to completely ignore them. I hope people don't fall for such scams and never reach out to someone without checking their credibility. I've learned my lesson.
What Reply-To email shows up when you click on the Reply button from the "Department of Education" email? I'm sure it's a different email (it's actually the scammer's email). The scammers have no case. "Department of Education" is closed on the weekends. Also, why don't you post the scammer's website name to protect other students.
When I replied, it showed the government ID. However, as you can see in the attached image, it indicates that the email was sent via 5ymail.me.
scam.png
In your gmail, click on the down arrow and check what email appears next to the 'reply-to.'
There is no "reply to" header.
scam2.png
education.gov.ie doesn't exist. The scammers use a phished email to send it via 5ymail.me, an anonymous email scam provider. Don't spend more time on this junk, it's a scam.
@Anonymus
please ignore all of their email.
Yes, I am gonna ignore them.
@Anonymus
I am sorry about this.I have worked with over 1000 students in the last five years.What i usually advice is never send attachments with your school info to a writer
What you received is what is more commonly known as an email spoof. It is a fake. You are talking to the same people from the writing company. They are scamming you. Do not continue communicating with them. Before you know it the "department of education" will be telling you to pay the company to release the clearance certificates. Do not be fooled. This is a con. It is not a real complaint. You are safe from government investigation. The law of the UK regarding academic honesty and writing companies does not function in this manner.
The opinions are that of the author's alone based on an individual capacity. Opinions are provided "as is" and are not error-free.
yes, I have blocked them from everywhere. I did not get any mail from them today. But I am just anxious.
I have submitted work from a writing company, but I actually done most of the work myself, however I sent it to them to poof read. They have my supervisors email and feel like they are email spoofing. They forwarded me an email from my supervisor with the same email address as hers, but I'm not sure if it was her sending the email or THEM. In the email it says that the dept of education in the Uk has told her about a student using a wirting service, however I am not from the UK. They asked for money to give me rights to the paper. I know its a scam but the fact that the email came from my supervisor (maybe) is alarming.
@Student151
I did not know such a scam existed. After finding an easy scam website, I learned how a scammer can destroy a student's life, and I am one of the victims of the scammer. Did your supervisor contact you?
@unknown1
My supervisor did not but they have my work which I completed and saying its theirs. My supervisor did'nt but apparently contacted the writing service, I don't believe its her sending the email though
@Student151
then no worry if your supervisor is not contacting you. If your school is contacting you, then it might be alarming. Did you get also fake letter from department of Education UK?
Ye that's what I thought, but could she be investigating first then ask me about it. They sent what I think is fake a letter they received from the dept. of education. See its also the weekend and that why I think she hasn't asked me but she did email the writing service. The email address is hers is it possible that it is spoofed.
@Student151
Let us know here your situation if your supervisor is contacting you.
ill show you the email
Email by Supervisor
@Student151
Oh my God, and this email you got from the scammer (writing service company)?
@unknown1
yes I know.
@Student151
What I learned from my mistake is to never share your work except with your supervisor. I have never shared my final version except with my supervisor, and the scammer is still threatening me that they will send it directly to my school.
@unknown1
Do you think it is spoofed or real?
@Student151
Honestly, I do not have any idea about this.
@Student151
After reading some comments on this website, it seems the email spoof.. i think its fake..If they already report to your school, why they are demanding money?. May I know when you got this email?. just blocked their email and phone number from every side, as they could not contact you. Just blocked.
@unknown1
They wanted money because they would reply to say they got the wrong person to my supervisor, I got the sent the email from the writing company yesterday.
@Student151
Do not trust this scammer.. Do not pay any penny.
@unknown1
I wont but I hope my college don't know about it, the worse thing its all my work I didn't use anything from them.
@Student151
yes if our collage knows, then it will be a problem
@unknown1
This has to be a scam they must have her email.
Screenshot2024050.png
@Student151
not clear..is this email from your supervisor?
@Student151
Why dont you blocked them? just blocked them, and then they could not communicate with you.
Those spoofed emails are always complete nonsense.
If they already report to your school, why they are demanding money?
Exactly. Just think about it: If they already contacted your supervisor, why would they think you'd even consider still paying them? Even kidnappers don't kill their hostages first and then continue demanding a ransom. Never respond to blackmailers, regardless of what their messages say. Just block every means by which they continue to contact you. That's the quickest way to get them to leave you alone. Every response from you only motivates them to continue threatening you.
