www.degreemills.com
  • Home
  • A few testimonials
  • Preface and Introduction to the book
  • 92 Red Flags
  • Contact us
  • How to buy the book (3 approaches)
  • Shappley verdict (Utah)
  • Axact
  • 71 Axact Red Flags

The Axact organization in Pakistan, exposed in a page one New York Times story by Declan Walsh, has proven to be, by far, the largest fake degree operation ever, with hundreds of millions of dollars in sales worldwide. A Google search for "Axact" will find hundreds of articles. Here is a very long summary report issued by authorities there. It includes detailed information on all the perpetrators, more than 300 fake universities and accrediting agencies, bank accounts, and so forth. The formatting is awkward and we hope to improve that. In the meantime, we will be glad to email you a formatted Word document. Use the 'Contact us" page to the left.

IN THE HONOURABLE COURT OF ADDL: DISTRICT & SESSIONS JUDGE (SOUTH)-V, KARACHI

 
Final Charge Sheet u/s 173  Cr.P.C
 
 Charge Sheet No.         /2015, Dated:         .02.2016, Police Station: FIA, Corporate Crime Circle, Karachi
 
In the First Information Report No.07/2015 dated 27.05.2015 u/s 420/468/471/472/473/474/477-A/109/34 PPC r/w section 36/37 ETO, 2002 and Section 3/4 AML Act, 2010
 
1
2
3
4.
5.
6.

Name Address & Occupation    Of Complainant Or Informant
Names  and  addresses   of accused not  sent  up  for trial  whether  arrested
Or   not  &  absconders (absconders in red ink)
Accused Persons Sent Up For Trial
Property    (including weapons) found, with particulars
Of where, when
& by whom found and whether   forwarded to magistrate/special judge whose name to be given.
Name And Addresses Of Witnesses
Charge or information. Name   & circumstances connected   with   it,   in concise detail & under what section of the law charged.
 

In Custody
On Bail

State through Saeed Ahmed Memon, FIA Corporate Crime Circle, Karachi.
Farhan Kamal (CNIC No. 42000-0483870-3, R/O: 23, 1st Street, Off Khayaban-e-Sehar, Post Office Lane, DHA-VI, Karachi Uzma Shaheen w/o Syed Muhammad Zubair for Plot No. 338-D, 1st Street, Phase-VIII, DHA, Karachi. Harris Siddiqui S/o Irshad Hussain Siddiqui, H.No. 190, Street No. 41. Main Kh-e-Ittehad Phase 6, DHA, Karachi. Zubair.M.Syed, 1512 Midwest Club Parkway, Oak brook, Illinois 60523.  

List  14 fourteen accused Attached

Ayesha Shaoib w/o Shaoib Ahmed Shaikh,  R/o House No. 26/II, 18th Street, Khayaban-e-Tanzeem, DHA, Karachi. (On Pre-arrest Interim Bail).  
NIL
List attached
List Attached
U/S 182, 201, 383, 409, 418, 419, 420, 466, 467, 468, 471, 472, 473, 474, 476, 477-A, 109, 34 PPC r/w section 36 & 37 of Electronic Ordinance, 2002
 
An enquiry No. 14/2015 was registered at FIA, Corporate Crime Circle, Karachi regarding axact- fake online degree scam, on the orders of the competent authority. During the course of enquiry, it has been established that accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh initially established a company in the name & style of M/s axact FZ LLC, UAE. Thereafter, accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh incorporated a company with the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) in the name & style of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd, Pakistan with following shareholding:
 
1. Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, Director/ CEO                        01 share
2. Ayesha Shoaib Shaikh, Director                      01 share
3. M/s axact FZ LLC, UAE                                       599,998 shares
 
 
Contd…P/2.

Accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, in the capacity of Director/ CEO of M/s axact and his management team comprising of Zeeshan Anwar, Viqas Atique, Zeeshan Ahmed, Farhan Kamal, Muhammad Sabir, and others were part of a conspiracy upon which they systematically and continuously acted in an organized manner on multiple occasions for creation of false, fake, fabricated, misleading, forged and spoofed domain names; created false, fabricated, fake, misleading, forged and spoofed digital content (such as brand names, literature, pictures and other material) for both websites and emails communications, created false, fabricated, fake, misleading, forged, fraudulent and spoofed websites; created false, fabricated, misleading, forged, fraudulent and spoofed digital content (such as brand names, literature, pictures and other material) for spear phishing emails sent to individuals targeted; created false, fabricated, fake, fraudulent, misleading, forged and spoofed physical/hardcopy content (such as brand names, literature, pictures, certificates, diplomas, degrees, accreditations  and other material) for the purposes of defrauding, misleading and cheating employers, Governments, Public Servants, Diplomatic and Consular Services (Embassies and Consulates attestation, notarization, legalization, apostile and visa services).  These websites included hundreds of websites of false, fabricated, fake, fraudulent, misleading and fictitious Universities/ Schools/ Colleges / other educational institutions / Accreditation bodies and other organizations / Job Sites purportedly based at various countries including USA and Middle Eastern Countries. That these accused through this criminal conduct created a microcosm of false, fabricated and fraudulent universities, accreditation organizations, review and critique sites as well as job sites and payment portals masquerading as IT products/services sites with a further objective to utilize the amalgam of these websites and spear phishing emails along with fraudulent, dishonest and impersonating phone calls in conjunction with one another in a conspiracy to target thousands upon thousands of victims in order to defraud, embezzle, cheat and extort funds out of these individuals. At the same time the accused caused the proceeds of these crimes to be processed fraudulently and falsely on websites and merchant payment accounts masquerading as websites and merchant payment accounts for IT products/services, thereby laundering these payments. As part of these fraudulent forgery services the accused systematically prepared, printed (themselves and ordered others to print for them)millions of certificates, diplomas, degrees, accreditations and other documentation knowing that these were false, fabricated, misleading, forged both in terms of the documents printed and produced as well as the statements and representations regarding the qualification, skills and completion of courses and examinations of individuals named in these documents. These documents were designed and produced by the accused and upon their instructions and under the supervision specifically for the purpose of furnishing false and misleading information, defrauding and cheating employers and public servants;  both as a result of employers employing and providing salaries to individuals as well as inducing public servants to apply Government seals, approvals, attestation, notarization and legalization upon such false, fabricated, forged and misleading documents; and in numerous cases even applying Government seals, approvals, attestation, notarization and legalization to such false, fabricated, forged and misleading documents themselves. In order to manage this entire criminal organized enterprise the accused acquired and used a comprehensive Customer Relations Management (CRM) system which included details and cogent evidence of the entire process and trail of each stage of each of these several offences as an amalgam. This CRM includes evidence from the inception of the idea and concept for the creation of false, fabricated, misleading, forged and spoofed domain names and websites, thereafter the creation and development of its digital and hardcopy content that included false, fabricated, misleading, forged literature, certificates, diplomas, degrees, accreditations and other documents, followed by the fraudulent marketing and advertising of the fraudulent, forged and impersonated services, further followed by the record of impersonated and fraudulent spear phishing emails, and phone calls with willfully forged, fabricated, false and counterfeit CLI including electronic record and files of the phone/audio calls through which the offences were committed by and upon instructions of the accused.
 
 
As mentioned above, besides preparing, offering, selling & issuing fake/ forged/ bogus Degrees/ Diplomas, accused Directors of M/s axact (Pvt) Limited and their management have also established fictitious & non-existent accreditation bodies and used to fraudulently prepare Accreditation Certificates of fictitious Universities/ Schools/ Colleges/ Accreditation and other organizations in order to portray that Universities/ Schools/ Colleges/ Accreditation and other organizations and Certificates as genuine.
 
 
Accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, CEO and his management team used the above modus operandi for defrauding students,their employers and public servants by offering different packages of false, fabricated, fake, fraudulent, misleading and fictitious Universities/ Colleges/ Schools/ Accreditation and other organizations and received huge fees through online Credit/ Debit Cards and deposited the same in the Bank Accounts abroad including that of M/s axact FZ LLC Dubai, UAE. Thereafter, the funds were further laundered and brought into Pakistan in bank accounts of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd maintained/ operated at Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited, Habib Bank Limited, Askari Bank Limited Khayaban-e-Ittehad Branch, Karachi, UBL Khayaban-e-Ittehad Branch, Karachi & ABL Khayaban-e-Itehad Branch, Karachi under the guise of software exports. Accused Director and Management of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd used to submit false/ fake/ forged/ bogus monthly software export statements to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in order to disguise illegal origin of their funds.
 
During the course of enquiry, a number of incriminating material/articles including fictitious/fake certificates, degrees, blank and filled accreditation letters, blank certificates/ degrees, validation letters, different stamps, embossing machines related to false, fabricated, fake, fraudulent, misleading and fictitious Universities/ Colleges/ Schools/ Accreditation and other organizations used for the commission of above offences, have been recovered from the premises of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd which have been seized under proper seizure memos.
 
 
Besides, the Forensic Team of FIA NR3C has begun the arduous and time consuming task of examining the hundreds of different systems installed in the premises of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd, main office, Karachi and issued its initial/preliminary technical findings and data flow diagram of Customer Relation Management (CRM) of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd. The data flow diagram of CRM (Customers Relationship Management) System of axact illustrates the facts outlined herein through technical findings thereon explain about CRM web applications used by M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd for committing the offences specified herein.    
 
 
On 27.05.2015 at 01.00 hrs on the pointation of  accused   Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, Chief  Executive of M/s axact Private Limited, FIA team under the supervision of Mr. Javed Iqbal Malik Learned Judicial Magistrate-V, Karachi (South)  broke open the lock of  premises of the so-called “Administrative Process Management (APM)” Department of M/s axact (Pvt) Limited located at First Floor of building bearing Plot No. 125-C, Jami Commercial, Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase-VII, DHA, Karachi known as PIA Building. The premises consisted of one hall, 04 rooms and 03 stores. During search of premises hundreds of thousands of degrees/certificates of hundreds of false, fabricated, fake, fraudulent, misleading and fictitious Universities/ Colleges/ Schools/ Accreditation and other organizations, envelops and other incriminating materials/articles were found in cabinets and racks. Besides, the printing materials were also found during search. Detail of some of the degrees/ Certificates of various foreign schools/universities along with accreditation organizations unearthed thus far and taken in possession as specimen are mentioned below:
S#
Name of School / Universities
S#
Name of School / Universities

1.
E.D Barton University
2.
Brookdell University

3.
Richford University
4.
Relligngton University

5.
Tuscon University
6.
WalesBridge University

7.
Orlando University
8.
Creek University

9.
California Town University
10
Victor Towns University

11.
Baytown University
12.
Suffield University

13.
Bakerville University
14.
Arab Women University

15
Port Newfield University
16.
Harvey University

17.
Galewood University
18
Pitsford University

19.
Nelson Bay University
20.
James Adam University

21.
Baychester University
22.
Madison Hills University

23.
Keyton University
24.
Groveshire University

25.
American Mideast University
26.
Hurst University

27
Camp Lake University
28
Brooks Fargo University

29.
Payne Springs University (PSU)
30.
AdamsVille University, Excellence in E-Learning

31.
Johnstown University
32.
Wood Bridge University

33.
Corllins University
34.
Ashley University

35.
Asherton University
36.
Hamingford University

37.
Glendale University.
38.
Raeford University

39.
Belford University
40.
Greenlake University.

41.
Belford High School
42.
Granttown University

43.
Colubiana University
44.
Kennedy University

 
Details of some of the fictitious accreditation bodies discovered thus far and that have come on record so far during search, are mentioned below:
 
S#
Name of Accreditation Body
S#
Name of Accreditation Body

1.
Gulf Accreditation Council
2.
American Accreditation Council of Business Education

3.
Middle East Accreditation Council
4.
North American Distance Learning Council (NADLC)

5.
Occupational Safety & Fire Sciences Commission
6.
Central American Distance Learning Association (CADLA)

7.
International Board for Accredited IT Education
8.
Universal Council for Online Education Accreditation (UCOEA)

9.
International Accreditation Agency for Online Universities
 
 

 
Since counting a huge number of blank degrees/certificates and other documents and other incriminating material was not possible during late night, the learned Judicial Magistrate sealed the premises till following day for the purpose of detail counting in presence of him. 
 
 
The above acts of accused persons and recovery of embossing machines and huge quantity of degrees, certificates, accreditation certificates and other incriminating materials/articles recovered from the premises of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd constituted the commission of offences punishable under section 420/468/471/472/473/474/477-A/109/34 PPC r/w Section 36 & 37 of Electronic Transaction Ordinance (ETO), 2002 and Section 3 & 4 of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Act, 2010. Hence, the case was registered against accused (i) Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh s/o Bashir Ahmed Shaikh (CNIC#42301-2480273-9) Director & CEO of M/s axact (Pvt) Limited R/o House No. 26/II, 18th Street, Khayaban-e-Tanzeem, DHA, Karachi and his management team comprising of accused persons namely: (ii) Viqas Atique s/o Atiqur Rehman (CNIC No. 42301-6591580-3) R/O House No. 114, Khayaban-e-Tariq, D.H.A, Karachi (iii) Zeeshan Anwar s/o Anwar Ahmed(CNIC No.42201-6468066-5) R/o Flat No.207, 2nd floor Marine Heights 3, Block-2, Clifton Karachi. (iv) Zeeshan Ahmed s/o Naeemuddin (CNIC No.42201-447176670-5) R/O H. No. 207, 35th Street, Phase- VI D.H.A, Karachi(v) Muhammad Sabir S/o Muhammad Akram & (vi) M/s axact FZ LLC, UAE and others.
 
 
During the course of investigation, the learned Judicial Magistrate (South), Karachi, prepared day to day recovery memos from 27.05.2015 to 11.06.2015 of degrees/ certificates of foreign fictitious Schools/ Universities/ Colleges/Accreditation and other organizations, envelopes and other incriminating materials/ articles were found in cabinets and racks of Administrative Process Management (APM) Department of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd located at First Floor, Plot No. C-125, Street No. 14, Jami Commercial, Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase-VII, DHA, Karachi. Besides, the printing materials were also seized from the said premises. Details of the incriminating material recovered from the aforementioned premises are as under:
 
S#
Name of Institution
Degrees with Golden Seal Gradation Criteria at Back
Certificate with Golden Seal
Degree with Golden Seal at Centre
Certificate without Golden Seal
Letter Heads
Long Stickers
Folders
Square Stickers
Envelopes
Legalization Broachers
 
Prospectus


Adamsville University
3400
1600
2700
2960
4480
1200
1250
 
1250
1400
 


Adison High School
1571
589
589
3310
3189
962
1965
 
1760
 
358


Al Arab University
2400
 
 
 
1270
1250
1306
1193
375
812
 


ACPA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
250
 
 


Al Khaleej University
1110
2220
 
1000
3050
1450
1499
450
1300
2200
 


Al Khalifa American University
4110
 
500
 
4425
5860
1070
1352
 
1200
1444
 


Al Nasr University
1258
1000
1057
170
3146
1346
1601
1133
844
1600
 


Aldeton University
1550
1680
 
1000
500
2250
1475
750
1500
1600
 

 

Alford High School
973
480
 
500
1882
200
402
 
500
 
 


Allerwood University
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
250
 
 


Almeda University
3000
1100
 
3000
7445
1450
1450
 
1526
 
 


American Accreditation Council of Business Education (AACBE)
 
 
 
1400
1500
 
1538
 
1156
 
 


American Board of Certified Engineers
 
 
 
 
05
 
 
 
 
 
 


American Board of Engineering Professional
 
 
 
1500
1350
 
 
 
1390
 
 


American Engineering Society
 
2196
 
 
1069
 
 
 
1172
 
 


American Gulf University
3550
 
1300
3600
5730
1240
1117
 
1000
1530
 


American Higher Learning Commission
 
70
20
 
19
 
 
 
 
 
 


American Mideast University
1300
500
1000
4123
4010
1200
1325
 
875
2600
 


Arab Certified Engineering Council
 
 
1060
 
 
 
 
 
1500
 
 


Arab Commission of Engineering
 
 
 
2820
1500
 
 
 
1550
 
 


Arab Council of Project Management
 
1612
 
1500
1500
 
19 loose
 
1191
 
 


Arab Engineering Council
 
475
 
 
1000
 
 
 
1200
 
 


Arab Society of Architects
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1500
 
 


Arab Society of Civil Engineers
 
 
 
2700
1500
 
 
 
1500
 
 


Arab Women University
3000
 
2351
5220
7071
1435
1412
 
1400
736
 


Araba Accreditation Council
 
1059
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1027
 
 


ARABOSA
 
1250
1420
1500
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Arab Accreditation Council
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
39
 
 


Ashbery University
2300
1160
500
5277
5571
 
1265
900
1500
 
 


Asherton University
520
1000
1500
 
1240
350
1164
471
1272
700
 


Ashley University
500
637
665
500
2003
745
2141
 
811
1079
 


Ashwood University
571
242
 
136
2574
830
861
 
   920
 
 


Atlanta University
 
 
 
 
 
 
3814
1170
 
 
 
(1 cartons broachers)


Bakerville University
1230
744
 
2000
3170
 
870
 
750
 
 


Bankley University
 
100
 
 
190
 
 
 
 
 
 


Barkley University
1071
1177
796
1000
1818
500
550
174
578
1015
 


Baychester University
2485
 
 
4495
4840
400
1885
200
1272
1000
 


BayCity University
1390
 
1500
 
2890
1496
1490
1162
1469
1567
 


Baytown University
2398
766
600
3965
4220
240
1500
 
1181
683
 


Bayview University
3280
500
730
4320
5750
1250
1337
 
2075
1450
 


Bellford High School
 
 
 
 
 
 
150
 
 
 
 


Bellford University
4924
 
1400
250
6400
 
945
600
810
 
 


Belize Central University
2177
 
1703
 
 
2784
1500
1363
1037
1300
 
40
 


Belltown University
1720
1020
 
2610
3578
450
950
400
1000
900
 


Bliston University
1030
1431
 
1500
1463
1500
1750
 
1568
2600
 


Branton University
1700
500
 
 
1300
735
1365
600
1150
1100
 


Brinwood University
1450
1300
 
1616
1300
1700
1448
1400
1265
1005
 


Brisley University
350
2442
 
 
991
1852
1425
1527
1244
1600
 


Briston University
900
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


British Distance Learning Accreditation Council
 
 
 
1168
 
 
 
 
1250
 
 


Brookdale University
3796
 
 
1540
1000
750
1300
1050
1750
1400
 


Brooklyn Park University
2000
500
 
2420
4630
591
520
 
435
950
 


Brooks Frago University
1400
 
 
1160
500
1500
1836
 
1525
 
 


Brooksville University
1880
3580
 
3850
4480
1000
950
 
875
950
 


California Creek University
600
200
 
 
400
1500
1464
 
1270
 
 


California Port University
900
1550
 
600
500
 
1425
 
191
 
 


California Post University
 
 
 
 
 
1000
 
1000
 
 
 


California Town University
1390
400
 
1430
1996
1200
989
1750
250
 
 


Cambell University
660
810
 
160
1472
132
700
 
864
 
 


Carter Business School
2872
900
1350
 
6155
1200
950
 
1500
 
 


Central American Council of Accreditation
1200
920
1250
 
 
 
 
 
1500
 
 


Central American Distance Learning Association (CADLA)
 
2155
1500
 
 
 
 
 
1500
 
 


Central City University
1402
1580
28
1535
1306
1250
667
1600
1750
1440
 


Certified Financial Experts
 
2400
 
 
 
 
 
 
1497
 
 


ClarkDale University
3137
255
 
1000
 
3210
 
6000
1440
2131
 
1370
1400
 


CLU & Mark CampLake University
1710
1400
 
2000
3350
750
825
 
765
900
 


Columbiana University
1911
1092
300
3948
5225
273
1290
 
1050
430
 


Combell State University
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
250
 
 


Commission for Information Accreditation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
250
 
 


Commission for Information Technology Academic  Accreditation
 
2180
 
 
 
 
 
 
1250
 
 


Corllins University
1000
834
1004
3034
3947
1022
1790
 
2719
 
 


Courses University
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1000
 
 


Cranville University
 
 
111
1970
1042
1000
860
1000
1100
 
 


Creek View University
4080
2800
 
5226
9480
3100
2222
 
2563
1100
 


Crestford University
2640
 
 
 
 
2041
 
1709
 
1390
582


Daleware Universtiy
210
 
225
1000
225
 
 
 
 
 
 


Daylin University
3045
2321
 
953
3450
1500
1500
 
1493
 
 


Delward University
1289
 
1424
 
1246
1273
1328
1321
1148
1534
 


Drumount University
1440
1560
 
1500
1270
1500
2075
1450
1500
 
 


Ed Barton University
2000
 
 
500
1055
 
1000
 
250
 
 


Ed Bound University
1000
1000
612
500
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Edgebrook University
1291
 
 
 
3063
1500
1414
1496
537
 
 


EdgerBrook University
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1000
 
 


Edu Tech Sol
Holistic Education Management System
1504
 
 
 
 
144
92
1504
 
 
 


Educator License
 
 
 
2500
 
 
 
 
1500
 
 


Empowering Women
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1200
 


European Accreditation Board of Higher Education
 
2000
 
 
1560
 
 
 
650
 
 


European Accreditation Board of Online Education
 
1420
 
1456
 
 
 
 
840
 
 


European Accreditation Council for Online Learning
 
400
 
 
1500
 
 
 
1650
 
 


Fargo University
 
 
 
 
 
 
375
 
 
 
 


Field Town University
500
 
1000
1000
1000
 
950
11
 
1500
 
 
 


Ford 100
1772
500
41
1200
19
 
 
 
1524
 
 


Fort Jones University
240
 
 
350
600
 
1025
 
142
 
 


Fostershire University
2100
 
400
2700
1500
1500
1500
1000
1560
 
 


GACHE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1400
 
 


Galewood University
400
1270
2430
4410
5862
1375
1486
 
1450
2091
 


Garnerville University
2230
1542
1765
4986
6098
1493
2075
 
1495
1800
 


Garrington University
1500
500
870
3640
5350
1200
650
 
1310
1400
 


GCC Society of Architects
(1500 blue seal)
2800
 
 
 
 
 
 
1500
 
 


GCC Society of Civil Engineers
1500
 
1500
1500
 
 
 
 
1500
 
 


Gibson University
1450
500
 
 
1250
700
518
680
434
500
 


Glendale University
2500
1500
47
4100
5670
1250
1481
 
1376
1500
 


Glenford University
1500
1650
 
 
500
1154
900
1155
1035
1106
 


Global Accreditation Board for Distance Learning
 
 
 
596
 
 
 
 
513
 
 


Global Accreditation Council
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1250
 
 


Global Accreditation Council for Business Education (GACBE)
 
1680
 
 
1200
 
 
 
1000
 
 


Global Accreditation Council for Engineering Education (GACEE)
 
2350
 
 
1500
 
 
 
250
 
 


Global Association of Law Practicing Professionals
1430
1300
 
 
 
 
 
 
1500
 
 


Global Commission for Distance Learning Education
1000
3180
 
 
 
 
 
 
1650
 
 


Global Commission for Learning Education
 
75
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Global Commission of IT Professional
1450
2905
 
 
 
 
 
 
1285
 
 


Global Council of Higher Education Accreditation (GCHEA)
 
1970
 
 
1720
 
 
 
1525
 
 


GCAHE
500
500
 
 
1000
 
 
 
 
 
 


Global Education Council
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
250
 
 


Global Educators Council
 
1000
 
 
 
 
 
 
250
 
 


Global Institution of English Language Training and Certification
 
200
 
 
 
 
 
 
250
 
 


Global Senior Management Program
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
34
 


Global Society of High Intellect
1500
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1500
 
 


GPM Accreditation Council
 
 
 
1462
1552
 
 
 
88
 
 


GPM Confederation
 
 
 
33
 
 
 
 
1266
 
 


GPM University
 
 
 
1466
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Grant town University
568
 
1009
1220
2979
 
193
370
120
822
 


Grantchester University
 
1926
 
 
2489
 
1268
 
1250
 
 


Granton University
1524
 
953
 
2861
614
1403
1208
1455
857
 


Greek University
 
 
 
 
 
 
375
 
500
 
 


Green Lake University
350
 
 
2280
2803
 
524
461
400
1270
 


Grendal University
555
1585
1084
4253
4260
 
1006
 
2372
 
 


Grendon University
 
 
 
 
 
1313
 
 
 
 
 


Groveshire University
1500
120
1400
1500
500
1316
1168
 
1500
2000
 


Gulf Accreditation Council for IT Professional
 
2500
 
 
 
 
 
 
500
 
 


Gulf Accreditation Council for Information Technology
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1498
 
 


Gulf Association for Project Management
 
 
 
2705
1455
 
 
 
1464
 
 


Gulf Certified Project Management
 
1630
 
1500
 
 
 
 
1650
 
 


Gulf Commission of Accounting Professionals
 
2080
500
 
1220
 
1499
 
1500
 
 


Gulf Cooperation Council Accreditation Commission (gccac)
 
1000
 
 
1500
 
 
 
400
 
 


Gulf Council for Engineers
 
1400
700
860
500
 
 
 
1250
 
 


Gulf Engineering Association
 
1460
600
 
1000
1221
 
2043
 
1100
 
 


Gulf Engineering Board
 
21
2122
 
 
 
1200
 
2008
 
 


Gulf Engineering Commission
 
2000
 
2200
1500
 
 
 
1000
 
 


Gulf Engineering Confederation
 
1830
 
 
 
1380
 
 
 
1550
 
 


Gulf Engineering Congress
 
3532
 
1950
 
 
 
 
 
1328
 
 


Gulf Engineering Consortium
 
1600
 
1100
1450
 
 
 
1400
 
 


Gulf Engineering Council
 
 
 
500
 
 
840
 
249
 
 


Gulf Engineering Federation
 
4170
 
100
 
 
674
 
1450
 
 


Gulf Engineering Society
 
 
 
2700
1400
 
807
 
1250
 
 


Gulf Engineering University
1500
 
 
 
 
 
275
 
500
 
 


Gulf Project Management  Congress
 
3000
 
 
1474
 
 
 
1663
 
 


Gulf Project Management Experts
 
1500
 
 
1575
 
 
 
593
 
 


Gulf Project Management
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
134
 
 


Gulf Project Management for Professionals (PMFP)
 
3250
 
500
 
 
1499
 
1640
 
 


Gulf Teaching Council
 
1900
 
 
950
 
 
 
1150
 
 


Hadley University
1203
1155
 
 
2042
1142
1106
 
1000
833
1000
 


Hansford University
1066
1164
 
 
2490
1147
1050
1462
1068
1200
 


Hartsdale University
3110
1029
378
 
4304
5999
1450
2049
 
1450
1800
 


Harvey University
1450
2518
 
3822
3757
1253
1148
 
1208
1222
 


Headway University
1380
600
 
500
4020
371
575
 
580
 
 


Hemingford University
900
 
1000
1000
1208
2229
2025
559
1256
1416
 


Higher Learning Commission (hlcfoe)
1350
 
1500
 
 
 
 
 
1500
 
 


Hill University
1869
1097
 
 
200
7007
 
1110
 
1040
 
 


Hillford University
955
608
 
 
2206
305
510
494
515
852
 


Hurst University
1880
 
1500
 
2800
800
1538
1000
1370
900
 


IICA University
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
250
 
 


IMNAA
 
 
 
2400
 
 
 
 
1492
 
 


Indian Council For Distance Learning
 
 
 
1500
 
 
 
 
1200
 
 


Institute for Project Management Professional
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1250
 
 


Institute for Project Management Professional Middle East Chapter
 
1650
 
 
1500
 
 
 
125
 
 


International  Business Accreditation & Regulatory Commission
1148
1738
 
 
 
 
 
 
2038
 
 


International  Business Accreditation & Regulatory Authority
 
500
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


International Accreditation Board for Business Studies (IABBS)
 
1880
 
 
1220
 
 
 
165
 
 


International Accreditation Board for Psychology Education (IABPE)
 
1000
 
 
3030
 
 
 
1680
 
 


International Accreditation Council for Open Education (IACOE)
 
1000
 
 
1430
 
 
 
 
1320
 
 


International Accreditation Council of Engineering Professional
 
2000
 
 
 
 
 
 
1250
 
 


International Accreditation Council of Nursing & Health Science (IACNHS)
 
2620
 
 
 
 
 
 
1500
 
 


International Accreditation Organization
(IAO)
 
2894
 
1314
3826
 
923
 
1624
 
1032


International Accreditation Organization Corporate Network (IAOCN)
 
1300
 
 
1970
 
591
25
156
 
 


International Board for  Accredited IT Education
712
1300
 
1000
 
 
 
 
1250
 
 


International Board for Accreditation Education
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
250
 
 


International Board for Business
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
500
 
 


International Business Education Accreditation Council
1400
1700
 
 
1000
 
 
 
1500
 
 


International Guild for Certified Professionals
 
457
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


International Higher Learning Commission
 
1500
 
 
1600
 
 
 
1158
 
 


International Organization Corporate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1250
 
 


James Adam University
2600
 
550
4836
5310
1150
1435
 
1000
1200
 


James Harding University
2500
1830
700
3800
5435
1050
1750
 
1000
1400
 


Jamesford University
2672
2500
 
2040
 
3164
1250
1132
 
1100
1500
 


Johnstown University
3219
1500
 
4880
5245
1450
1315
 
1500
1400
 


Kennedy University
175
111
 
 
2257
450
1291
 
1264
600
 


Kents Bridge University
725
 
 
1264
400
 
1215
 
1250
 
 


Keton University
500
500
500
 
1965
 
1000
1000
1000
 
 


Keyton University
 
 
 
 
 
1000
 
 
 
 
 


Kings Lake University
389
275
 
1177
1806
259
1235
 
301
412
 


KingsBridge University
575
218
523
 
1460
418
400
 
 
315
587
 


Lake Port University
3400
1586
 
4563
6000
1500
15
 
1500
1500
 


Launus University
2660
900
 
4820
6236
 
 
 
 
 
 


Laurus University
550
 
880
820
750
1450
1425
 
513
500
 


Lorenz High School
350
 
 
 
500
 
170
 
 
 
 


Lorenz University Realizing the Vision
500
500
2185
 
 
1800
 
555
500
 
 
 


Lydon State  University
420
650
      828
1944
3358
1073
816
 
2326
 
 


Madison Hills University
660
286
300
1936
2957
289
650
200
542
835
 


Mayfiled University
800
900
 
 
1200
500
475
560
350
 
 


McFord University
 
183
755
1510
2553
 
652
900
1016
 
 


McGraw University
1100
644
487
2335
3276
756
636
 
860
 
 


McHill High School
678
493
 
 
1998
90
269
 
382
 
 


McKinley University
2590
1000
 
3650
5500
950
1275
 
1145
 
 


McMillan University
1132
500
545
 
2391
1105
1172
900
1126
1550
 


Middle East Accreditation Board
 
1880
 
 
1500
 
 
 
1150
250
 
 


Middle East Accreditation Council
350
1135
 
225
825
 
 
 
639
 
 


Middle East Association of Project Managers
 
1500
 
 
1512
 
07
 
1300
 
 


Middle East Engineering Council
 
1730
 
 
1500
 
 
 
1400
 
 


Middle East Office of Academic Regulation & Examination
500
1700
 
 
 
 
 
 
1400
 
 


Midtown University
3300
 
 
500
1300
400
1554
200
1000
1000
620


Montville University
1422
 
1665
820
1561
 
1350
 
4250
1275
 


Mount Lincoln University 
2005
1500
 
3250
3750
200
1275
 
1371
1400
 


Must High School
2930
800
 
 
500
 
1008
400
1500
130
280
06


Must University
1150
723
400
 
613
18
1505
 
844
1575
1080


National American Distance Learning Council (NADLC)
1500
 
7
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Nation High School (Atlanta)
618
626
 
 
770
200
320
 
250
 
500 


Nation University
600
 
 
 
160
 
 
 
 
 
 


Neil Wilson University
4000
1466
1466
1500
1500
 
 
 
 
 
 


NelsonBay University
5700
100
528
5804
4278
950
850
 
879
1766
 


NelsonVille University
2540
1564
241
1995
6616
1490
1390
 
1376
1578
 


Newford University
1245
1341
 
 
1140
1250
969
1043
1230
 
 


Newstone University
900
1840
42
 
1400
1150
1419
1000
1530
1700
 


Nicholasville University
1435
1520
125
1390
818
2250
 
1042
300
1033
1293
 


Nicholson University
400
120
 
500
200
250
209
 
40
 
 


Nixon University
1658
736
2000
472
3803
 
1107
 
966
 
 


North American Distance Learning  Association (NADLA)
120
1800
1500
 
1507
 
 
 
1538
 
 


North American Distance Learning  Council
 
470
100
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Northgrove University
 
320
 
 
690
850
2413
1250
1350
1630
 


Northern Port University
500
500
 
 
1920
 
240
 
290
 
 


Northway University
1241
 
1024
 
1137
1379
1208
1381
1158
1800
 


Nortonville University
1420
2110
 
1500
1500
2200
1475
 
1379
600
 


Occupational Safety & Fire Sciences Commission
 
2100
1000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Olford Walters University (OLWA)
2020
924
 
2422
3913
952
925
 
1683
 
 


Orlando University
500
1100
 
 
1000
850
1025
800
569
500
 


Oscarmount University
 
1574
1154
 
1386
1322
743
1577
1312
 
 


Oxdell University
1358
1413
 
 
1029
1344
1411
1075
1334
1431
 


Oxlane University
1000
 
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
1000
250
 
 


Pan African Commission for Higher Education
 
 
 
1500
 
 
 
 
1250
 
 


Panword High School
 
 
 
 
 
 
25
 
 
 
 


Panworld University
1738
 
280
 
1421
470
398
 
722
 
 


Paramount California University
886
772
9
 
820
 
1718
 
802
555
 


Parksfield University
2500
 
 
 
1000
1120
1064
950
1047
1500
 


Pay University
 
 
 
2083
200
 
 
 
 
 
 


Payne Springs University
1434
1081
1130
2875
4644
1086
1190
 
3113
 
 


Pinehill University
2400
1394
200
4458
4825
1250
1250
 
1330
1300
 


Pittsford University
2644
1038
500
3630
4777
1000
1125
 
1003
1136
 


Port Jefferson University
2306
1065
227
3363
4624
1144
1119
 
1113
1042
 


Port Newfiled University
2650
1360
 
4164
5443
 
600
1400
 
1500
1500
 


Presley University
600
1400
 
600
350
1000
1050
800
1050
 
 


Priver Banks University
 
 
 
1000
2370
 
 
 
 
 
 


Queensbay University
1400
1780
1000
3260
5750
1100
1608
 
1356
1050
 


Raeford University
1703
 
1316
 
788
1243
1103
1007
1105
1307
 


Ray University
800
500
1840
1350
2160
1550
1096
 
4150
1000
 


Redding University
2740
2570
 
4540
7210
1200
1540
 
606
1200
 


Rellington University
920
1550
 
 
1800
950
1235
750
1080
 
 


Richford University
1130
600
500
 
1320
800
759
800
600
1000
 


Rise University
700
615
 
 
350
 
50
 
250
 
 


Riverbanks University
 
700
1000
2430
1000
750
728
 
711
600
 


Riverford University
200
 
 
1000
1000
 
 
 
 
 
 


Riverwood University
1000
1000
 
 
800
750
684
650
576
1600
 


Rives University
4500
 
4843
64
6000
 
1400
1500
1500
1500
 


Rochville University
560
250
 
2900
181
 
1019
1091
1777
 
 


Rockville University
 
 
1500
 
2300
 
 
 
 
 
 


Rock Hill University
80
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


San Parker University
2900
100
6400
 
5895
1500
1350
 
1578
1500
 


Sand City University
2476
2072
1500
4633
6429
1500
1550
1750
1483
200
 


Sanderford University
 
1307
1259
 
1183
1316
1357
1322
1544
1148
 


Sanders University
3300
2150
 
7290
6320
1430
1500
 
1500
1200
 


Shelford University
1428
2693
415
 
1347
1500
1509
1530
1133
1330
 


South East Asian Association for Higher Education (SEAAHE)
 
 
 
1200
 
 
 
 
1250
 
 


Steadford University
1500
1200
1000
 
3225
1100
1400
100
1165
680
 


Suffield University
2805
306
1500
4306
5400
1450
1491
 
1596
595
 


Thompson University
1000
500
 
 
500
600
291
650
800
450
 


Tuscon University
900
2900
 
 
1300
1100
1020
950
814
1575
 


Victor Towns University
1530
80
 
3136
1260
 
1375
 
1500
 
 


Walesbridge University
1000
1300
 
 
1000
1250
866
850
700
 
 


Walford University
2080
1236
216
3564
4792
318
1381
600
1906
 
 


Walkens University
1000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Walker Hill University
500
1000
 
4083
6150
 
1414
 
1765
1200
 


West Level University
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
500
 
 


WestCoast High School
800
 
500
 
3050
400
450
 
500
 
 


Western Advanced Central University
1205
 
 
1554
1989
 
663
1002
657
 
 


Western Valley Central University
1995
948
 
840
6360
1403
885
 
1535
 
 


Westland University
667
30
2639
 
1259
1250
1409
1058
2072
714
 


White Lake University
1996
1350
450
2280
3281
1462
3394
 
1352
1364
 


Wilburton University
1880
750
 
 
930
1200
1130
800
1025
1200
 


Wiley University
3030
2000
 
4150
6500
1350
1491
 
1264
1790
 


Wilford University
2535
 
568
3408
5196
756
1175
 
777
1724
 


Willington University
900
1000
 
 
2100
950
1120
700
500
918
 


Windham University
630
860
2150
4540
4650
850
1000
 
1289
1000
 


Winford High School
500
 
378
 
688
88
340
 
70
 
 


Winford University 
 
 
 
 
1670
84
 
 
 
 
 


Woodbridge University
1000
900
 
 
950
200
 
200
250
700
 


Woodfield High School
68
 
344
576
555
 
 
898
750
57
 
12 cards


Woodfield University
653
1249
 
1509
2814
802
986
 
1523
 
 


Woodrow University
3369
2000
9
3980
5780
1285
1476
 
1608
1800
 


World  Accreditation Commission for Engineering Education
1200
1697
 
 
 
 
 
 
1350
 
 


World Engineering Commission
1570
694
1500
 
 
 
 
 
1520
 
 


Works No.01 E-Learning System
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
182
 

 
 
During the course of investigation, while in FIA Custody Remand, accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, CEO/ Director, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd disclosed that after publication of story pertaining to the “Degree Mills” scam of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd in New York Times, he hid in the homes of his employees namely (1) Muhammad Rizwan Ahmed (2) Imran Ahmed Khan (3) Atif Hussain (4) Adnan Saboor after removing the incriminating material i.e Hard Drives of the computers/ servers of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd and Tape Drives available in axact House, Karachi. On the pointation of accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, a raid was conducted at the different places where the incriminating material was hidden. During raids all the incriminating material was recovered from the possession of accused (1) Muhammad Rizwan Ahmed (2) Imran Ahmed Khan (3) Atif Hussain (4) Adnan Saboor. Accordingly, accused (1) Muhammad Rizwan Ahmed (2) Imran Ahmed Khan (3) Atif Hussain (4) Adnan Saboor were arrested. The details of digital evidences extracted through forensics analysis from the recovered digital media/ devices from the above mentioned four accused persons is as under:-
Sr. No.
Name of Accused
Recovered Digital Items
Technical/ Forensic Evidence

01
Muhammad Rizwan Ahmed
12 Hard Disk Drives of main servers. 06 SATA Hard Drives of computers. CRM (Customers Relationship Management) System data containing passwords and profiles of the employees of axact. Some of the Software Projects of Axact used in the illegal business of Online Education. Deleted Virtual Machines which contained extortion/ threatening calls data (1.6 Terabyte data of calls).
02
Imran Ahmed Khan
       04 SATA Hard Drives of computers
Some of the Software Projects of Axact used in the illegal business of Online Education. Some of the Documents related to degrees, diplomas and transcripts of fake online Universities of Axact.
03
Atif Hussain
461 CDs/DVDs 26 Tape Cartridges 02 SATA Hard Disk Drives Main Shipment Server's data in which record of 215508 students along with Shipment detail and soft copy of degrees/ transcripts has been recovered. Threatening/ Extortions Voice calls data. Hosting data of online Universities/ Schools and other domains of axact. out of two recovered Hard drives one belonged to PW Umair Hamid, which contained incriminating material of the fake domains and companies of accused persons.
04
Adnan Saboor
03 SATA Hard Disk Drives
Some of the Software Projects/ websites of Axact used in the illegal business of Online Education. list of 16 clients whose degrees have been legalized at 375 USD each.
 
From the forensic analysis of the recovered digital media from the  above mentioned 04 accused it was identified that 3 out of all seized hard disk drives were in the personal use of 3 main accused, then forensic analysis of these 3 hard disk drives revealed that accused Imran Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Rizwan and Adnan Saboor  hard disk drive
Furthermore during the course of investigation, it also came on record that the Hard Disks of the computers of Administrative Process Management (APM) Department were also removed and destroyed on the direct orders of accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh. Accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh intentionally and with mala fide intentions destroyed the incriminating material containing potential and important evidences pertaining to the selling/ issuance of fake and bogus degrees/ certificates of fictitious online educational institutions. In addition to above, it has also been established that the accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, CEO of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd directed his staff to delete all potential and incriminating data available at the servers of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd. The Forensic Team of National Response Center for Cyber Crime (NR3C) through its forensic examination has successfully identified the details of deleted VMs (Virtual Machines).
 
Furthermore, during the course of investigation, the Forensic Team of FIA, National Response Center for Cyber Crime (NR3C) conducted the forensic analysis of the computers and other digital/ electronic equipment of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd located at axact House, axact Street, Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase-VII, DHA, Karachi. During Forensic Analysis of the computers and other electronic/ digital equipment of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd, it came on record that accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh through his team comprising of accused Zeeshan Ahmed, Zeeshan Anwer, Muhammad Sabir, Farhan Kamal and others is involved in illegally creating hundreds of fictitious online universities/ schools/accreditation bodies and other organizations for the purpose of cheating & defrauding foreign and Pakistani students.
 
The modus operandi of illegally creating and subsequently illegally operating fictitious online educational institutions so far discovered through investigation conclusively establishes the following:
 
Accused Zeeshan Ahmed, Head of Business Unit (BU), and Farhan Kamal, other Head of Business Unit, would conceive/ suggest the name of fictitious university/ school/ accreditation body or other organization to be created for the purpose of cheating and defrauding the students, employers, Governments and public servants. Thereafter, the Internal Audit (IA)/ Brand Management Department would verify following facts pertaining to suggested name of fictitious institutions:  
The suggested fictitious institution name doesn’t already exist on the web. The suggested fictitious institution name doesn’t violates any legal element. The suggested fictitious institution name doesn’t violate any trademarks or copyrights. The suggested fictitious institution name should not impersonate any famous personality.  
This was done in order to ensure that once launched no brand or rights holder would call unnecessary attention to the fictitious institution through a rights claim or alert any legal or law enforcement and thus, continue to function under the radar.
 
After completing above activities, accused Zeeshan Ahmed and Farhan Kamal used to accord final approval of the name of the institution. Thereafter, the “spoofed” domain name and “spoofed” website in the name of fictitiously created institution such as a university/ school /accreditation body and other organizations was acquired by Purchase Department from domain name providers in particular Direct NIC & InternetBS and Amazon, and Domain hosting providers Go-Daddy and Single Hop.  In order to hide their identity, “spoofed” domain name/ website and hosting were purchased through front entities (proxy entities) such as "Domain Lance" and “Hosting Lance” controlled by the accused persons, namely Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh/ CEO, Viqas Atiq/ COO and other front persons through their International Relations Department. The evidences as per Forensics Reports show that the Bills for purchasing of domain names and hosting of domains and were issued by " Internet BS, Direct Nic and  “Single Hop” in the names of "Domain lance and “Hosting Lance” but the payments of the bills were being made by a company in the name & style of “Outreach Global” incorporated in British Virgin Islands (BVI) – an Offshore Financial Centre (OFC)-and owned by accused Viqas Atiq, COO of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd. The above facts further establish that the fictitious institutions were owned by accused Shoaib Ahmed Ahmed Shaikh & Viqas Atiq and operated from the premises of axact House, Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase-VII, DHA, Karachi.  
From the domain and hosting management system of axact, 13495 domains (active and released) were extracted; out of 13495 domains 10213 domains were issued for fake and fraudulent Online Education Business Unit. These all domains were got registered from 71 domain registrars. The servers used for fake fraudulent Online Education were 180, and there were total 22 hosting service providers.  
There were total six internet and bandwidth service providers at axact listed as under: PTCL Transworld Cybernet NetSat Neatel Lhr. Connectel.  
 
v.           The technical/ forensic analysis of the domain and hosting management system of axact further revealed that out of 10213 domains of fake online education the business was earned and payments were received in respect of 238 domains. Out of 238 domains on which business was used to be earned, 166 domains were running under the team leadership/ supervision of accused Zeeshan Ahmed, President Online Education-I and 72 domains were running under the team leadership/ supervision of accused Farhan Kamal, President Online Education-II.  
 
vi.          During the course of investigation in the premises of Axact head office on 15 & 16 June 2015 under the supervision of Mr. Noor Muhammad Kalmati, Judicial Magistrate-XV, South Karachi a number of total 3391 domains of fake/ fraudulent universities/ colleges/ schools/ accreditation bodies and other organization, which actually have no physical existence as fraudulently created by axact, were extracted which were connected with and accessible by M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd that was hosted outside Pakistan and was available online on internet.
 
vii.         The accused company mainly runs its fake online education system through its data center located at the first floor of the main head office of Axact Building. The company has established its own Hybrid Cloud (Private & Public Cloud both) in which different virtual machines (Hyper-Vizor VMware) of CRM Web Application (ASP & Visual C-Sharp), Telephony / Voice (Asterisk & MySQL), Web servers (Internet Information Services IIS) and Databases (SQL Server-2008 R2) were being run and managed. It is pertinent to mention here that hundreds of computers are installed at each floor of the building which is inter-connected to this data center through VLAN’s.  These computers were used by different teams of the accused company i.e. Graphics Team, User Interface Team, Software Team, Network & Server Management Team, Sale Agents etc. It also came to light during the technical analysis that the company maintained and managed its different universities' projects databases in cloud computing environment for which the services were being hired from SingleHop USA, and many more.  The storage/ data resides both at private and public clouds are 103 Tera Byte and up till now 70 % of the data (Virtual Machines) has been forensically analyzed and the forensic analysis reports in this regards have been submitted by the team of DD/ Forensic Experts of NR3C FIA. It is pertinent to mention here due to the huge amount of data the forensic analysis process is still going on and it is likely that the substantial important evidences/ data could come on record.
 
viii.        In order to hoodwink and cheat students, the Brand Management Department of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd on the directions of accused person namely Zeeshan Ahmed used to place all details such as fake and fictitious faculty members, their pictures, pictures of students, other  related pictures i-e facility rooms, laboratories, buildings etc, false physical addresses and Email address of fictitious institutions such as universities including other false and fabricated material on the “spoofed” websites of fictitious institutions.
 
ix.         After completing the design of “spoofed” websites by Graphics & Multimedia Department and development of the “spoofed” website of the fictitiously created university/ school/ Accreditation and other organizations by user Interface (UI) Department, the website would go “live” on the worldwide web (www) through internet in order to solicit fraudulent enrollments, admissions, diplomas, degrees, certifications etc.
 
x.          In addition, M/s axact employees used to place “Toll Free” phone numbers of United States of America (USA) and other foreign jurisdictions (that masked their true locations allowing impersonation and assisting in the fraud) as well as email addresses on the “spoofed” websites to give the impression to students that they were contacting/calling a representative of the genuine university/ school/ accreditation body and other organizations abroad (whereas in fact the institution and person contacted was not only fictitious but in also located in Pakistan) and obtain information about enrollment, admission, courses, packages and degrees etc. It is significant to point out that the “Toll Free” phone numbers of USA and other foreign jurisdictions have been purchased through fictitious / self created company namely VoIP Lance (www.voiplance.com) controlled by accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh/ CEO, Viqas Atiq/ COO of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd through their IR (International Relations) Department, to mask their true ownership. These “Toll Free” phone numbers have been configured with the pool of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd to illegally terminate phone calls over an illegal Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network/ server of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd, Karachi located at axact House, DHA, Karachi, after by passing the legal gateway of PTA (Pakistan Telecommunication Authority) unauthorizedly. When a student/ customer used to call the “Toll Free” phone number of the fictitiously created institution/university/ school/ accreditation body and other organizations, the call was routed from the foreign number and terminated at the VoIP network/ server of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd which was further routed to the sales agents of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd pretending to be the representative of the genuine institution/university/ school/ accreditation body and other organizations. The imposter sales agents of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd used to impersonate themselves as representative of a genuine university/ school/ Accreditation body and other organizations, who used to illegally provide information about fictitious enrollment, admission, courses & degrees etc of fictitious university/ school/ Accreditation body and other organizations to the students.
 
xi.         Furthermore, the accused management of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd used to make advertisements of the “spoofed” websites of the fictitiously created institution/university/ school/ Accreditation bodies, job portals and other organizations on various internet based advertisement mediums (Social Media) such as Google, Facebook, Linkedin, Bing, Yahoo and many other websites to lure the students so that they may get enrolled with them and get admissions in their fictitiously created university/ school/ Accreditation body and other organizations. As per Forensic Evidence extracted from the digital media installed at M/s axcat head office, the payments to these aforementioned companies for such advertisements were also being made through the front companies, such as Outreach Global, PCU and other companies, controlled by accused persons namely Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, Viqas Atiq and their other front persons.
 
xii.        In order to further leverage the fraudulent, fake, fictitious educational institutions’ websites the accused also created a series of fake, fraudulent and fictitious recruitment/job agency web portals.  In order to obtain leads of existing jobs being offered to the employees market the accused would steal jobs data (illegal access) from various legitimate job portals and placed those legit  jobs on their own self created fake/ fraudulent job portals (e.g www.procruit.co and like others) without any authority in order to lure unsuspecting individuals to apply onto those recruitment/job agency web portals and upload their CVs. The accused also used to purchase CVs of job seekers from www.bayt.com in order to approach them through “phishing” forged and fraudulent emails to further lure them to upload their CVs and share their personal information. Using collected cold call, phishing email and advertising customer data leads the accused would have their employees contact these unsuspecting individuals impersonating as representative of recruitment agencies which in fact were merely the fake, fraudulent and fictitious recruitment/job agency web portals manned by M/s axact’s employees, who would lure the individuals suggesting that (their fake, fraudulent and fictitious) recruitment/job agency web portal had a matching job for them with the exception of the fact that they did not possess the requisite degree/certification/diploma.  In conjunction with this the fake, fraudulent and fictitious recruitment/job agency web portal agent (actually an employee of M/s axact) would suggest that there are educational institutions available from which the individual could easily obtain the requisite degree/certification/diploma and would then connect the call with what appeared to be the fake and fictitious institution/university/school/ Accreditation body and other organizations controlled by the accused and M/s axact employees. During this process they would sold the false, fabricated, misleading, forged, diplomas, degrees and other documents. The job seekers were defrauded and cheated under the guise of receiving good job in multinational company and finally became the victims of the crime by purchasing fake and bogus degrees from fictitious universities owned and operated by accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh and others.
                                                          
xiii.             For selling the required degree for the particular job the victims were used to be trapped on the pretext that there is a requirement of thesis to be submitted in the University online on the particular subject. When the students/ victims showed their inability in submission of thesis, the sale agent used to offer them to get their thesis written from the website actually created by M/s axact. In this regard they had developed such software programs which used to alter/ modify the genuine thesis and research works stolen by them from different legitimate/ genuine websites and used to sell the same to the students, so that they can send their thesis to universities and obtain degrees. One Business Unit of Axact namely “Research “was created for this purpose to support the fake and fraudulent business of Online Education. A team of research business unit under the supervision of accused Haris Siddique Senior Vice President Business Unit, with the common intention of other accused created number of fake fraudulent fictitious phishing websites/ domains for the process of selling of fake and fraudulent research/ thesis work for Phd students/ customers of axact.
 
xiv.      In addition to the creation of fictitious institutions/ universities/ schools/ job portals the accused also created fake/ fraudulent Accreditation bodies and other organizations and using the similar modus operadni as detailed for the fictitious institutions/universities/ schools/ job portals, the accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh in connivance with accused Zeeshan Ahmed, President/ Head of Business Unit (BU), Farhan Kamal, Senior Executive Vice President/ Head of Business Unit, Zeeshan Anwer, Executive Vice President/ Head of Software Department also illegally and with mala fide intentions created false, fake, fictitious, fraudulent,  accreditation bodies/ councils/ organizations pretending and posing as established and credible Accreditation Organizations. The details of fictitious Accreditation Organizations/ bodies/ councils created by accused persons are as under:
S#
Name of Accreditation Bodies/ Organization

01 American Accreditation Council of Business Education (AACBE)

02 Araba Accreditation Council

03 Arab Accreditation Council

04 British Distance Learning Accreditation Council

05 Central American Council of Accreditation

06 Commission for Information Accreditation

07 Commission for Information Technology Academic  Accreditation

08 European Accreditation Board of Higher Education

09 European Accreditation Board of Online Education

10 European Accreditation Council for Online Learning

11 Global Accreditation Board for Distance Learning

12 Global Accreditation Council

13 Global Accreditation Council for Business Education (GACBE)

14 Global Accreditation Council for Engineering Education (GACEE)

15 Global Council of Higher Education Accreditation (GCHEA)

16 GPM Accreditation Council

17 Gulf Accreditation Council for IT Professional

18 Gulf Accreditation Council for Information Technology

19 Gulf Cooperation Council Accreditation Commission (gccac)

20 International  Business Accreditation & Regulatory Commission

21 International  Business Accreditation & Regulatory Authority

22 International Accreditation Board for Business Studies (IABBS)

23
International Accreditation Board for Psychology Education (IABPE)

24 International Accreditation Council for Open Education (IACOE)

25 International Accreditation Council of Engineering Professional

26 International Accreditation Council of Nursing & Health Science (IACNHS)

27 International Accreditation Organization (IAO)

28 International Accreditation Organization Corporate Network (IAOCN)

29 International Board for  Accredited IT Education

30 International Board for Accreditation Education

31
International Business Education Accreditation Council

32
Middle East Accreditation Board

33
Middle East Accreditation Council

34 World  Accreditation Commission for Engineering Education
 
            It has been established through cogent evidence obtained during the investigation beyond reasonable doubt that these fictitious Accreditation Organizations/ bodies/ councils were owned and operated by accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh and other accused persons in order to cheat and defraud students, the organizations accredited and all those to whom these accreditations were displayed and represented. These fictitious Accreditation Organizations/ bodies/ councils were illegally and fraudulently created by the accused persons to hide the lack of credibility of their
 
xv.       fictitious universities/ schools/ institutions to avoid detection by any law enforcement agency/ regulator/ educational institutions/ job providers etc. In order to fraudulently and falsely give credibility to the so-called genuineness, the “spoofed” domain names and websites of these fictitious Accreditation Organizations/ bodies/ councils were created/ hosted on worldwide web (www) in similar fashion as “spoofed” domain names/ websites of fictitious universities/ schools/ institutions were created/ hosted. It has also been established, during the course of investigation, that accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh in connivance and with common criminal intention with Zeeshan Ahmed, Farhan Kamal, Zeeshan Anwer and other accused persons have extorted millions of dollars from innocent students, employees, organizations and other targets under the garb of accreditation of fake and bogus degrees/ certificates of fictitious universities/ schools/ institutions.
 
xvi.      The fact that the aforementioned universities/ schools/ Accreditation bodies and other organizations were fictitious and owned & operated by accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh in connivance with other accused persons from axact House, Karachi has also been corroborated by evidence that the accused and their employees would alter the GPA of the student at will. The only requirement for having higher GPA was the amount of MONEY they could extort. The greater the extortion, the higher the GPA. Furthermore, the fictitious institutions/universities/ schools/ Accreditation and other organizations, owned and operated by accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh and his accomplices, also provided the illegal services of providing fake, fraudulent and fabricated degrees/ certificates in backdates in exchange for hefty payments. Applicants to these fictitious institutions/universities/ schools/ Accreditation bodies and other organizations in a particular year would on payment acquire degrees that were backdated several years before even their admission. Once again, the only requirement was MONEY. The aforementioned illegal acts of providing GPA as per the will and wish of student and backdate degree were used to be performed by software team headed by Zeeshan Anwer, Executive Vice President (EVP) of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd. Accused Zeeshan Anwer knowingly created such softwares and offered services to the students which could provide backdated degrees and higher GPAs. All these illegal and fraudulent activities were being committed by accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh and his accomplice/ accused persons. It also corroborates that the accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh in connivance with accused Zeeshan Anwer, Zeeshan Ahmed, Viqas Atiq and other accused persons is involved in the heinous business of preparing, issuing, selling and using fake and bogus degrees/ certificates of fictitious institutions/universities/ schools/ Accreditation bodies and other organizations and minting huge sums of dollars – the proceeds of crime.
 
xvii.     During investigation through forensic examination evidence of impersonation, fraud, blackmail, extortion and serious offences have been made out and established beyond reasonable doubt. In an organized and systemic manner the recipients of the fake, fraudulent, fictitious degrees/certifications/diplomas/other documents would be further sold fake, false, fictitious, fabricated attestation, notarization, legalization, apostille and visa services.  Once a recipient would be caught in the net of having received fake degrees which the recipient would have applied for attestation, notarization, legalization, apostle and visa services the recipient was blackmailed and threatened by M/s axact employees posing to be the legal/ genuine recruitment agency and impersonating to be the official of Embassy, Consulate and Government organizations and public servants to apply pressure and duress upon the recipients.  As part of this evidence it has been established from the records obtained that accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh and his accomplices devised various innovative methods to mint money. The accused persons not only dishonestly induced innocent students to acquire degrees/ certificates from fake/ fictitious universities/ schools/ Accreditation and other organizations owned and operated by accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh and his accomplices but also blackmailed them for the purpose of extortion to pay huge sums of dollars in lieu of attestation of degrees/ certificates. This business of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd is called as up-sale business. During forensic analysis of the computers, digital equipment and other electronic/ digital material of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd, it has been established that the imposter sales staff of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd used to extort students by impersonating themselves as embassy staff of embassies of United States of America (USA), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and other countries and threatened the innocent students that their degrees/ certificates/ accreditation letters are fake and forged and the same need to be verified by the embassy. Furthermore, the imposter sales staff of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd also blackmailed recipients of the fake degrees and students to pay huge sums of dollars (extortion money) in order to avoid any legal consequences. In order to hide their identity, accused persons with the connivance and common intention with each other, also installed sophisticated voice/ calling systems (voice Telephony) at axact House, Karachi which were being used for hiding the caller ID of calling persons. This act of hiding caller ID (illegal access, tampering, modification and generation) was used to impersonate sales staff of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd, Karachi as embassy staff and make feel the call receiver as if he is receiving call from the embassy.
 
xviii.    The accused persons used to receive payments in lieu of enrollment, admission, examination, issuance of degrees, certificates, verification of degree, accreditation, attestation and other related fees as well as extortion money through credit cards in the merchant accounts of companies opened and operated by accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, Viqas Atiq, Ali Ghaffar Vyajkora, Uzma Shaheen and others. The said payments in merchant accounts as discussed above were being received in United States of America (USA)/ other foreign jurisdiction through merchant service providers such as Meritus Payments, Chain Commerce, Pay Pal,  CCNow, Money Bookers, Merchant E Solutions, Global Payments, Chae Payment Tech, Elavon and 2 Checkout. The details of merchant accounts, opened and operated by accused Shaoib Ahmed Shaikh in his name and in the names of other accused persons are as under:
S.No
Merchant Account Name
Merchant Provider
Merchant Provider Country
Company / Legal Name
Owner of the Company
Company Country
Settlement Bank
Settlement Bank Country
 

1
DataProtecto
Meritus Payments
USA
Mivvel
Ali Ghaffar and Viqas Atiq
USA
Citi Bank
USA
 

2
Learnicle
Meritus Payments
USA
Mivvel
Ali Ghaffar and Viqas Atiq
USA
Citi Bank
USA
 

3
Device Cart
Meritus Payments
USA
Mivvel
Ali Ghaffar and Viqas Atiq
USA
BMO Harris
USA
 

4
Brand Crux
Meritus Payments
USA
Mivvel
Ali Ghaffar and Viqas Atiq
USA
BMO Harris
USA
 

5
Appnotech
Meritus Payments
USA
Mivvel
Ali Ghaffar and Viqas Atiq
USA
BMO Harris
USA
 

6
Appostrophic
Meritus Payments
USA
Mivvel
Ali Ghaffar and Viqas Atiq
USA
BMO Harris
USA
 

7
Learning EMS
Meritus Payments
USA
Mivvel
Ali Ghaffar and Viqas Atiq
USA
BMO Harris
USA
 

8
Brit Educationist
Meritus Payments
USA
Mivvel
Ali Ghaffar and Viqas Atiq
USA
BMO Harris
USA
 

9
Global Academic Center
Meritus Payments
USA
Mivvel
Ali Ghaffar and Viqas Atiq
USA
BMO Harris
USA
 

10
Universal Academics Service
Meritus Payments
USA
Mivvel
Ali Ghaffar and Viqas Atiq
USA
BMO Harris
USA
 

11
Acquire and learn
Meritus Payments
USA
Tullow
Zubair M Syed and Shoaib Shaikh
USA
Citi Bank
USA
 

12
Edu world 360
Meritus Payments
USA
Tullow
Zubair M Syed and Shoaib Shaikh
USA
Citi Bank
USA
 

13
Deice Deals
2 Checkout
USA
IT Device Pro
Shoaib Shaikh
USA
BMO Harris
USA
 

14
Worldwide  Research Service
2Checkout
USA
Outreach Global
Shoaib Shaikh
BVI
HBL
UAE
 

15
Universal Research Services
2Checkout
USA
Outreach Global
Shoaib Shaikh
BVI
HBL
UAE
 

16
UK Research Services
2Checkout
USA
Outreach Global
Shoaib Shaikh
BVI
HBL
UAE
 

17
Global Educationist
2Checkout
USA
Outreach Global
Shoaib Shaikh
BVI
HBL
UAE
 

18
Edutech Sol
2Checkout
USA
Outreach Global
Shoaib Shaikh
BVI
HBL
UAE
 

19
Global Mobile App Services
2Checkout
USA
Tinko
Uzma Shaheen & Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh
USA
BMO Harris
USA
 

20
The Education Services
Multi Cards
Netherland
Connect shift
Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh
Cyprus
Helinic Bank
Cyprus
 

21
Research Paper Zone
Money Bookers
UK
Connect shift
Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh
Cyprus
Helinic Bank
Cyprus
 

22
Edulive Pro
ELAVON
USA
Tullow
Zubair M Syed and Shoaib
USA
Citi Bank
USA
 

23
Design Hike
ELAVON
USA
Tullow
Zubair M Syed and Shoaib
USA
Citi Bank
USA
 

24
Paramount California University
BOA Merchant
USA
Paramount California University
Brett Howartt
USA
BOA
USA
 

25
Easy Learn Pro
Global Payments
USA
Tinko
Uzma Shaheen & Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh
USA
BMO Harris
USA
 

26
Edu Tech Nova
Global Payments
USA
Tullow
Zubair M Syed and Shoaib
USA
Citi Bank
USA
 

27
Almeda
Merchant E Solutions
USA
Almeda
Brett Howartt
USA
Citi Bank
USA
 

28
Global Academia Services
CCNOW
Iceland
Connect shift
Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh
Cyprus
HBL
UAE
 

29
Max Research Services
CCNOW
Iceland
Connect shift
Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh
Cyprus
HBL
UAE
 

30
  Education Slate
Chain Commerce
Mauritius
Mivvel
Zubair M Syed and Shoaib Shaikh
USA
BMO Harris
USA Education Voir
 

31
  Education Voir
Chain Commerce
Mauritius
Mivvel
Zubair M Syed and Shoaib Shaikh
USA
BMO Harris
USA                
Furthermore, the money so received in the merchant accounts was used to be transferred in the different bank accounts of companies of accused persons, which is detailed as under:-  
S#
Account Title
Bank A/c No
Bank/ Branch

01
Mivvel Inc
000801136729
Citi Bank, USA

02
Mivvel Inc
4813053181
BMO Haris Bank, USA

03
Tullow Inc
000801180256
Citi Bank, USA

04
Tullow Inc
46-5037-4635
PNC Bank, USA

05
Tullow Inc
7240753645
Fifth Third Bank, USA

06
Tullow Inc
4813051901
BMO Haris Bank, USA

07
IT Device Pro Inc
4815204403
BMO Haris Bank, USA

08
Tinko Inc
000801209734
Citi Bank, USA

09
Tinko Inc
0029 1299 7733
Bank of America

10
Pitko Inc.
000000989994538
Chase Bank

11
Payment Profs
000203690664
Citi Bank, USA

12
Almeda Educational Services
9138652725
Citi Bank, USA

13
PCU
898060549713
Bank of America, USA

14
PCU
898060525436
Bank of America, USA

15
Global Academics
898063612362
Bank of America, USA

16
Paramount California University
711595160
JP Morga Chase

17
Blitzace Inc
3830 1263 8954
Bank of America, Bracebridge Branch

18
Blitzace Inc
3830 1458  3023
Bank of America, Bracebridge Branch

17
Connect Shift Ltd
132-2-0271354-19114
USB Bank

18
Connect Shift Ltd
CY52 0050 0190 0001 9007 6914 0501
Helenic Bank

19
GESFWA Ltd
132-2-0285810-19118
USB Bank

20
GESFWA Ltd
CY15 0050 0190 0001 9007 6912 3901
Helenic Bank

21
ELESOT LTD
190-07-708703-01
Helenic Bank

22
Axact FZ LLC, UAE
AE350440000101491585201
Standard Chartered Bank, Dubai Branch, UAE

23
Axact FZ LLC, UAE
20127770927603
Habib bank Ltd, Dubai, UAE

24
Axact FZ LLC, UAE
02410636490037  
Noor bank, Dubai, UAE

25
Edugizmo Management Consultancy FZC
0382242433001
The National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (Associate A/c)

26
Assiat Ltd Offshore
19100038286
Mashreq Bank

27
Cyberknot Learning Inc
200-11-1-57847
Belize bank

28
Cyberknot Learning Inc
104-010697706-840
Loyal bank

29
Outreach Global Ltd
AE630520002410597920030 (USD)
Noor Bank Dubai, UAE

30
Outreach Global Ltd
AE690520002410597920019 (AED)
Noor Bank Dubai, UAE

31
Outreach Global Ltd
AE570520002410597920041 (Euro)
Noor Bank Dubai, UAE

32
Outreach Global Ltd
AE310440000102202093201
SC, Dubai, UAE

33
Outreach Global Ltd
AE96 0280 0201 2777 1344 403
HBL, Bur Dubai Branch UAE

34
Tullow Pte, Ltd
0170809765
SCB, Singapore

35
Techosol Ltd,
00353-15134199
Allied Irish Bank PLC

 
The aforementioned bank accounts were opened in the name of front/ shell companies under the directorship/ ownership/ partnership of Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, Viqas Atiq and other front persons. The aforementioned front/ shell companies as well as their bank accounts were controlled by accused Shoab Ahmed Shaikh and Viqas Atiq.  
After receiving payments from the victim students, the fake, fabricated, false and forged degrees/ certificates, accreditation letters, verification letters, transcripts and other related documents were being issued to the victim students containing false, fabricated and forged digital signatures pretending to have been signed by Vice Chancellor and other related staff of the university whereas the said digital signatures were developed/ designed by the employees of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd at axact House, Karachi. Thereafter, the contents of the degrees/ certificates and other related documents (Name of the Student, Name of the Faculty/ Degree, Name of Registrar/Dean/Vice Chancellor etc) were got printed by the staff of Administrative Process Management (APM) Department of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd located at First Floor, Plot No. 125-C, Jami Commercial Street No. 14, Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase-VII, DHA Karachi. The degrees/ certificates were shipped to the victim students through Courier Company in the name & style of Dreamco Express (Pvt) Ltd and other courier companies. In order to give impression to the students that the degree/ certificate has been shipped from USA or other foreign jurisdictions, the shipments were initially sent to the office of M/s axact FZ LLC, Dubai, UAE. From Dubai, the shipments were sent to USA and from USA separate shipments/consignments were sent to the individual students. The Shipment flow is as under:

Physical Shipment (For US Customers)
Vendor Name
Service Processing Steps
Courier
US Locations

Axact
Dreamco Express
Boxes containing the envelops of degrees etc were sent to each US locations (CA,VA, KS).
California

All Boxes were first shipped to Dubai.
Virginia

From Dubai each box then was shipped to US location using DHL Courier services.
Through DHL
Kansas

At US locations boxes were opened and the envelope containing the degree etc were individually sent to customers on their respective addresses printed on each envelope.

UPS Courier Services was used for delivery of US based Students/customers.

Physical Shipment (For International Customer Excluding US Customers)
Vendor
Service Processing Steps
Courier Service

Axact
Dreamco Express
All  Boxes containing the envelops of degrees etc were sent to Dubai.

From Dubai location envelopes containing the degrees etc were individually sent to customers of different countries on their respective addresses printed on each envelope through DHL and Aramex Couriers.
DHL / Aramex
 
Immediate Express Courier service was  used to deliver envelope of degrees etc to UAE Students/ Customers.
Immediate Express

Physical Shipment (Israel Shipment Only)
Vendor
Service Processing Steps
Courier Service

Axact
Dreamco Express
All  Boxes containing the envelops of degrees etc were sent to Singapore.

From Singapore location envelopes containing the degrees etc were individually sent to customers of Israel on their respective addresses printed on each envelope through DHL Couriers.
DHL

 

 
 
 

 
As per Forensic analysis the record extracted from the database of shipment server of M/s axact 215508 students of different countries have been shipped degrees from M/s axact against the payments of different amounts in US dollars.  
As per Forensic analysis the record extracted from Unireport database of M/s axact 240234 students of different countries have been issued degrees/ certificates from axact. Out of total 240234 students, 321 Pakistani students have been identified. Notices were sent to those Pakistanis whose addresses were complete. Ten of the total Pakistani students/ victims joined the investigation and recorded their statements U/S 161 Cr.PC as prosecution witnesses. Out of ten Pakistani students/ victims the record of seven Pakistani students/ victims have been extracted from CRM. It is pertinent to mention here that CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system was an in-house developed latest software product of axact which was developed and used online since the year 2010, that why the complete record of all previous students/ victims including the Pakistani students was not inserted/ fed in CRM.  
During the course of investigation the Forensic Team of FIA technically analyzed an in-house developed software of axact known as "Performance System". The investigation revealed that the software was developed for the purpose of monitoring the performance of Sale Agents and their supervisory officers. The performance was used to be gauged on the number of students trapped, degrees sold, amount received and afterwards up-selling made of other products by the Sale Agents. On the basis of their performance the salaries as well as other benefits of Sale Agents and their supervisory officers were used to be increased. Every Sale Agent had been allotted a pseudo name by his supervisory officer in order to pose to students that the person calling is a representative of University/ School/ Accreditation and other Organizations of USA etc. By this way the accused persons were hiding their true identity. From the performance data base 841127 performance records of different Sale Agents have been extracted which contained name of sale Agent, his pseudo name and the number of students successfully handled amount received. The "Performance System" software was also developed by axact in the year 2010. It is pertinent to mention here that the Performance Software was developed by accused Muhammad Rizwan under the supervision/ idea of accused Zeeshan Anwar and with the connivance and common intention with other accused persons.  
During the course of investigation the payment server of M/s axact was forensically analyzed which revealed that, the website in the name of billing.fastsol.com was used for finance management system of axact. This website was created and developed at axact and contained the earnings from of fake/ fraudulent Online education. As the said website was created in the year 2009, so the records extracted further revealed that from the year 2009 to 2015 a total of 205811492.4 US dollors have been pocketed from the students/ customers by selling the fake/ fraudulent degrees/ diplomas in the name of online education.  
During the course of investigation, it has also come on the record that the M/s Adman Printing Press was printing/ providing/ supplying material for the fake, fabricated, false and forged Degree Certificates, Envelopes, Folders, Letter Heads, Stickers, Transcripts, Legalization/ Prospectus Brochures, Catalog Brochure, Degree Program Brochures, Art Card with lamination, Large Stickers, Referral Cards, Referral Pamphlets, Trifold Pamphlets, Leather Folds, Application Forms of fictitious universities/ accreditation certificates of various fictitious foreign accreditation bodies, yellow papers & Foil Degrees to M/s axact (Pvt) Limited. It also corroborates that illegal acts from the creation of fictitious university/ school/ Accreditation and other organizations to the illegal issuance and shipment of fake and bogus degree were illegally and dishonestly done in the premises of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd located at axact House, Karachi and PIA Building located at First Floor, Plot No. 125-C, Jami Commercial Street No. 14, Khayaban-e-Ittehad, Phase-VII, DHA Karachi. It has also been established through cogent evidences that these fictitious universities/ schools/ Accreditation bodies and other organizations were owned and operated, by accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh in connivance and common criminal intention with accused Viqas Atiq, Zeeshan Ahmed, Zeeshan Anwer, Muhammad Sabir, Farhan Kamal and other accused persons, from the premises of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd. The cogent evidences also corroborate that accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh and other accused persons are generating proceeds of crime of millions of dollars from the commission of offences of impersonation, cheating, fraud, forgery, preparation of fake and forged documents, submission of forged documents as genuine and extortion. These proceeds of crime were subsequently laundered by placing the funds in different bank/ merchant accounts, layering the funds by transferring the same into different bank accounts and subsequently integrating the proceeds of crime in economy by purchasing various assets, properties and hefty spending on lavish lifestyle.  
In order to conceal and disguise the true nature, identity, location, movement and sources of illegally obtained proceeds, in order to appear to have been originated from legitimate sources/ income, accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh and Viqas Atiq in connivance with other front persons have opened various bank accounts in USA, OFCs and other parts of world in the names of front/ shell companies owned by them and their front persons. These merchant and bank accounts are being used by accused persons for placement of proceeds of the crimes detailed above being obtained in the guise of so-called IT services.    
During course of investigation conducted so far it has also been established that in order to give so-called legitimacy to the proceeds of crime, the accused persons are continuously layering the proceeds of crime by transferring the proceeds of crime from one bank account to another bank account maintained at different banks/ branches and jurisdictions of world. The details of various bank accounts opened at different banks/ branches of USA, OFCs and other countries have already been mentioned above.
During the course of investigation, it has also come on record that proceeds of crime received/ placed in aforementioned bank accounts were also used for payments to international vendors of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd, Pakistan such as Google, Linkedin for advertisement of websites of fictitious educational institutions; for website hosting etc. Furthermore, the proceed of crime received/ placed in aforementioned bank accounts of accused persons were being temporarily parked into bank accounts titled axact FZ LLC, Dubai, UAE maintained at Standard Chartered Bank, Dubai, UAE; Habib Bank Limited, Dubai, UAE and other banks/ branches. The proceeds of crime were finally being landed/ transferred into bank accounts opened in the name of accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, Viqas Atiq and their front persons namely Ayesha Shaoib w/o accused Shaoib Ahmed, Naseem Akhtar Mughal mother of accused Shaoib Ahmed Shaikh, Asim Sardar and other front persons maintained at different banks/ branches in Pakistan. The details of bank accounts being used by accused persons in Pakistan for laundering the proceeds of crime are as under:
 
S.#
TITLE OF A/C
A/c Type
A/C No.
BANK / BRANCH
Status / Remarks

01
Axact Pvt. Ltd.
PKR
8543848902
SCB Kh-e-Ittehad Branch
Approx USD 3,000,000/- transferred monthly from Axact LLC and sometimes from Tullow PTE Ltd. Salaries of approx 2,000,000/- were made to Axact employees from this account.

02
Axact Pvt Ltd.
PKR
0606-79476956-01
HBL High Court branch
Signatory Shoaib / Viqas / Adeel/ M. Zeeshan. Bal: 198,766/-. Total Cr. 54,229,504/. Amount transferred from Axact HBL & SCB 

03
Axact Pvt. Ltd.
PKR
1216-79000485-03
HBL FTC branch
Total Cr. 447,033,146.71/- Bal: 24,420/-

04
Axact Pvt. Ltd.
USD
1216-79000772-10
HBL FTC branch
04.02.2008. Total Cr. 59,971,465/-. Funds from Axact LLC.

05
Axact Pvt. Ltd.
PKR
1216-79000812-03
HBL FTC Branch
22.02.2008. Total Cr. 328,189,268/-. Bal: NIL

06
Axact Pvt. Ltd.
PKR
1216-79000812-99
HBL FTC Branch
Total Cr. 598,688,146/- Bal: NIL

07
Axact Pvt. Ltd.
PKR
1216-79001055-03
HBL FTC Branch
Total Cr. 242,990,000/-  Bal: NIL

08
Axact Pvt. Ltd.
PKR
1216-79001185-99
HBL FTC Branch
Total Cr. 856,090/- Bal: NIL

09
Axact Pvt. Ltd.
PKR
1216-79002322-01
HBL FTC Branch
Total Cr. 8,090,369,976/-  Bal: 76,236.25/-

10
Axact Pvt. Ltd.
PKR
1216-79002955-99
HBL FTC Branch
Total Cr. 6,254,642/- Bal: NIL

11
Axact Pvt. Ltd.
PKR
1216-79003409-03
HBL FTC Branch
Total Cr. 350,000,000/- Bal: NIL

12
Axact Pvt. Ltd.
PKR
1216-79003859-03
HBL FTC Branch
Total Cr. 3,500,000/- Bal: NIL

13
Axact Pvt. Ltd.
PKR
1216-79006943-03
HBL FTC Branch
Total Cr. 2,000,000/- Bal: NIL

14
Axact Employee Provident Fund
PKR
1216-79010814-01
HBL FTC Branch
Adeel Arshad, Zeeshan Ahmed & Ali Ghaffar Vyajkora are signatory. No transaction since opening in 2007.

15
Axact Pvt. Ltd
PKR
0541-79881693-03
HBL DHS Branch
26.04.2014. Cr. 25,374,360/- . Signatories are Ayesha/ Shoaib / Viqas / Adeel/ M. Zeeshan.  Resolution for Viqas, Zeeshan and Adeel submitted. Bal: 198,766/-.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

16
Axact Pvt. Ltd
PKR
0541-79880911-01
HBL DHS Branch
20.03.2014 Total CR. Rs. 1,540,674,174/- funds credited from A/c NO. 2322-01 FTC, 1693-03 DHS, Naseem Akhtar DHS and from USD A/c. amount transferred to DHS A/c of Axact. and A/c No. 00129927671586 also. Salaries disbursed.

17
Ayesha Shoaib Shaikh.
PKR
1216-7900529903
HBL FTC Branch
21.02.2011. total Cr. 5,000/- Bal: 3,845/-

18
Ayesha Shoaib Shaikh.
USD
1216-7900530010
HBL FTC Branch
21.02.2011. USD Cr. 234,274/-. Bal: 64,269/-  funds transfers.

19
Ayesha Shoaib  Shaikh
PKR
0012-00011728-01
HBL Zamzama Branch
Opened on 04.10.2006. Cr.53,964,033/-. Bal: 1,337,779/- Funds transfer from 1216-7900-2223-03 and Naseem Akhtar accounts.  PO of Rs. 9 million issued in July 2013.

20
Ayesha Shoaib  Shaikh
USD
0012-79003991-10
HBL Zamzama Branch
Opened on 26.08.2013. CR. USD 44,177/- BAL: 11,375-. Total Cash deposits

21
Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh & Naseem Akhtar
PKR
1216-7900222303
HBL FTC Branch
05.03.2009. Cr. 1,127,682,708/- Bal: 168,736/-

22
Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh & Naseem Akhtar
USD
1216-7900222510
HBL FTC Branch
05.03.2009 Cr. 11,696,119/- Bal: 2,645/- fund transfers/ credited and cash withdrawals.

23
Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh & Naseem Akhtar
GBP
1216-7900222610
HBL FTC Branch
05.03.2009. Cr. 388,243/-. Bal: 16,883/-. Mostly cash deposits.

24
Naseem Akhtar Mughal
USD
0541-7988122010
HBL DHS Branch
Mandate of Shoaib. Opened on may 2014. Cr.  4,509,589/-. Mostly cash withdrawals

25
Naseem Akhtar Mughal
PKR
0541-79881074-03
HBL DHS Branch
Mandate of Shoaib. Opened on April 2014. Cr. Rs. 554,784,694/-mostly cash withdrawals.

26
Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh
USD
0541-79880909-10
HBL DHS Branch
Opened on 10.03.2014. Cr/Dr. 6,794,140/-. Bal: 380,135/-. Funds transferred from Axact LLC Dubai as a Director personal withdrawal.

27
Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh
PKR
0541-79880908-03
HBL DHS Branch
10.03.2014. Cr. 659,070,920/-. Bal: Rs. 3,624,270/-.  Fund transfers from above USD account. Funds transfer to A/c No. 0541-7988091001.

28
Shoaib ahmed Sheikh
PKR
185778859014
Kh-e-Ittehad
Total Cr. 4000/- saving account.

29
Shoaib Ahmed Sheikh
USD
05577885902
Kh-e-Ittehad
Opened on 2009. Total Cr. 2000/- saving account. Bal: USD 2,498/-

30
Connect Shift
PKR
1216-79005945-03
HBL FTC Branch
29.08.2011 .Shoaib signatory.,  Cr. 9,739,780/-. Bal: 1,737,705/-

31
Viqas Atiq
USD
1577886702
SCB Kh-e-Ittehad Branch
USD 15,000/- credited monthly by Axact FZ LLC in 2015. Bal: 46,525.72/- total Cr. From 2008 to 2015 is USD 858,016/- from Dubai.

32
Viqas Atiq
PKR
1577886701
SCB  Kh-e-Ittehad Branch
Funds transferred from his USD account total Cr. 72,942,663/- from 2008 to 2015 Bal: 3,114,118/-

33
Shazia Asim / Muhammad Asim
USD
1702909901
SCB Kh-e-Ittehad Branch
Approx USD 6000 to 25000 USD credited monthly by Axact LLC. Bal: USD 49.24/-

34
Shazia Asim / Muhammad Asim
PKR
1702909901
SCB Kh-e-Ittehad Branch
Rs. 6 Lac to 19 Lac Cr/Dr. Bal: 2,524,132/-. (need Cr/Dr vouchers)

35
Muhammad Asim
PKR
1577844101
SCB Kh-e-Ittehad Branch
Amount transferred from his USD A/c. amounts transferred to his ABL account. funds for Axact. Bal: 458,373/-.

36
Zeeshan Anwer
USD
1544261302
SCB Kh-e-Ittehad Branch Karachi
Approx 5000 to 11000 USD monthly credited by Axact LLC. Bal: 7,985.51/-

37
Zeeshan Anwer
PKR
1544261301
SCB Kh-e-Ittehad Branch Karachi
Cr. From may 2014-2015 Rs. 8,023,508/- from conversion USD. Bal: 3,064,350/-

38
Zeeshan Anwer / Sumaiya
PKR
1162395801
SCB Kh-e-Ittehad Branch Karachi
Rs. 200,000/- credited from May 2014 to Jan 2015. Bal: 307,943/-

39
Muhammad Zeeshan Ahmed
USD
1334833401
SCB Hill Park Branch
Total Cr. USD 1,069,173/-. USD 750,000/- in last 2 years by Axact LLC. Bal: USD 26,559.94/-

40
Muhammad Zeeshan Ahmed
PKR
1334833401
SCB Hill Park Branch
Approx Rs. 25 lac to 40 lac transferred monthly from his USD account. Bal: Rs. 68,199,391/- Major Cash deposits, dollar conversions and I-banking transfers. Total Cr. 168,578,053.88/-

41
Farhan Kamal
USD
1162395702
SCB Kh-e-Hafiz branch
 Approx USD 7000 to 15000 credited monthly by Axact LLC. Bal: USD 95,004.22/-

42
Farhan Kamal
PKR
1162395701
SCB Kh-e-Hafiz branch
Amounts transferred from his USD A/c. Bal: Rs. 768/-

43
Farhan Kamal
PKR
1406045801
SCB Nursery Branch
Amounts transferred from his USD A/c. Bal: Rs. 470,645/-

 
Eventually, the proceeds of crime have been integrated by accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh and Viqas Atiq in the economy of Pakistan by purchasing various tangible and intangible assets such as Properties, IT Devices (Main servers and VOIP Telephony/Setup), Vehicles, Furniture, Mobile Phones and other goods/ services. Furthermore, the proceeds of crime have also been utilized in meeting out the expenditures for successfully running the affairs of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd, Pakistan such as payment to local vendors, salaries to employees, maintenance of vehicles, fuel payments to Shell Pakistan Ltd, rental payments of rented properties and other related expenditures. In addition to above, the accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh has also laundered the proceeds of crime by investing the funds into different front businesses/ enterprises.
During the course of investigation, it is established that accused namely Ali Abdul Ghaffar Vyajkora for the purpose of minting money from the students / client through Banks & Merchant Accounts opened those Accounts in USA. For the purpose, they established several companies as front offices to act as payment processor in USA and commission agents for all these sale proceeds. In order to open bank account or merchant accounts, accused persons were in need of US national as the Tax ID were mandatorily required to open/maintain/operate bank accounts/merchant account. In this regard, Directors of Axact (Pvt) Ltd and accused persons named above used USA IDs of (1)  accused Ali Ghaffar Vyajkora, Head, Human Resources Department, Axact (Pvt) Ltd, (2)  Zubair Syed (brother in law of accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh) (3) Uzma Shaheen Syed (sister of accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh). Accused Ali Ghaffar Vyajkora, Head, Human Resources Department, Axact (Pvt) Ltd. used to receive / charge US $ 2000 per month from accused Directors of M/s Axact (Pvt) Ltd. on account of opening bank/merchant account in USA and his ID was being utilized for commission of crime.
PWs namely Adeel Arshad, Head of Finance Department, Muhammad Imran, Manager (Finance), and Rahim Sadruddin, Associate Vice President, Internal Audit, M/s Axact Private Limited, implicated accused Ali Abdul Ghaffar Vyajkora, Head of HR Department in commission of crime.
 
Moreover, during the course of investigation, following accused persons were arrested on 17.06.2015, they by way of disguising themselves used to contact clients to whom Axact (Pvt) Limited had issued fake/forged/bogus degree/diploma certificates of different fake/forged foreign universities/schools for the purpose of extorting of money from each. On contact with each clients/students, the accused persons were frightening/threatening them to get their degree/diploma certificates legalized and to get equalization, verification of embassy and attestation and in lieu of that they were charging funds ranging from US $ 400 to US $ 400000; and in case of client/student was not agreeing to their extortionist demands, he/ she was threatened by the accused of such actions as initiating legal action, cancelling registration, making their degrees worthless, and getting him/her deported back to his/her native country.
Voice transcript and voice recording of each of the following accused persons was secured by forensic team of FIA and which was sent to Director Cyber Crimes (NR3C) FIA Hqrs. Islamabad, for forensic analysis and reports:-
1
Muhammad Adnan s/o Amir Ali, Assistant Vice President, M/s Axact Pvt. Ltd. r/o  D-04, Al Aman Colony, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Block-14, Karachi. CNIC No. 42101-7095474-5.

2
Murad Akhtar s/o Akhtar Sadaruddin, Associate Architect, M/s Axact Private Limted. r/o Flat No. H-33, Saleemabad Colony, Block-14, Federal B. Area, Karachi CNIC no. 42201-8476776-1.

3
Vivian Christopher Campos s/o Alex Campos, Sales Professional, international Sales, m/s Axact Private Limited, Karachi. r/o Flat No. 60, Mariyam Apartment, Cantt. Station, Karachi. NICOP no. 423011-001622-9.

4
Fahad Ali Ansari s/o Hamid Ali Ansari, AVP, International Sales, Axact Private Limited.  r/o Plot No. 9-C, 4th Commercial Street, Khayaban-e-Bukhari, Phase-VI, DHA, Karachi  CNIC No. 42301-5544027-7.
 
 

The voice forensic analysis report received from Mehmood Ul Hassan Deputy Director Cyber Crimes (NR3C) FIA HQ Islamabad, concluded that the threatening/extortion calls extracted from the CRM (Customers Relationship Management) system of Axact in respect of above mentioned 04 accused persons are matching with their recorded voices/samples.
 
On further technical forensic analysis of voice data extracted from the X download server of axact related to above mentioned four accused persons a number of other extorting/ threatening calls were found in which they posed/pretended them to the student that they were the representative of Embassies and other officials of state and universities and thus extracted money from the students on one or the other pretext. Besides, a total of 1600 G.B data of such threatening/extortion calls establishing the entire process from attempting to extort money to the successful extortion through luring as well as threatening by different sales agents have been extracted from the X download server of M/s axact. 
 
During the course of investigation, a letter vide No.FIA/CCCK/FIR-07/2015/6908-09, dated 21.08.2015, was sent to Director General Attestation and Accreditation, Higher Education Commission Islamabad, mentioning therein names of 48 universities and accreditation councils as detailed in the FIR for the authentication/veracity of these foreign universities and accreditation councils. In response, the Director (Attestation and Accreditation), Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, vide his letter No. 8-33/HEC/A&A/2015/1976, dated 27.08.2015, informed that as per information contained in international directories like “International Hand Book of Universities“ published by UNESCO (www.whed.net) and “Accredited Institution of Post Secondary Education” published by American Counsel on Higher Education (www.che.org), none of these universities/ institutions as mentioned in FIR is listed amongst the charted universities/ Degree awarding institutions.
 
As the alleged company M/s axact has registered itself with SECP as an exporter of I.T and I.T-related items, so during the course of investigation when the accused company and its CEO was asked to provide the details of software exported to foreign buyers, the accused persons have not replied/provided details of exports/documentary evidence in support of the exports themselves or through their counsels till the date of filing this challan.
 
In its financial statements/ Annual Audited Accounts, ending for years the year June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2014, signed by the Directors of the company, namely Accused Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh and Ayesha Shoaib Shaikh in the “Notes to the Financial Statement” have mentioned in para No. 1, which pertains to “Status and Nature of Business” that “The company is engaged in Software Exports”. But both the Memorandum and Articles of Association of M/s Axact (Pvt) limited and the company’s  Annual Audited Accounts, ending the year June 30, 2013 and June 2014, provided by Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, do no mention/show that the company is engaged in providing the back-end support to foreign educational institutions i.e. Universities, Schools and Accreditation bodies from enrollment of the students to the shipments of degrees, diplomas, certificates and accreditation letters and receive payments in this regard in the accounts of the company.
During the bail proceeding of accused persons their lawyers/ defense counsels also took the plea that the accused company, its CEO and other nominated accused persons were providing the back-end support to Universities, Schools, Accreditation bodies regarding the issuance of degrees, diplomas and certificates, but they also failed to produce any single agreement/ contract signed with foreign Universities, Schools, or Accreditation bodies in proof of their claims that the accused company and its CEO and others were providing the back-end support. The record obtained from SECP i.e Memorandum and Article of Association of M/s axcat is also silent in this regard. On the other hand, when during the course of investigation the list of hundreds of fake/ fictitious Universities, Schools the domains of which were extracted from the computer systems of Axact under the supervision of Judicial Magistrate-XV, South, Karachi and hundreds of thousands degrees seized under the supervision of Judicial Magistrate-V, South, Karachi along with details of companies based in USA in the accounts /merchant accounts of those, the payments from the students all over the world were used to be received in lieu of selling of fake/fictitious degrees and accreditation bodies were sent to FIA Headquarters, Islamabad, from the office of Director FIA, Sindh, Karachi vide letter No. FIA/DSK/FIR-07/2015/CCCK/A-3706-07 dated 05.11.2015 with request to forward the same to USA authorities to confirm the authenticity of said Universities/ Schools and Accreditation bodies and bank account, merchant accounts of the companies in which the payments in millions of US dollar have been received from the students all over the world, then in response of our letter two letters from the office of Legal Attache, United States Embassy, Islamabad, Pakistan vide No.IS-C163-ANY-6434502 dated 09 December,2015 and No.IS-C163-ANY-6434502 dated 08 February,2016 received through Office of Director, FIA, Islamabad Zone vide letter No. DIZ/R-7/Case-56(AXACT)NR3C/RWP/15/8404-05 dated  25.02.2016, in which it has been confirmed that the Universities in question are fake and linked to alleged online fraudulent activity involving false degrees and illegitimate diploma producing organizations . The reply received through the letter No.IS-C163-ANY-6434502 dated 09 December,2015 from the office of Legal Attache, United States Embassy, Islamabad is reproduced as under:-

 
(List of 18 universities from the total Universities/ schools sent by FIA Karachi has been mentioned in the letter).
 
The conclusive and irrefutable confirmation of the fact that the company, its CEO and other accused persons were running a fraudulent business of selling fake degrees/accreditations/attestation etc has been received from the Legal Attache, United States Embassy, Islamabad, vide letter No.IS-C163-ANY-6434502, dated 09 December,2015, which is reproduced as under:-
The FBI has been investigating a Pakistan-based entity name Axact. Ongoing investigation has identified as “diploma mill”, orchestrated by Axact, and headquartered in Karachi, Pakistan. Among engaging in other nefarious activity, Axact’s primary scheme of illegality pertains to soliciting the sale of fictitious college and high school diplomas to both witting and unwitting purchasers. The vast majority of purchasers have been identified as located both within the United States and throughout the Middle East.  
"In furtherance of this scheme, Axact has established a worldwide web of shell companies and associates. The shell companies have been used to veil Axact funds and proceeds, to further facilitate the transport of the fictitious diplomas, as well as to enhance the illusion that the diplomas were form legitimate educational institutions (e.g., via securing fictitious accreditation either within the United States or abroad."
 
"Regarding financial accounts located in the United States, Axact appears to have set up three primary shell companies in the United States, by the name of Mivvel Inc., Tullow Inc., and Tinko Inc., as well as various tertiary shell companies, to include, but not limited to Blitzace Inc. The Directors of said entities have been identified to include both Pakistani-based Axact executives, as well as United States-based Individuals."
 
"Viqas Atiq, the Chief Operating Officer of Axact, Hold 49% of the shares of Mivvel Inc. Shoaib Ahmed, and the owner/Prsident of Axact, holds 49% of the shares of Tullow and Tinko. With respect to Mivvel Inc., the remaining 51% of the shares belong to Ali Gaffar Vyajkora, date of birth 23 March 1971, 109 Juliett Fowler Street, # B-303, Dallas, Texas."
 
"With respect to Tinko and Tullow, the majority share holders are Zubair Syed (Tullow), date of birth 27 October 1962, Uzma Shaheen (Tinko), date of birth 7 December 1969. Ongoing investigation revealed Zubair Syed (Tullow) and Uzma Shaheen (Tinko) are married, and reside at 1512 Midwest Club Parkway, Oak brook, Illinois 60523."
During the investigation of subject case, a complaint of a Saudi Student/Victim, namely Hussain Al-Ahmed, has also been received from Saudi Consulate, Islamabad, through Ministry of Foreign affairs, Islamabad. The relevant part of the said complainant is reproduced as under:
 
“I have been scammed by Brookdell University which is fake online university using online study and it is included with Axact Company a Pakistani Company, actually they have taken from me total amount 15739 USD for scholarship of bachelor degree but now they disappear and their website is not working as well as they are not answering for my calls and not getting back to me. In the beginning they told me to pay only 199 $ then 3500 $ then 1000 $ then 5040 $ then 4000 $ after that 2000 $. So please guide me to the solution to refund my money from them then I will be thankful for you. They were every time asking about payment nothing else. I am Saudi and staying in KSA. They have given me the bogus bachelor degree which is attached here with bogus accreditation bodies certificates after passing one interview and they told me to completer my study with them to get all documents attested and legalized and finally they have disappeared before I complete my study with them.”
 
The Saudi national/ student/ victim has also enclosed with his complaint the copies of fake/ fraudulent degrees he has received, details of payments he made and email correspondence with University, which actually made with the sale agent of M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd.
 
During the course of investigation the statements U/S 161 Cr.PC of the prosecution witnesses were recorded who fully supported the prosecution version in their statements. One of the prosecution witnesses namely Abdul Rauf Qureshi, the proprietor of Adman Printing and Designing, who was assigned the work of printing the blank certificates, degrees, transcripts, certificates, envelopes and brochures etc of Universities, Schools and accreditation bodies/ organization while recording his statements also stated that he is printing such material for M/s Axact on the request of Mr. Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, who made him to believe that M/s axact is providing back end support to such universities/ schools, accreditation bodies and councils. Mr. Abdul Rauf also produced the incriminating material which was seized under proper seizure memo. Some of incriminating material i.e. 5 blank certificates with golden seal along with 6 metal emboss seals and file blocks were sent to office of Director Technical FIA, Headquarters, Islamabad for the technical analysis of the same and to offer their expert opinion whether the blank certificates having golden sealed embossed on the certificates are matching with embossing metal seal.
 
In response to above letter office of Director, Technical, FIA HQ Islamabad having technically analyzed the incriminating material, forwarded the expert opinion of Mr. Niaz Akbar, Examiner of questioned documents, FIA, Headquarter, Islamabad, who confirmed that the metal seals are matching with golden seals affixed on the said certificates through his expert opinion vide his letter No. 224/TW/FIA/ dated 22.06.2015. The experts opinion is reproduced as under:-
 
The examination of the documents in the above mentioned has revealed the following facts:
The golden embossed seal marked as A on the blank certificate of Accreditation of Middle Ease Accreditation council, Is identical with metal emboss seal of Middle East Accreditation Council Accredited University marked as numerical 9. The golden embossed seal marked as B on 02 blank certificates of Global Commission for distance learning Education, is identical with metal emboss seal of Global commission for distance Learning Education marked as numerical 7. The golden embossed seal marked as C on 02 blank certificates of Higher Learning Commission for Online Education, is identical with metal emboss seal of Higher Learning Commission for online Education marked as numerical 5. The golden embossed seal marked as D on 02 blank certificates of Neil Wilson University, is identical with metal emboss seal of Neil Wilson University marked as Numerical 10. The golden embossed seal marked as E on 02 blank certificates of western Valley Central University, is identical with metal emboss seal of WEVAC marked as numerical 6. The foil blocks marked as 1 to 9, 11, 13, 14 and 15 may be used for pasting golden seals on Global Commission for distance Learning Education marked as B.  The foil blocks marked as 10 and 12 may be used for pasting golden seals on Neil Wilson University marked as D.  The foil blocks marked as 17 and 18 may be used for pasting golden seals on Western Valley Central University marked as E.  
During the course of investigation the forensically extracted documents from the M/s Axact Pvt. Ltd revealed that the outreach Global Ltd. CyberKnot Learning Inc, Mivvel Inc, Tullow PTD.LTD and TINKO INC were operated and owned by the accused persons as discussed in detail in a Chart at Page No. 32, 33 and 34. As the extracted documents bore the signatures with names of accused persons, so in order to obtain the technical opinion on the signatures of accused persons on said documents, specimen signatures of accused Viqas Atiq and accused Ali Abdul Ghaffar Viyajkora were obtained before the Judicial Magistrate, South, Karachi on the orders of Additional District & Sessions-V, South, Karachi in the Jail Premises.
 
As regards the specimen signatures of accused Shoaib Ahmed Sheikh, when the orders of learned Additional District & Sessions-V, South, along with orders of Judicial Magistrate South, Karachi were served upon the Jail authorities for the purpose, accused Shoaib Ahmed Sheikh got himself admitted in orthopaedics department of Jinnah Hospital on the same day. Afterwards on the verbal orders of Honorable Additional District & Sessions-V, South, authorities of Jinnah Hospital were sent a letter to let this Agency know of the health condition of accused Shoaib Ahed Sheikh. The hospital authorities in response to the letter of FIA intimated that as per his health condition he can sign and give statement. Afterwards on the orders of Honorable Additional District & Sessions-V, South, undersigned along with Judicial Magistrate South, Karachi proceeded to Jinnah hospital and met with medical officer on duty, who called the accused, but accused refused to give his specimen signature despite the learned Judicial Magistrate introduced himself and also showed him the orders of learned Additional District & Sessions Judge-V, South, Karachi. Later, the learned Judicial Magistrate issued his report in this connection. The same is also enclosed with this charge sheet.
 
However, the question signatures of accused as on the documents forensically extracted from the hard disk drives of computer systems of Viqas Atiq, COO M/s axact and Umair Hamid along with his routine signatures on the documents i.e account opening forms and S.S Cards as received from the banks were also sent to Director, Technical FIA, Headquarters, Islamabad for expert opinion on the same.
 
The specimen signatures of the accused Viqas Atiq and accused Ali Abdul Ghaffar Viyajkora were taken before the learned Judicial Magistrate South, Karachi and they were sent, along with the Routine Signatures that were obtained from their banking documents, to the office of Director, Technical, FIA, HQ, Islamabad in order to obtain technical/expert opinion for the verification of the Question Signatures of both the accused.  As and when the expert opinion in respect of the signatures of the accused persons is received from the Director Technical the same will be made part of this final charge sheet by submitting a separate report before this honourable court.
 
During the course of investigation, the cogent evidence collected in the shape of forensic analysis as well as statements recorded and other documentary evidence came on record, it has been established beyond reasonable doubt that accused (1) Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, CEO/ Chairman, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd and C.E.O M/s axact FZ LLC, Dubai, UAE, (2) Ayesha Shoaib Shaikh, Director, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (3) Viqas Atiq, Chief Operating Officer (COO), M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (4) Zeeshan Ahmed, President, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (5) Zeeshan Anwer, Executive Vice President, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (6) Muhamad Sabir, Vice President, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (7) absconding accused Farhan Kamal, Senior Executive Vice President (SEVP), M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (8) Muhammad Rizwan s/o Zainul Abdin, Associate Vice President, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (9) Imran Ahmed Khan s/o Saeed Ahmed Khan, Vice President, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (10) Atif Hussain s/o Kamran Hussain, Software Architect, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (11) Adnan Saboor s/o Ghulam Ali, Associate Vice President, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd  (12) Ali Abdul Ghaffar Vyajkora s/o Abdul Ghaffar, Head Human Resources Department, M/s Axcat Pvt. Ltd., (13) Muhammad Adnan s/o Amir Ali, Assistant Vice President , M/s Axact Pvt. Ltd. r/o  (14) Murad Akhtar s/o Akhtar Sadaruddin, Associate Architect, M/s Axact Private Limted.  (15) Vivian Christopher Campos s/o Alex Campos, Sales Professional, International Sales, M/s Axact Private Limited, Karachi. (16) Fahad  Ansari s/o Hamid Ali Ansari, AVP, International Sales, Axact Private Limited.  (17) absconding accused  Uzma Shaheen w/o Syed Muhammad Zubair. (18) absconding accused, Haris Siddiqui, Senior Vice President, Business Unit axact and (19) absconding accused Zubair.M.Syed in connivance and common criminal intention with each other and with others are involved in the offences of impersonation; cheating; fraud; blackmailing; extortion; preparation of fake, fraudulent, fictitious degrees/ certifications/ diplomas/ other documents of false, fabricated and fictitious universities/ colleges/ schools/ accreditation bodies etc. Furthermore, the accused persons are also involved in illegal act of illegal access, tampering, modification and generation of the computerized systems for the purpose of impersonation.
The foreign jurisdictions have also been co-operating with the FIA as evidenced by the letters from the Legal Attaché of USA Embassy Islamabad pertaining to fake/ fictitious Universities the front/ shell companies and merchant/ bank accounts of accused persons, as discussed above, which further substantiates the facts that the ongoing investigation pertaining to subject scam may take more time before reaching to its conclusion, given the forensic reports and other material being still prepared/collected from the enormous amount of digital and other data involved in the case. Moreover, foreign students/ victims are also approaching through their Embassies/ Consulates in Pakistan and relevant record from State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is also awaited. It may also be mentioned that the SBP has also issued letters to the accused company for providing details of the Software/ names of software that the accused company, its CEO and other accused are claiming to have been exporting from the year 2007 to May, 2015. The details of the software exported by the accused, however, is yet to be provided by the accused company/CEO and others. After the receipt of the details of the exports, if any, the same will also be made part of this Charge Sheet through a separate report, as and when received/prepared.
 
Thus, this Charge Sheet is submitted u/s 173 of Cr.P.C. against all the accused persons namely (1) Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, CEO/ Chairman, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (2) accused Ayesha Shoaib Shaikh, Director, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (3) Viqas Atiq, Chief Operating Officer (COO), M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (4) Muhammad Zeeshan, President, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (5) Zeeshan Anwer, Executive Vice President, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (6) Muhamad Sabir, Vice President, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (7) absconding accused Farhan Kamal, Senior Executive Vice President (SEVP), M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (8) Muhammad Rizwan Ahmed s/o Zainul Abdin, Associate Vice President, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (9) Imran Ahmed Khan s/o Saeed Ahmed Khan, Vice President, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (10) Atif Hussain s/o Kamran Hussain, Software Architect, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd (11) Adnan Saboor s/o Ghulam Ali, Associate Vice President, M/s axact (Pvt) Ltd  (12) Ali Abdul Ghaffar Vyajkora s/o Abdul Ghaffar, Head Human Resources Department, M/s Axcat Pvt. Ltd., (13) Muhammad Adnan s/o Amir Ali, Assistant Vice President , M/s Axact Pvt. Ltd. r/o  (14) Murad Akhtar s/o Akhtar Sadaruddin, Associate Architect, M/s Axact Private Limted.  (15) Vivian Christopher Campos s/o Alex Campos, Sales Professional, international Sales, m/s Axact Private Limited, Karachi. (16) Fahad Ali Ansari s/o Hamid Ali Ansari, AVP, International Sales, Axact Private Limited.  (17) absconding accused  Uzma Shaheen w/o Syed Muhammad Zubair. (18) absconding accused Haris Siddiqui Senior Vice President, Business Unit and (19) absconding accused Zubair.M.Syed under sections 182, 201, 383, 409, 418, 419, 420, 466, 467, 468, 471, 472, 473, 474, 476, 477-A, 109, 34 PPC r/w section 36 & 37 of Electronic Ordinance, 2002  and r/w 512 Cr.P.C  against absconding accused persons with the prayer to commence trials of the case against them.
 
A separate complaint under section 21(2)(a) of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Act, 2010 shall be submitted, against the accused persons, after completing all legal formalities of the AML Act, 2010.
 
The prayer is made in the interest of the justice.
 
(ZAKIR HUSSAIN)                                                                                                                                                                          (SAEED AHMED MEMON)
Assistant Director (Legal)                                                                                                                                                                  Assistant Director/ I.O
FIA, CCC, Karachi                                                                                                                                                                                   FIA, CCC, Karachi

CASE FIR NO. 07/2015 OF FIA, CCC, KARACHI
(Property    (including weapons) found, with particulars of where, when & by whom found and whether   forwarded to magistrate/special judge whose name to be given). As per Column No. 4
 
As per Column No. 4 of the Charge Sheet
 
 
RECOVERY MEMOS:
1) Recovery Memo dated 27.05.2015 prepared by the JM South, Karachi.
2) Recovery Memo dated 02.06.2015 from accused Adnan Saboor.
3) Recovery Memo dated 02.06.2015 from accused Atif Hussain.
4) Recovery Memo dated 02.06.2015 from accused Imran Ahmed Khan.
5) Recovery Memo dated 02.06.2015 from accused Muhammad Rizwan.
SEIZURE MEMOS:
Seizure memo dated 20.05.2015 Seizure memo dated 20.05.2015 Seizure memo dated 20.05.2015 Seizure memo dated 24.05.2015 Seizure memo dated 27.05.2015 Seizure memo dated 28.05.2015 Seizure memo dated 29.05.2015 Seizure memo dated 30.05.2015                        Prepared by the JM Seizure memo dated 01.06.2015 Seizure memo dated 02.06.2015 Seizure memo dated 03.06.2015 Seizure memo dated 04.06.2015 Seizure memo dated 05.06.2015 Seizure memo dated 06.06.2015 Seizure memo dated 08.06.2015 Seizure memo dated 31.05.2015 Seizure memo dated 01.06.2015 Seizure memo dated 06.06.2015 Seizure memo dated 08.06.2015 Seizure memo dated 08.06.2015 Seizure memo dated 09.06.2015 Seizure memo dated 09.06.2015 Seizure memo dated 09.06.2015 Seizure memo dated 10.06.2015 Seizure memo dated 11.06.2015            Prepared by the JM.  
 
 
 
 
(SAEED AHMED MEMON)
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/I.O
FIA CCC, KARACHI
 

LIST OF ACCUSED PERSONS (IN CUSTODY)
CASE FIR NO. 07/2015 OF FIA CCC, KARACHI.
 
 
1
Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh s/o Bashir Ahmed Shaikh (CNIC#42301-2480273-9) Director & CEO of M/s axact (Pvt) Limited R/o House No. 26/II, 18th Street, Khayaban-e-Tanzeem, DHA, Karachi CNIC 42301-2480273-9.
In Judicial Custody

2
Viqas Atique s/o Atiqur Rehman (CNIC No. 42301-6591580-3) R/O House No. 114, Khayaban-e-Tariq, D.H.A, Karachi
-do-

3
Zeeshan Anwar s/o Anwar Ahmed(CNIC No.42201-6468066-5) R/o Flat No.207, 2nd floor Marine Heights 3, Block-2, Clifton Karachi.
-do-

4
Zeeshan Ahmed s/o Naeemuddin (CNIC No.42201-447176670-5) R/O H. No. 207, 35th Street, Phase- VI D.H.A, Karachi
-do-

5
Muhammad Sabir S/o Muhammad Akram
-do-

6
Adnan Saboor s/o Ghulam Ali, Associate Vice President, M/s Axact Private Limited, Karachi
-do-

7
Atif Hussain s/o Kamran Hussain, Software Architect , M/s Axact Private Limited, Karachi 
-do-

8
Imran Ahmed Khan s/o Saeed Ahmed Khan, Vice President, M/s Axact Private Limited, Karachi
-do-

9
Muhammad Rizwan s/o Zainul Abdin, Associate Vice President, M/s Axact Private Limited, Karachi
-do-

10
Ali Abdul Ghaffar Vyajkora s/o Abdul Ghaffar B-15, Hassan Centre, Block-16, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi. CNIC No. 422010-5829988-7, Head Human Resources Department, M/s Axcat Pvt. Ltd.
-do-

11
Muhammad Adnan s/o Amir Ali, Assistant Vice President , M/s Axact Pvt. Ltd. r/o  D-04, Al Aman Colony, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Block-14, Karachi. CNIC No. 42101-7095474-5
-do-

12
Murad Akhtar s/o Akhtar Sadaruddin, Associate Architect, M/s Axact Private Limted. r/o Flat No. H-33, Saleemabad Colony, Block-14, Federal B. Area, Karachi CNIC no. 42201-8476776-1
-do-

13
Vivian Christopher Campos s/o Alex Campos, Sales Professional, international Sales, m/s Axact Private Limited, Karachi. r/o Flat No. 60, Mariyam Apartment, Cantt. Station, Karachi. NICOP no. 423011-001622-9
-do-

14
Fahad Ali Ansari s/o Hamid Ali Ansari, AVP, International Sales, Axact Private Limited.  r/o Plot No. 9-C, 4th Commercial Street, Khayaban-e-Bukhari and others
-do-

 
 
 
 
 
(SAEED AHMED MEMON)
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR,
FIA CCC, Karachi

 

 
LIST OF WITNESSES
 
Case FIR No. 07/2015 of FIA CCC, Karachi
 
(Statements u/s 161 Cr.P.C. of PWs  have already been submitted before this Hon’ble Court along with Interim Charge Sheet dated 13.06.2015)
 
ADEEL ARSHAD S/O KHAWAHA ARSHAD AIJAZ R/O B-205, 2ND FLOOR PEARL RESIDING BLOCK-14 GULSHAN-E-IQBAL KARACHI CNIC NO. 42000-6700073-5 IN CASE FIR NO. 07/2015 OF FIA CCC KARACHI.  
MUHAMMAD IMRAN S/O MUHAMMAD MANSOOR, MANAGER (FINANCE), M/S AXACT PRIVATE LIMITED, KARACHI. R/O R-104, SECTOR 5/C-3, NORTH KARACHI.   CNIC NO. 42101-1633840-9.  
FURTHER RAHIM S/O SADARUDDIN, ASSISTANT DEPARTMENT HEAD, INTERNAL AUDIT,  M/S AXACT PRIVATE LIMITED, KARACHI. R/O FLAT NO. G-4, OHAD RESIDENCY, GARDENT-EAST,  KARACHI.   CNIC NO. 42201-9153784-7.  
ABDUL GHAFFAR IS WORKING AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR (FORENSICS) IN CYBER CRIMES CIRCLE (NR3C) FIA, LAHORE.  
SAEED AHMED MEMON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, FIA CCC, KARACHI.  
 
 
 
 
 
(Saeed Ahmed Memon)
Assistant Director,
Fia Ccc, Karachi