Fake degree attestation agents are once again targeting Pakistani students and graduates, and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has issued a clear public advisory telling people to stop trusting them. The commission has confirmed that scammers are posing as HEC officials or authorized agents, contacting people through phone calls and fake social media pages, and asking for money and personal information in exchange for degree attestation services.
What HEC Said in Its Advisory
HEC warned the public against fraudulent individuals posing as attestation agents and offering document attestation services, urging applicants not to share their personal or educational information with unauthorized individuals and emphasizing that HEC’s attestation process is entirely online and paperless.
HEC has clarified that it does not employ any agents or representatives for attestation purposes and does not make unsolicited calls or contact individuals regarding these services. This is a key fact that many students miss, and it is exactly what scammers exploit.
Scammers are impersonating HEC officials in an attempt to deceive members of the public and obtain sensitive personal and financial information. In some cases, individuals posing as HEC Attestation Agents are demanding excessive fees far beyond the prescribed charges, and fake social media pages are also being used to deceive the public by promoting unauthorized degree verification services.
How Fake Degree Attestation Agents Trick People
The scam usually works in one of three ways. First, someone calls you and says they are from HEC, asking for your degree details or bank information. Second, you find a Facebook or Instagram page that looks like an official HEC page, and it asks you to pay a fee to start your attestation. Third, a person on the street or online offers to handle your whole attestation for a large sum, and either takes your money or worse, your original documents.
In some cases, these agents have deceived applicants by pasting fake stamps and tickets of the HEC on original degrees and transcripts issued by HEC-recognized institutes. This is a serious risk because HEC will confiscate degrees and transcripts with fake HEC stamps when submitted to the commission for different purposes. That means you could lose your original degree entirely.
The commission has clarified that it does not authorize any individual or organization to contact people on its behalf, and it never requests money, PINs, passwords, or personal information over the phone.
The Real HEC Attestation Process
On 11 May 2026, HEC launched a fully online, paperless Degree Attestation System. This means there is no longer any reason to deal with a middleman or agent. The HEC has modernized its attestation system with an online portal at eportal.hec.gov.pk where applicants can submit their degree and transcript details, upload documents, and schedule appointments at HEC regional centers across Pakistan.
HEC has advised students, graduates, and other applicants to process all attestation requests directly through its official online portal rather than relying on third parties.
HEC attestation is the mandatory first step in the attestation chain for anyone planning to work, study, or settle abroad. Without HEC attestation, no embassy in Pakistan will attest your educational documents. So getting this right matters a great deal, especially for Pakistanis looking for work in the Gulf, Europe, or North America.
You can start the official process at the HEC official website or go directly to the attestation portal at eportal.hec.gov.pk. Do not trust any other website, phone number, or social media page.
Who Needs HEC Attestation?
HEC attestation is required in many situations. You need it if you are a student going abroad for higher studies, since foreign universities require attested degrees before admission. Job seekers applying for overseas employment also need it, as employers in countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Canada require attested educational certificates.
HEC attestation is critical for overseas employment, particularly for skilled and professional workers such as engineers, doctors, nurses, accountants, IT professionals, and teachers. For Pakistani IT professionals and tech workers applying for jobs abroad, this step is non-negotiable.
What to Do If You Get a Suspicious Call or See a Fake Page
Do not share anything. HEC has advised citizens not to share any personal or financial details if they receive suspicious calls claiming to be from the commission.
The commission urged the public to report such calls to their telecom operator, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) National Cyber Crime Response Centre (NCCRC). You can file a complaint at pta.gov.pk or contact FIA’s cybercrime wing.
HEC also advised anyone who falls victim to financial fraud to report the incident to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
Submission of fake, forged, or bogus documents will result in strict action under applicable laws and policies. This is a reminder that if you use a fraudulent agent and end up with tampered documents, you are the one who faces the consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does HEC have any official agents for degree attestation?
HEC does not employ or authorise any representative or agent for attestation of degrees. Further, HEC does not make calls or contact individuals to facilitate the use of its services.
How do I spot a fake HEC attestation agent?
Watch out for anyone who calls you unsolicited, asks for a large fee beyond the standard HEC rate, promises quick results without an online application, or runs a social media page that is not the verified official HEC account. Imposters claiming affiliation with HEC are defrauding the public by making scam calls to extract personal information for degree attestation or re-verification of already attested documents.
Where do I apply for real HEC degree attestation?
For verification of your degrees, only visit the HEC attestation portal at eservices.hec.gov.pk or www.hec.gov.pk. The process is now fully digital and paperless, so you do not need to visit any physical office to start your application.
What happens if my degree has a fake HEC stamp?
In some cases, these individuals cheat applicants by pasting fake HEC stamps on original degrees and transcripts. All such degrees and transcripts with fake stamps are liable to be confiscated when submitted to HEC. Beyond confiscation, you may face legal action. Always protect your original documents and never hand them to an unauthorized person.
