A delivery driver in Liverpool earned £300,000 by completing university courses and exams for students/Image: BBC
A UK-based delivery driver who secretly completed university coursework and online exams for students in exchange for money has been jailed for three years after investigators uncovered a massive academic fraud that generated more than £300,000 in illegal profits.Shahid Adnan, 42, used his role as a private tutor to access students’ university accounts, logging in on their behalf to complete assignments and take exams. Sky News reported that the scheme, which police believe may have involved 124 students at universities around the world, allowed Adnan to accumulate significant wealth despite advertising his work as an Amazon delivery driver and teacher through his company, Study Sharp Ltd.Liverpool Crown Court heard Adnan pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation, money laundering and hacking. A financial investigation found £2.4m passed through his PayPal account and bank accounts, while forensic analysis proved he earned at least £300,000 through fraud.Investigators said Adnan used the proceeds to finance a lavish lifestyle. Searches of his home revealed sums of cash, expensive home furnishings and household items, as well as two high-value cars, an Audi and a BMW.
The scam was uncovered in March 2023 after a computer forensics student at Liverpool John Morris University (LJMU) submitted a drive for evaluation. While examining the device, one of the lecturers discovered materials left behind by its previous owner, Adnan, and informed the police. The files contain students’ personal login details, course submission deadlines and financial records.Subsequent investigations by Merseyside Police revealed that Adnan was accessing the university’s systems using students’ credentials and completing academic work on their behalf.
Investigators also uncovered evidence of payments he received from students who requested his services.During police questioning, Adnan admitted giving one student an exam and receiving £250 as payment. However, he claimed that he did not realize that he needed permission to access the university network.Detective Sergeant Adam Dagnall said the investigation showed Adnan was able to log into student accounts and complete assessments while building a lifestyle far in excess of his stated income.
He warned that academic fraud poses serious risks because students can gain qualifications and enter professional careers without possessing the skills or knowledge those qualifications are intended to represent.The Public Prosecution said that Adnan took deliberate steps to hide the extent of his operation. Prosecutor Andrew Madden said: “He created complex audit trails across multiple bank accounts to avoid detection, and spent the proceeds of his crimes on luxury goods to reduce the chances of having to repay the money.”Madden described Adnan as “a fraudster who wanted more than his legitimate job could provide and turned to criminal activity in an attempt to outmaneuver the authorities.”Following the ruling, LJMU said: “The safeguards put in place by our staff have helped identify misconduct and support police investigations.” The university added: “We promote academic integrity, take all forms of academic dishonesty seriously, and regularly review our security procedures for assessment.”
