Cuttack, Oct. 15: A fake website claiming to be that of Ravenshaw University has been offering distance degree courses.

The matter came to light after the Ravenshaw authorities came across a fake certificate during physical verification on October 13.

A person had come from Mumbai to get his Ravenshaw University's bachelor's degree in commerce had counter signed.

On verification, the certificate was found to be fake. Sources said the person claimed to have got the certificate after registering for the online course at www.ravenshawuniversity.com.

The person told the authorities that he had paid nearly Rs 50,000 to get the certificate.

The US consulate in Hyderabad had also discussed the issue of fake certificates with the university authorities two months ago. The consulate had asked the varsity officials to upgrade the existing security features in mark sheets and other original certificates issued by the university.

However, the authorities claimed that Ravenshaw did not offer any online distance education degree and its official website was www.ravenshawuniversity.ac.in.

"We have also come across a few fake certificates that have been issued by some individual or institution through a fake website created in the name of Ravenshaw University," said vice-chancellor P.C. Sarangi.

Sarangi said a similar incident concerning fake certificates in the name of Ravenshaw University had also been detected a couple of years ago. Consequently, a preliminary inquiry by the varsity had revealed that one Ravenshawuniversity.com was inviting applications from various students for online courses.

A complaint was lodged with the CID, crime branch (cyber police station) for the closure of the website in December 2013.

Ravenshaw University officials said that earlier, the official website of the varsity was www.ravenshawuniversity.com. It functioned from 2007 and was subsequently changed to w.ravenshawuniversity.ac.in in 2010.

They claimed that the cyber police station had sought documents, including the fake certificates. The authorities of cyber police station could not be contacted despite several attempts. "We will again take up the issue with senior officials of the crime branch and cyber police station shortly," Sarangi added.

Fake certificates issued in the varsity's was also detected in 2013 after the authorities received such documents for verification. Usually, reputed companies conduct a verification of the certificates provided by prospective employees before joining.

"So far, we have come across two such fake certificates," said examination controller J.P. Das. He said all the original documents and certificates now carry nearly 15 security features, including invisible ink, holograms and special marks with penetrating inks.