A British delivery driver who secretly completed university courses and online exams for students in exchange for money has been jailed for three years after investigators uncovered a massive academic fraud operation that generated more than £300,000 in illegal income.Shahid Adnan, 42, used his identity as a personal tutor to access students’ university accounts, logging in to complete assignments and take exams on their behalf. Police believe the scheme, which may have involved 124 students at universities around the world, allowed Adnan to amass a large fortune despite his claims that employment was a career. Amazon The delivery driver and tutor works through his company Study Sharp Ltd, Sky News reports.Liverpool Crown Court heard Adnan pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation, money laundering and hacking. A financial investigation found that £2.4m passed through his PayPal and bank accounts, while forensic analysis showed he made at least £300,000 through cheating.Investigators said Adnan used the proceeds to live a lavish lifestyle. A search of his home revealed bundles of cash, expensive furniture and white goods, as well as two high-value cars, an Audi and a BMW.The fraud came to light in March 2023 after a computer forensics student at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) submitted a pen drive for assessment. While inspecting the device, a lecturer discovered materials left behind by its previous owner, Adnan, and alerted police. These files contain students’ personal login details, coursework submission deadlines and financial records.Subsequent investigations by Merseyside Police revealed that Adnan had been using students’ credentials to access university systems and complete academic work on their behalf. Investigators also found evidence he received payments from students who recruited his services.During a police interview, Adnan admitted taking an exam for a student and receiving £250 as a reward. However, he claims he did not realize he needed permission to access the university network.Detective Inspector Adam Dagnall said investigations revealed Adnan was able to log into student accounts and complete assessments while building a lifestyle that far exceeded his declared income. He warned that academic fraud posed serious risks as students could gain qualifications and enter careers without possessing the skills or knowledge those qualifications represented.The Crown Prosecution Service said Adnan deliberately took steps to conceal the extent of his business. Senior prosecutor Andrew Madden said: “He created a complex audit trail across multiple bank accounts to avoid detection and spent the proceeds of crime on luxury goods to reduce the likelihood that the money would have to be repaid.”Madden described Adnan as “a con artist who wanted more than his legitimate job could provide and turned to criminal activity in an attempt to outwit the authorities.”After the sentencing, LJMU said: “The safeguards put in place by our staff help identify misconduct and support police investigations.” The university added: “We promote academic integrity and take all forms of academic dishonesty seriously and regularly review our assessment security measures.”
