10-11-2011, 11:21 AM
Quote:His résumé lists a doctorate from San Francisco Technical University, a non-accredited school with a website that no longer is active.
Not saying that this is how Lowe plays it, but this is how one SFTU "grad" verified his credentials...
Quote:DECEMBER 16, 2008, 8:50 P.M. ET.
Email to Actress Hired to Play Role of University Official
In an October email, Stein Bagger, the chief executive of Danish software company IT Factory, gave Vicki Lang, an American artist and actress living in Copenhagen, the script for a dialogue Mr. Bagger wanted to test over the phone with Ms. Lang, whom he had asked to play the role of a university official in California.
The dialogue was part of an elaborate ruse designed by Mr. Bagger to counter accusations that he had invented a doctorate from San Francisco Technical University. No such university exists, but Mr. Bagger asked Ms. Lang to explain that the non-existent university had been incorporated into San Francisco State University, which does exist. Ms. Lang thought she was being hired as part of a training program and was not aware of Mr. Bagger's deception.
IT Factor has since declared bankruptcy and Mr. Bagger Tuesday pleaded guilty to fraud charges relating to his management of the software company.
Formatting errors have been removed from the text below. Click here to see a PDF of the email. (See related article.)
From: Stein Bagger
Date: October 28, 2008 6:53:36 AM GMT+01:00
To: Vicki Lang
Subject: RE: The job we discussed over the phone
Vicky,
I have re-wrote the speaking notes, I hope this is better and comes more natural. I will try to call you later today in order to go through it.
Test Caller
Me via the switch board from San Francisco State University
Call to you
The person from San Francisco State University connects you
Stating that there is a person who wish to get a reference
Your answers
Beth Francis, Faculty Administration, how may I help you?
The test person questions
Hi, my name is Stein Bagger, I wonder if you can help me verify what year I graduated?
Sure, which faculty or university did you graduate from? cause due to last 10 years of university mergers, we represent quite many universities. I also need your Student ID and Social Security Number as we are not allowed to give out any information without that.
Okay, I graduated from San Francisco Technical University. My Student ID number is T375-WA. I do not have at social security number, as I am not an American citizen. But I have my UIN Number, which is 01-20 1967 DK185, would that do?
That's okay, but we do need to ask as we have to follow the rules and protect our students. You know, we have to comply with all the rules and regulations, like the UIN Policy and US Privacy Act. Sorry Sir, could you please give me your UIN Number and Student ID again?
Yes, my Student ID number is T375-WA and my UIN Number is 01-20 1967 DK185.
Thank you Sir, can hold on for a minute? - Cause I need to look up into another database?
Sure, no problem
[Wait approx. 20 seconds before you answer]
Hello Sir, [I reply yes] I can see you belong to the now incorporated San Francisco Technical University and the record states that you in 1998 graduated with an MBA and in 2003 graduated with a PhD in International Business.
Thank you very much, you've been very helpful.
You are welcome. If you need more information you can fill out a transcript form and mail it to us.
No I am fine, thanks gain. Okay, have a nice day Sir.
Best regards/Med venlig hilsen,
Stein Bagger
CEO/Adm. dir.
Quote:DECEMBER 17, 2008
Stein Bagger Pleads Guilty to Faking Software Deals; His Ph.D. Was Phony, Too
...One person to come out of the mess looking good is Dorte Toft, a 64-year-old free-lance journalist and blogger. ...In December, she wrote a blog challenging Mr. Bagger's extraordinary growth figures.
But, she says, virtually no one wanted to listen to "an old woman."
Mr. Bagger, she says, went to great lengths to conceal his deceptions. Earlier this year, she began to question Mr. Bagger about boasts that he had a Ph.D. from San Francisco Technical University. She asked how that was possible when no such university exists. Mr. Bagger came up with an elaborate plan.
On the pretext of developing talking points for college employees to answer phone queries about academic records, he hired Vicki Lang, an American artist and actress living in Copenhagen, to play the role of an official at San Francisco State University, an institution that does exist. "If I'd thought about it, I might have said: 'Oh, this sounds strange,' but I was just happy to have a job," recalls Ms. Lang.
He wrote a script for a dialogue between himself and Ms Lang, who, as a university official, would explain that his nonexistent college had been folded into San Francisco State and confirm that he had a Ph.D. in international business. Mr. Bagger then told Ms. Lang he'd like to test the script over the phone on the afternoon of Oct. 29. He called Ms. Toft, the skeptical blogger, to his office for an interview at the same time.
When Ms. Toft showed up and started asking questions, Mr. Bagger announced that he would call San Francisco to prove that he was telling the truth about his Ph.D. Ms. Toft, smelling a rat, told him not to bother: "I knew him too well."