Barbara Pomar, Fairbanks, AK and Radio Guest - FAKE PhD

Barbara J. Pomar of Fairbanks, Alaska. One of our bloggers heard her talk the other night on the radio show, Coast to Coast. When they heard that she had a Doctorate in Clinical Hypnotherapy, theirs ears perked up and notified us right away.

We did some research into her alleged PhD school, Atlantic Pacific University. Looks like it's based in Chengdu, China and appears on the Oregon Student Access Commission's list of Unauthorized Schools and Invalid Degrees. We can't find ANY source, ANYWHERE, that considers the Atlantic Pacific University as legitimate. There isn't even a website for Atlantic Pacific University. Therefore, we affirm that Barbara Pomar has duped George Noory, Coast to Coast Radio, and thousands of listeners into believe that she has a doctorate.

Roger Moore, Bainbridge Island, WA - FAKE PhD

This is truly a sad situation. Roger Moore of Roger Moore's Counseling and Hypnotherapy of Bainbridge Island, WA, claims to have earned a "Doctorate in Clinical Hypnotherapy." Readers of this blog KNOW that there is no such thing, yet he holds legitimate undergraduate and master's degrees. Why would somebody with a solid set of degrees, and from what we're told, is apparently a nice guy, want to tarnish his name and profession with false credentials such as a fake PhD? We have been unable to find a single reference as to where his "PhD" was earned but since we know that there are no accredited PhD programs in Clinical Hypnotherapy, we affirm that Mr. Moore's is fraudently asserting that he holds a PhD. We hope that this person will reconsider his use of the terms "Doctor" or PhD."

Roger Moore is a member of the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association, the International Association of Counselors and Therapists and the International Hypnosis Federation.

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UPDATE

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The above screen shot shows Healthy Life Centers, owned by Mark Barrus of Fountain View, CA, featuring Roger Moore as "Dr. Roger Moore." The question is, who is deceiving who? Is Mark Barrus deceiving the public into believing that this hypnotist, whom he will receive commission from every client that he refers to Roger Moore, really holds a doctorate? Or is Roger Moore deceiving Mark Barrus? Or does it even matter. The public is being deceived no matter which way you look at it.

Anne Spencer, Royal Oak, MI, FAKE PhD - UPDATED!

Anne Spencer of the Infinity Institute Hypnosis Training School in Royal Oak, MI, is the founder of the allegedly "ethical" hypnosis organization, the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association is yet another degree fraud. Anne claims to have earned a PhD and has numerous, too many to count, references about "Dr. Anne Spencer, PhD" all over the web. Our research shows that she participated master's level coursework in education at Marygrove College, but, very conveniently, there are no references to where she may have earned her PhD or in what field. She was even inducted into the National Guild of Hypnotist's highest order, the Order of Braid. So much for an ethical organization.

We took the following blurb off of Roger Moore's site, who readers will recognize as another PhD Fraud (See http://fakedoctorate.blogspot.com/2012/11/roger-moore-fake-phd.html). These fraudsters love to stick together.

Response to Scott Sandland of HypnoThoughts

Scott Sandland, founder of the massive Ning-based HypnoThoughts blog community, sent us an email today declaring his disdain for our approach in exposing the degree scammers. He wrote:

Dear Scott Sandland,

None of us here at PhD Scammers care that your removed the "fake PhD" thread from your blog. We were exposing these fakes long before the thread and will continue to do so long after it's gone.

You write, "I'm a big fan of accountability and raising standards." That's a BS statement if I ever heard one, considering your own site is rampant with individuals using false credentials and you have done absolutely nothing to counter it. Thus, you are about as guilty as them because you allow it to go on. But your site is self-serving, isn't it? In providing an outlet for new and prospective people interested in hypnosis so that you can sell your product, training, and enhance your own credibility and exposure. Brilliant concept. So why alienate the frauds that contribute to your community? They only bring your more exposure. Unwitting individuals think that Dr. So and So is an expert and, thus, you have a community of experts (with phony doctorates). Too bad for the few that really have honest to goodness doctoral degrees.

Not to mention, that you have made many professional connections with those purporting to have (fake) doctorates, and you are using their name and title to enhance your own credibility, including the testimonial on your biography from Roger Moore, PhD who alleges holding a PhD in Clinical Hypnosis:

And Anne Spencer's testimonial and articles (which would NEVER be published in a scholarly publication), who is elusive about where she earned her PhD and in what field, but consistently refers to herself as Anne Spencer, PhD:

 and

 

Shame on you, Scott Sandland. You are supposed to be a shining star but you truly are just as guilty as them. Thank you, by the way, for the referrals. We'll be looking at Roger Moore and Anne Spencer on our blog shortly.

Recently, you suggested a discussion about it. A meager discussion won't fix the problem. They have been given an opportunity to redeem themselves and not a single one has taken advantage of this. They would rather go on and take their chances with their phony credentials.

These individuals need to be exposed, if anything, for the wise potential client or student that decides to conduct some background research on their prospective fraud.

We will continue to reference HypnoThoughts, if need be, as long as there are individuals claiming to have (phony) doctorates and posting as experts. We believe that will be for a very long time.

Response to Kathleen Hanover of HypnoThoughts

We were recently alerted to a discussion on the Ning-site, HypnoThoughts.com, where this blog became quite the topic of discussion. Kathleen Hanover, a self-purported PR expert, had this to say:

Ms. Hanover should know something about the media, as we are a media firm and she is supposedly a marketing expert. The law on libel is clear, with particular emphasis on the phrase, "A statement that falsely:"

We do our research. A diploma mill is a diploma mill, and a fake doctorate is a fake doctorate. Our statements are not false but are filled with truth (which is more than we can say for these individuals who are, indeed, falsely purporting to have earned a doctorate).

We also take note of your reference to us as "slimeball." Why would this lady want to take sides with individuals who are falsely purporting to have earned academic credentials? We wonder if there is an ulterior motive or if she is simply misinformed. The silent majority of readers will attest that we (and yes, we are more than one) are heros and those that are committing acts of fraud and deception by citing fake credentials are the true "slimeballs."

Further, to answer your question about photographs, they are not stolen. Once they are placed on the internet, they are a matter of public domain and we are free to use it when we are addressing that particular individual or individuals in our capacity as a media organization -much like your photo above as it is freely available on the internet. You posted it knowing that the world will see it.

Known Diploma Mills Resource Guide

Wondering if a school or institution is a diploma mill? Here's a great resource to help you figure it out!

Taken from www.employeescreen.com/.../files/Rev2_Known_Diploma_Mills.pdf

David Newman, Jefferson City, Missouri -FAKE DOCTORATE

David Newman of Jefferson City, MO claims to have a D.Sc. (a Doctor of Science). However, he refuses to say from where. His LinkedIn page clearly claims master's and bachelor's degrees from Arizona State University (we can't attest to Heriot-Watt University, and frankly, we don't care). But the doctorate? Zip. Zilch. Nada.

However, on the website for the Hypnosis Motivation Institute, we see that he claims to have earned a Doctor of Science in Parapsychology from Bridgewater University in the UK where, for only $180, you too can be the proud owner of a Doctorate!

Bridgewater University, in addition to being a known degree mill (See http://fakedoctorate.blogspot.com/2012/11/known-diploma-mills-resource-guide.html), Wikipedia shows that Bridgewater University (in the UK) is associated with InstantDegrees.com.

InstantDegrees.com boasts INSTANT APPROVAL and NO COURSEWORK.

WOW! SIGN ME UP!

not.

Look at the FANTASTIC package they give you!

His website claims that his clients can expect miracles. Mirriam-Webster defines a miracle as "an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affair." We believe he's going to need a miracle to get himself out of this fake-doctorate hole.