Attorney for Travis Fox speaks out

We heard today from an alleged attorney for Travis Fox, the celebrity we ousted for falsely purporting to hold a doctorate yet, alleges to hold a doctorate in just about all of his marketing endeavors. This is what he wrote:

Gentlemen:

 

Please be advised that this office represents Dr. Travis Fox in connection with the untruthful and slanderous e-mails and your blog that you have created about Dr. Fox and his credentials.

 

In addition to the foregoing, you have put up a picture of Dr. Fox which you are not permitted to do without his written permission.  This picture must be immediately taken down and never used again.  If you do not cease and desist from using Dr. Fox's picture, then all appropriate legal action will be taken against you for a permanent injunction as well as an action for monetary damages.

 

Your blog is totally untrue and is libelous.  You must cease and desist from using this blog and/or e-mail and must stop spreading untruths and lies regarding Dr. Fox.

 

We do not know where you allegedly obtained your information about Dr. Fox, but rest assured that he has his credentials and your libelous and slanderous statements about Dr. Fox will be met with the full force of the law should you continue.

 

In conclusion, we want your blog corrected or removed completely and you can no longer use Dr. Fox's picture in any way.  This is a violation of Dr.Fox's rights and is an invasion of his privacy.

 

You can respond to this e-mail as listed. 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

Our response:

 

Dear Lawyer: 

 

We have done our research and Travis Fox does not hold an accredited doctorate. Therefore, our allegations are truthful and cannot be considered as slander. We ask you, Mr. Juris Doctor, how would you -or any judge on the bench who had completed a legitimate doctoral program, feel about somebody who fraudulently misrepresents themselves as a doctor? One certainly would presume that Travis Fox would receive no sympathy from these individuals.

Further, the image that we used is in the public domain in that it was readily accessible on Google. As members of the press, we have the right to use his image for public information and we are not gaining profit from it.

 

We'll make a deal with Travis Fox. If he can prove to us that he has earned a legitimate, accredited doctorate, then we will be more than happy to remove any reference to him from this blog. This would be much more cost-effective than hiring lawyers to fight a legal battle that he is likely to lose. Heck, we'll even apologize. Until then, we're not going anywhere.

A Message From Richard Clark

We received a delightful email today from Richard Clark, who accused us of being "every bit as big a liar and fraud as anyone you write about."

Thank you, Mr. Clark, for confirming that everybody we have written about is "a liar and a fraud." Richard Clark is a licensed counselor in California. Yes, people actually go to this chump for help with their own problems. Sounds like he needs some counseling for himself.

In case any of our readers don't know who Richard Clark is, he is also Scott Sandland's right hand man. He operates the California Mental Health Counseling Associates in San Pedro, CA. We have outed several people that Mr. Clark is associated with, particularly the fake PhD "liars and frauds" that will be presenting at the HypnoThoughts Live conference that he is throwing together with Scott Sandland. So we give thanks to Richard Clark for further confirming that what we said about the frauds is true.

You see, Richard Clarke happens to be the Chief Operating Officer and instructor for Scott Sandland's Hypnosis Practitioner Training Institute. He is also a moderator on Sandland's HypnoThoughts blog.

We find it interesting that Mr. Clarke would like us to out that Mr. Richard Bandler as a fraud. Since the Hypnosis Practitioner Training Institute offers a "course" on NLP, a widely used approach that Bandler is credited with co-founding. We presume that, since you consider a co-founder of NLP a fraud then perhaps your course, "Introduction to NLP," is also based on a sham principle. Thanks for the tip, Richard. We'll get right on that.

Richard Clark wanted to see if we are "all hot air" and dared us to post this. Well, we did. And our next post will be to oust Richard Bandler as a Doctor of PhD Fraud.

So we ask the question of Mr. Clark, what makes us "a liar and fraud?" By bringing to the spotlight all of the persons who falsely use unearned titles to enhance their credibility? Many of these people who are your personal friends and business associates? We understand your anger, but perhaps you should direct it at those frauds who denigrate your profession.

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From Richard Clark, it's title was "Let's see if you are all hot air.":

John McGrail - Los Angeles, CA - Doctor of Fraud

John McGrail's webpage reads, "Dr. John McGrail is more than a clinical hypnotherapist." This is probably true, because he is also a clinical fraud. John McGrail claims to have earned a PhD in Clinical Hypnotherapy from Breyer State University. We know all too well the claims of people falsely purporting to have earned a doctorate from this degree mill (Larry Volz and Karen Schneider). See our page diploma mill resource page at http://fakedoctorate.blogspot.com/2012/11/known-diploma-mills-resource-guide.html

McGrail's company is called, "A Better You, Inc." and is located in Los Angeles, California. He wrote that he received his hypnosis training at the Hypnosis Motivation Institute.

Coming soon: Terri Lee Cooper, Edmonton Alberta, Canada

Terri Lee Cooper of Hypnosis For Life in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. Coming soon!

Shelley Stockwell, of the International Hypnosis Federation, FAKE PhD *UPDATED*

Shelley Stockwell-Nicholas, president, owner, member, and founder of the International Hypnosis Federation in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Shelley liberally throws around the title PhD and Dr. Shelly for herself. Yet, she is entirely elusive as to the from where and in what, which is typical of people claiming to have FAKE PhD's in this field.

She is the author of "How to Put a Smile on Your face and $$ In Your Pocket." Could that have something to do with fabricating a fake doctorate and duping gullible hypnotists into joining your organization?

Shelley is considered to be an "expert" and will be presenting at Scott Sandland's HypnoThoughts Live.

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UPDATE

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Shelley "the FAKE PhD" Stockwell-Nicholas sent us a lovely email. Here it is:

Dear Lady Who Falsely Purports To Have A PhD,

It's not slander if it's true. 

Unless you confirm that you have earned a legitimate PhD, this information will remain here for eternity.

Sincerely,
The Truth

Marla Brucker - San Diego, CA - FAKE Doctorate!

Meet Marla Brucker of the San Diego Hypnosis Center. We would like to thank Scott Sandland's HypnoThoughts Live for tipping us off on this lady who claims to have a Doctorate in Clinical Hypnotherapy. She is extremely elusive about where she supposedly earned this degree. We wonder why! That's because there is no such degree.

Marla is a proud member of Robert Otto's International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association and the International Hypnosis Federation.

Hans-Peter Zimmermann speaks out on the American Institute of Hypnotherapy

We found this blog by former American Institute of Hypnotherapy "student" and "degree recipient" Hans-Peter Zimmermann, who come forward regarding the lack of validity of the the degrees conferred by the American Institute of Hypnotherapy. We give Mr. Zimmermann TWO THUMBS UP and a HIGH FIVE for his decision to stop using the title DCH and Doctor.

You can read the about Mr. Zimmermann and his blog here: http://www.hpz.com/hypnosis-doctoral-papers/

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.

Marianne Zaugg, Los Angeles, Pasadena, California CA - FAKE Doctorate! - UPDATED

Marianne Zaugg of Los Angeles, Pasadena, California, claims to have earned her "PhD" from the "American Pacific University." Our readers know all too well that this is a known degree mill (See http://fakedoctorate.blogspot.com/2012/11/known-diploma-mills-resource-guide.html). We note that Zaugg REALLY enjoys calling herself "Dr." through her URL, and the numerous references to "Dr. Marianne" and "Dr. Zaugg." This is a case of blatant, outright, deception.

We affirm that Marianna Zaugg has not earned a doctorate and is fraudulently purporting to have earned a doctorate.

Janice Smylie, Calgary, AB, Canada - FAKE Doctorate!

Janice Smylie of A Brighter Choice, Inc. in Calgary, AB, Canada purports to have earned a PhD. Yet, she conveniently refuses to say where her degree is from. In fact, she doesn't even claim to have earned undergraduate or master's degrees. We found her on LinkedIn, and she wrote that her studies were in Canada, USA, and England -hardly what one would consider a doctoral education. Looks like her high school drama club did her some good, because she had to be a pretty good actress for pulling off a fake PhD for so long.

We affirm that Janice Smylie is falsely purporting to have earned a doctoral degree.

She is a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists and the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners.

Leticia Montiel, Santa Ana and Corona CA -FAKE DOCTORATE

Here's another addition to our list of douche bags who falsely claim to have doctorates. Leticia Montiel's bio reads:

"In 1991 after completing years of extensive research and rigorous academic requirements she became the first Latin-American woman to earn the prestigious Doctor of Hypnotherapy Degree from the renowned "American Institute of Hypnotherapy" The only educational body in the country to offer such prestigious title." 

How fancy, considering no such accredited degree exists. Unless you purchase it from a degree mill such as the American Institute of Hypnotherapy (which had since disappeared, by the way." Shame on you, Leticia, for shaming your Latin-American counterparts.

Nikki Goldman - Fake PhD Hypnotist

"Dr." Nikki Goldman, who has offices in Poway, CA and Temecula, CA is the next fraud who found their way into our sights. On her website at http://www.drnikkigoldman.com/, she claims to have earned her "Ph.D. in hypnotherapy in 1989." Of course, she doesn't state from where. Nor does she cite any bonafide academic credentials. If you're a follower of this blog, you know these are the red flags to look out for. And you also know that there are absolutely NO legitimate doctoral program in hypnosis. That's zip...zero...zilch...nada. You're busted, Nikki Goldman.

Kenneth Grossman - FAKE DOCTORATE

Kenneth Grossman of the Dr. Kenneth Grossman Organization, Inc. in Sacramento, CA is the next scam artist to attract our attention. He claims to have earned a doctorate in Clinical Hypnotherapy from the American Institute of Hypnotherapy. If you've been following this blog, you already know that there are no accredited doctoral programs in hypnosis. In some states, it is considered a crime to boast a doctorate from an unaccredited institution. I should print doctorates on my home printer and sell them, just like how he earned his. Ken "Grossly Unethical" Grossman, you should be ashamed of yourself.

"Dr." Mike Mandel - HypnoFake of Toronto, CA

Mike Mandel of Toronto, CA claims to hold a PhD in Clinical Hypnosis. Come on, Mike! Everybody knows that such a degree doesn't exist! Yet, you post YouTube videos about why you charge so much, because you are THAT good. Well, "doctor," if you are THAT good then you wouldn't have to create a bold-faced lie about your credentials. If you are THAT good, then you wouldn't have to create a FAKE doctoral degree. Yet, every time you say your name, you preface it with "Dr." Oh, and you are regarded as the "World's Greatest Hypnotist." By whom? Perhaps by the same people who conferred your non-existent PhD?