University of Redwood’s school website had beautiful pictures of their campus and even a faculty directory. Too bad the college wasn’t real. Turns out the website stole all of its content from Reed College and scammed prospective students out of application fees.
Most of the victims were international students who would pay the “University of Redwood” to apply to the non-existant school. After a few weeks, students would receive a “rejection letter” and be out of the fee, none the wiser. Kind of like Accepted, but without Justin Long’s moral compass.
Amazingly, the University of Redwood’s website still exists, though Reed College is working on taking it down. For comparison, here’s the “About Us” page for both Reed College and the University of Redwood.
Reed College:
Reed College was founded in 1908, and its first classes were held in 1911. Reed is named for Oregon pioneers Simeon and Amanda Reed. Simeon Reed had been an entrepreneur in trade on the Columbia River … Amanda Reed followed that suggestion in her will by setting up a board of trustees to found an institution of learning in Portland, with no limits other than an insistence on equality and secularism. In the ensuing years, Reed College has become one of the nation’s pre-eminent institutions of the liberal arts and sciences.
The University of Redwood:
University of Redwood was founded in 1908 and was operational in 1911. Redwood is named after the Oregon pioneers Simeon and Amanda Redwood. Simon Redwood had been an entrepreneur…Amanda Redwood then set up a board of trustees to found an institution of learning in Portland, with no limits other than an insistence on equality and secularism. In the ensuing years, University of Redwood has become one of the nation’s prominent institutions of the liberal arts and sciences.
[WSJ via Geekosystem]