Serbia: 120 Fake Diplomas Uncovered, Organizer Arrested

Serbian authorities have apprehended a criminal group accused of forging over 120 diplomas from numerous secondary and higher education institutions. The group allegedly operated an illegal printing press in Belgrade, generating substantial illegal profits by selling falsified documents.

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This organized criminal group operated an illegal printing press on the territory of Belgrade, producing over 120 fake, falsified documents, including certificates, diplomas from various secondary, higher, and university-level institutions, and certificates of passed exams, thereby acquiring illegal property benefits in the amount of 20,000,000.00 dinars.

The investigation, led by the Republic Public Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime (TOK), revealed that the group produced fake certificates and diplomas from prestigious universities, including the University of Belgrade's Law, Medicine, Civil Engineering, Philology, and Teacher Education faculties, among others. They charged between 500 and 3,500 euros for each document, amassing an estimated 20 million dinars (approximately $180,000 USD) in illicit gains.

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The documents were sold to interested individuals for amounts ranging from 500 to 3,500 euros.

The TOK is now focused on determining if these forged documents were presented as genuine and, if so, will request their annulment. During questioning, one suspect chose to remain silent, exercising their legal right, while others denied any involvement in the criminal activity. The prosecutor has requested pre-trial detention for three individuals and house arrest for another, as they are charged with organized crime and document forgery between October 2025 and June of the current year.

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The Public Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime is also investigating whether these individuals, who obtained the forged documents, used them as genuine.