Prayagraj, located in Uttar Pradesh, India, has seen a surge in fake degree rackets, exploiting its status as an educational hub. This year, authorities have dismantled three significant operations, revealing a network that issues counterfeit degrees and marksheets through professionally designed websites impersonating legitimate institutions. The scams are particularly prevalent in professional courses like Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) and Diploma in Pharmacy (DPharm), with fraudsters charging between ₹4,000 and ₹5,000 for each document. In January 2026, the UP Special Task Force arrested Mohd Taruq, the kingpin of a fake Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) degree racket, who sold degrees for ₹6 lakh to ₹10 lakh each. Investigations have uncovered that some private institutions acted as intermediaries, further complicating the issue. Authorities are now tracking numerous associates and beneficiaries involved in these scams, which threaten the educational integrity of Prayagraj. UP Board secretary Bhagwati Singh emphasized the need for vigilance, stating that these fraudulent activities exploit the trust of students seeking legitimate education.