A House of Representatives report on the practice of a profession with fradulent credentials is presented. Attention is directed to the provision of medical care by unlicensed and unqualified people posing as doctors, fraudulent credentials across a range of occupations, especially those affecting the elderly, and fraudulent credentials held by federal employees. A House subcommittee found that some people holding highly sensitive positions within the federal government may be doing so on the basis of credentials purchased from phony universities. One important finding has been the extent to which older Americans are the target of medical fraud schemes. Most state and federal agencies have relatively lax systems for checking the credentials of graduates of unaccredited medical schools. One method for promoting phony credentials includes "diploma mill" degrees offered without requiring that learning or testing take place. Fraudulent credentials are primarily promoted and purchased through the use of the mail and the telephone. If passed, H.R. 4213 would increase penalties for mail fraud and would provide for criminal and civil forfeitures for such offenses. A list of the names of 70 graduates of a phony university is provided, including the degree received and the date, the method of payment and the amount, and the place of employment and position in the federal government of the phony-degree holders. (SW)