A UK-based delivery driver who secretly completed university courses and online exams for students in exchange for money has been jailed for three years after investigators uncovered a massive academic fraud operation that generated more than £300,000 in illegal earnings.Shahid Adnan, 42, used his role as a private tutor to gain access to students’ university accounts, logging in on their behalf to complete assignments and sit exams. As Sky News reports, police believe up to 124 students from universities around the world may have been involved in the scheme, which allowed Adnan to accumulate substantial assets through his company Study Sharp Ltd, despite declaring employment as an Amazon delivery driver and tutor.Liverpool Crown Court heard that Adnan pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation, money laundering and hacking offences. A financial investigation found that £2.4 million of transactions were made through his PayPal and bank accounts, while forensic analysis revealed that he had earned at least £300,000 through fraudulent operations.Investigators said Adnan used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle. A search of his home revealed bundles of cash, expensive household items and white goods, as well as two high-value vehicles, an Audi and a BMW.The fraud came to light in March 2023 when a computer forensics student at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) submitted a pen drive for evaluation. While reviewing the device, a lecturer found material left by its previous owner Adnan and alerted the police. The files included students’ personal login details, coursework submission deadlines, and financial records.Subsequent inquiries by Merseyside Police revealed that Adnan was using students’ credentials to access university systems and complete academic work on their behalf. Investigators also uncovered evidence of payments he received from students who employed his services.During police interrogation, Adnan admitted to sitting the exam for a student and receiving £250 in payment. However, he claimed that he did not realize that he needed permission to access the university’s network.Detective Sergeant Adam Dagnall said the investigation revealed Adnan was able to log into student accounts and complete assessments while maintaining a lifestyle far in excess of his declared income. They warned that academic fraud poses serious risks because students can obtain qualifications and enter professional careers without the skills or knowledge that those qualifications are meant to represent.The Crown Prosecution Service said Adnan took deliberate steps to conceal the scale of his operation. Senior Crown prosecutor Andrew Madden said: “He created complex audit trails across multiple bank accounts to avoid detection and spent the proceeds of his crimes on luxury items to reduce the likelihood of repaying the money.”Madden described Adnan as “a fraudster who wanted more than his legitimate employment and turned to criminal activity in an effort to elude authorities.”After the sentencing, Liverpool John Moores University said: “The safeguards taken by our staff helped to identify misconduct and assisted the police investigation.” The university said: “We promote academic integrity, take all forms of academic dishonesty seriously and regularly review our assessment safeguards.”