How to avoid scams when ordering a diploma
In Latvia (and beyond), the market for custom theses is full of both honest professionals and outright scammers. We've compiled 7 of the most reliable red flags based on real student cases from LU, RTU, RSU, Turība, and other universities over 2024–2026. If you spot even 2–3 of them – run and don't spend a single cent.
1. Too Low a Price + "100% Uniqueness and Guaranteed Defense"
The average fair price in Latvia for a quality bachelor's thesis (bakalaura darbs) is €350–650, and for a master's (maģistra darbs) – €500–900 (including revisions, presentation, and guarantees). If someone offers a "full thesis done for you for €150–250" – it's almost always pure AI generation (ChatGPT/Gemini), copy-paste, or junk. After checking in Plag.lv, Turnitin, or your university's anti-plagiarism system, the work will come back with 30–60% uniqueness → reworking it will cost 2–3 times more.
2. They Demand 100% (or Most of) the Payment Upfront
Honest authors/agencies work on this schedule:
20–40% prepayment (to start the work)
30–40% after delivering the draft/chapters
Remainder after full delivery and anti-plagiarism check
If they say "pay the full amount right away because the author urgently needs money/materials/motivation" – 99% chance you'll get scammed. Fraudsters often vanish after the first transfer.
3. No Real Examples of Work on Your Specific Topic and Field
"I'll send examples later," "all examples are confidential," "just look at our reviews" (with only 5 identical-looking photos) – classic scam. A reliable author will always show 2–3 examples exactly in your field (economics, IT, law, medicine, etc.), including the title page, outline, text fragments, and an anti-plagiarism screenshot. If they refuse – walk away.
4. They Rely Solely on AI Without Editing and Can't Discuss Content Properly
In 2026, this is one of the most common tricks: the author promises "100% uniqueness," but delivers raw AI text. Red flags:
They send a draft in 1–2 days (even for an 80-page master's thesis)
Typical AI signs in the text: repetitive phrases ("It is important to note that…", "In the modern world…", "It can be concluded that…" repeated 5–7 times per page), no references to Latvian sources (CSB, Eurostat, Latvijas Banka, recent articles from LU/RSU), odd phrasing in Latvian/English
When asked "Why did you choose this particular analysis method?" or "How does this align with the RTU/LU guidelines?" – silence, excuses, or "I'll explain later"
If the author can't properly discuss your topic's content – the work is definitely AI copy-paste that the committee will spot in 5 minutes during defense or pre-defense.
5. They Pressure You with Urgency and Create Artificial Hype
"50% discount only today," "last slot this week," "prices double tomorrow," "if you don't pay now – we won't make it"… This is a psychological tactic to stop you from thinking and checking. Real authors are busy but give you 1–2 days to decide without pressure.
6. No Contract, No Guarantees, and Vague Revision Terms
A good agency/author always offers:
A simple contract (electronic or paper)
Guarantee of free revisions based on supervisor comments (at least 2–3 rounds)
Staged delivery deadlines
Check on a specific anti-plagiarism system (Plag.lv, Turnitin, etc.)
If it's "no contract needed, just transfer to the card" or "revisions cost extra" – huge risk.
7. The Author Doesn't Know the Specifics of Latvian Universities and 2025–2026 Guidelines
Each Latvian university has its own nuances:
LU requires more theory and Latvian-language sources
RTU emphasizes calculations, diagrams, LVS standards
RSU focuses on medical/pharmaceutical terminology and research ethics
Turība/RSU often involve business plans and Latvian company case studies
Red flags:
They offer a "universal" outline without asking about your university
They don't know which anti-plagiarism system your university uses (many switched to an updated Turnitin version in 2025–2026)
They can't answer "What volume and structure does your university's 2026 guideline require?"
If the executor isn't familiar with the Latvian academic landscape – the work won't pass the supervisor's or committee's review without major rework.
If anything doesn't add up – it's better to spend an extra day finding a reliable author than to lose money and time on fixes.
Need help finding a verified executor for your university and field? Write to us – we'll match options with real examples and guarantees in 10–15 minutes.
Good luck with your defense – may your thesis go smoothly, honestly, and with a high grade!