He gave himself a ‘Harvard MBA’ degree online: Lawyer breaks down the legal reality of doing so

The growing reliance on professional networking platforms has also raised questions about authenticity, and a recent case has intensified that debate. A man admitted to adding a Harvard MBA to his LinkedIn profile without ever earning the degree, sparking viral conversations about whether such misrepresentation is simply a harmless trick or a serious ethical and legal risk.

The Fake Harvard MBA Claim

In a post that quickly spread across social media, the user revealed that he “gave himself” a master’s degree on LinkedIn, saying there was no verification system to prevent it.

He went on to describe how the move attracted attention from recruiters and increased the number of direct messages he received. According to him, the response proved that academic titles could influence professional networking without any real scrutiny.

Legal Reality Check

The joke, however, prompted a strong response from legal experts. A U.S. attorney known as SMB Attorney took to X with a warning not to imitate such tactics. He described his post as legal advice, implying that although lying on a profile may not itself be unlawful, it carries the risk of damaging careers and reputations.

Other commentators clarified that while exaggerating or listing unverifiable credentials on a résumé is not directly illegal, fabricating official documents such as degrees or certificates would be a crime.

Reactions from Users and Recruiters

The incident quickly went viral, gathering millions of views within a short time. While some found the stunt darkly humorous, the majority condemned it as reckless and unethical. Several users compared the act to the storyline of the TV show Suits, in which a character falsely claims a Harvard law degree and faces dire consequences. Others pointed out factual errors in the post, such as incorrectly listing “Harvard” instead of Harvard Business School.

Recruiters also weighed in, noting that professional background checks typically verify educational records. One hiring manager highlighted that companies often use agencies like Sterling to confirm credentials, and while small discrepancies in dates may be tolerated, inventing an entire degree could cause long-term damage to credibility and job prospects.

Ultimately, the debate centered less on whether the stunt broke the law and more on its ethical implications.