How can you tell if an online "school" is really a diploma mill? One way is to check the organization's accreditation status on the Department of Education's online database. You should also watch for common diploma mill indicators.

A new About.com article shares these common diploma mill warning signs:

• Prospective students are bombarded with extreme promises about the degree program.
• Students are given one bill for the degree instead of being charged tuition for each class or credit hour.
• The school's website has no phone number.
• The school's address is a P.O. Box or apartment number.
• Promotional materials focus heavily on credit for life experience.
• The school does not have a .edu web address.
• There are no names of deans, directors, or professors on the website.
• The school's name is very similar to the name of a traditional, well-known school.
• Degrees are awarded in a very short period of time - only a few weeks or months.
• The school claims to be accredited by an organization that is not listed as an accreditor approved by the Department of Education.