Fraud Policy

Overview 

Ivy Index Score (“Ivy Index” “Organization” or “our”) takes application fraud, misrepresentations, or other inappropriate acts or omissions in connection with an application using our services seriously. Ivy Index reserves the right to monitor and investigate alleged fraud perpetrated on our websites, our mobile phone applications, our portals, etc (collectively “our Products”). This includes but may not be limited to alleged fraud that Ivy Index  identifies or allegations of fraud by a Reporting Individual or Reporting Member. 

Ivy Index’s Terms of Use Policy expressly prohibits Registered Users from using our Products for any  fraudulent, unlawful, deceptive, or other harmful or injurious purposes, including but not limited to the  transmission of materially inaccurate or untrue information through the Products. Consistent with Ivy Index’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, in our sole discretion, Ivy Index reserves the right to limit,  restrict, or terminate access to the Products by any Registered User alleged to have engaged in Fraud or  other misuses on a temporary or permanent basis. Ivy Index also reserves the right to disclose  information from or about a Registered User or in connection with an application as required by law and  consistent with our Privacy Policy, which can be accessed here.  

Scope 

This policy applies to all Registered Users, Reporting Individuals, and Reporting Members of Ivy Index’s  Products. 

Fraud 

Ivy Index defines Fraud as an intent to deceive, mislead, or otherwise perpetuate misinformation upon  a Ivy Index member regarding the candidacy of a student-applicant. An alleged act of Fraud generally occurs, for example, when information is entered by a Registered User into the Products  intending to deceive or mislead a member. Fraud may occur in the following circumstances, without  limitation: 

i. Submitting fabricated or materially misleading letters of recommendation;

ii. Submitting fabricated, untrue, or otherwise inaccurate transcripts and/or test scores;

iii. Submitting plagiarized essays or other written or oral material, or intentionally misrepresenting as  one’s own original work: (1) another person’s thoughts, language, ideas, expressions, or  experiences or (2) the substantive content or output of an artificial intelligence platform,  technology, or algorithm; 

iv. Materially misrepresenting an individual’s background, role, job title, or other qualifications; v. Perpetuating a false identity and/or using fictitious or materially inaccurate applicant, counselor,  or recommender contact information; and/or 

vi. Circumventing the use of official counselor communication channels. 

Registered User 

An individual who opts to register an account using the Ivy Index Products and agrees to provide  accurate, complete, and up-to-date information submitted through the Ivy Index Products. Registered  Users may include, for example, student applicants (or their parent or guardian, as  applicable), counselors, teachers, advisors, or other professionals who work with applicants. 

Reporting Individual or Member

An individual who reports to Ivy Index an instance of Fraud or alleged Fraud by an applicant or other  Registered User in connection with an application. These individuals may include, without limitation, an 

applicant’s counselor, recommender, high school representative, school advisor, parent or guardian; a  government agency or other public authority; a Registered User; an employer or scholarship sponsor, or other relevant third parties. 

Identification and/or Report of Alleged Fraud 

Ivy Index is committed to creating a Product that ensures access, equity, and  integrity for Ivy Index members, applicants, and  recommenders. When Ivy Index identifies or receives a report of alleged Fraud from any Reporting Individual or Member, Ivy Index will adhere to the following steps: 

Ivy Index will provide written notice to the Registered User alleged of fraud. This notice shall  state that Ivy Index received an allegation of fraud from [the source identified by name] in  connection with an application and is taking reasonable efforts to determine if Ivy Index’s  Terms of Use have been violated. 

Upon such reasonable efforts to investigate whether the alleged fraud occurred, Ivy Index may  communicate with the Reporting Member or the Reporting Individual to share information about  the investigation, as appropriate under the circumstances. 

Ivy Index will subsequently share our determination regarding the investigation of the alleged  fraud with the accused Registered User. If Ivy Index determines that Fraud has occurred,  Ivy Index will notify the Registered User and provide the basis for the fraud determination. 

A Registered User who receives notice that Ivy Index has determined a violation of our Terms  of Use occurred shall be provided an opportunity to appeal Ivy Index’s decision within ten (10)  business days from the date of Ivy Index’s written notice by submitting a written statement  and any relevant supporting documentation refuting the Fraud determination or otherwise  explaining the circumstances around the misconduct. 

Within fourteen (14) business days of receiving a Registered User’s statement and supporting  documentation, Ivy Index will review the Registered User’s submission and, as applicable,  contact relevant parties for additional information or take other actions as deemed appropriate. 

Subsequent to the conclusion of the 14-day review period, Ivy Index will make a final  determination regarding whether the Registered User has violated our Terms of Use or  committed Fraud as defined in this Policy and will communicate its findings to the Registered  User and Reporting Individual in writing. 

Other Considerations 

Ivy Index does not guarantee confidentiality or anonymity to any Reporting Individual. In making  reasonable efforts to investigate if an alleged Fraud occurred, Ivy Index will maintain confidentiality to  the greatest extent possible. In Ivy Index’s sole discretion, Ivy Index may disclose or withhold the  name of a Reporting Individual or Reporting Member from disclosure to the Registered User who is alleged  of Fraud and/or other relevant parties.

Upon request by a Reporting Member or on our own volition, Ivy Index may, in our sole discretion and  consistent with our Privacy Policy, disclose to the members on the Registered  User’s “My Applications List” that Registered User’s name and Ivy Index’s findings regarding the  Registered User’s alleged conduct. 

Ivy Index will not facilitate dialogue or information sharing amongst the Reporting Member or  Reporting Individual, student-applicant, other members, or related third parties. 

Ivy Index does not require members to report to us every instance of alleged Fraud, but members may  do so consistent with the member’s own internal fraud detection protocols. 

Ivy Index also will not independently judge, evaluate, conduct any verification of, or perform an  investigation on any information provided on or about a student-applicant and/or application from a  Reporting Member, except to the extent required to address misuse of the Ivy Index Products  consistent with this Policy and our Terms of Use. Any determination made or action taken with regard to  the disposition of an application by a third party for any reason is undertaken solely  at the discretion and risk of the member. 

Actions Subsequent to a Fraud Determination 

Registered Users who have been determined to have engaged in Fraud will be immediately notified by  Ivy Index in writing, via their registered email account of the Fraud determination and subsequent  actions resulting from such a determination. 

Ivy Index in its sole discretion may take action as a result of a Fraud determination which may include  permanent suspension, temporary suspension, or termination of their Ivy Index user account, and  disclosure of the Fraud to the Registered User’s “My Applications List.”