A French academic is facing investigation after allegedly creating a fake international prize and awarding it to himself to strengthen his professional reputation.
Florent Montaclair, who taught in Besançon in eastern France, is accused of setting up a non-existent organization called the International Society of Philology. He reportedly used it to create the “Gold Medal of Philology” and then claimed to receive it in 2016 at a ceremony held at the French National Assembly in Paris.
Philology, the study of language through written texts, was central to Montaclair’s academic career.
How the Fake Award Came to Light
By the following year, he was claiming to have won the award. The situation escalated when Montaclair later presented an honorary medal to US linguist Noam Chomsky at an event in Brussels. Videos and an official website for the so-called society circulated online, listing historical laureates dating back decades, including well-known intellectuals.
However, journalists later noticed inconsistencies. The website appeared unprofessional, and many claims could not be verified.
Fake Institutions and CV Claims
Investigations revealed that Montaclair also claimed a doctorate from a so-called “University of Philology and Education” supposedly based in Delaware, United States. No evidence of such an institution exists.
Authorities now believe both the academic society and the university were entirely fictional, created to support his credentials.
Investigation and Academic Suspension
Officials are also examining whether the false award helped Montaclair advance his academic career.His university has suspended him while the investigation continues.
Montaclair reportedly told police that the medal was real in form but privately commissioned, and he denied any intent to commit fraud, describing the project as an unsuccessful attempt to create a new academic distinction.
The investigation is still ongoing.
