It has emerged that copies of RGU degrees even contained faked signatures from chancellor Sir Ian Wood and principal Professor William Stevely, the Sunday Times reported.

Other institutions being targeted include St Andrews University, Glasgow University and Edinburgh University.

Aberdeen and Donside MSP Mark McDonald said: “The ability of people to purchase scam qualifications purporting to be from well regarded universities such as RGU and Aberdeen University is a real concern.“

The information has come to light after a Sunday newspaper claimed that one website sold over 3,000 fake qualifications from various education establishments to UK-based buyers between 2013 and 2014.

These included degrees, doctorates and PhDs.

One site boasted to customers: “Forget about boring and exhausting courses, you can obtain a degree from the comfort of your home without studying, making projects and taking exams.”

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: “As most of these websites are operated from abroad, the Scottish government has limited powers to intervene.

“However, we will always work with the UK government and others to do what we can to disrupt their activities.

“The fact is people who buy fake degree certificates and diplomas from these websites are cheating themselves.

“Anyone using them to their own advantage would be committing fraud, which carries penalties of up to an unlimited fine and life imprisonment.”

Employers are able to verify an applicant’s claims of grades obtained through Higher Education Degree Datacheck (HEDD) which can confirm university records.

Earlier this year, its chief executive Jayne Rowley revealed only 20% of UK employers currently run proper checks on applicants’ qualifications.

Liberal Democrat leader Ian Yuill said: “The sale online of fake degrees purporting to come from major universities can cause real problems for employers, university graduates and the universities themselves.

“I am sure that both Robert Gordon University and the University of Aberdeen will be doing all they can to tackle this.

“Whilst policing the internet is very challenging, I hope the Government is working with international agencies to track down and close down websites selling fake degrees.”