Phony Professor Bases Career on Lies, Gets Caught

Former University of Oregon professor, Bill Hillar, made off with large sums of money while teaching under false pretenses for ten years. According to an affidavit released by the FBI, the phony claimed to be an American war hero and the father of a kidnapped daughter, whose story was used as a basis of the 2008 film Taken, starring Liam Neeson. Except in his story, the daughter was killed by slavers.

The FBI found that the 66-year-old instructor had been teaching, leading workshops, giving speeches and conducting training for almost 40 public and private-sector clients across the county “for at least the past 10 years under fraudulent pretenses.”

His cover was finally blown last year when his credentials came under question of student veterans who found his mannerisms suspicious and unbecoming of a retired U.S. Special Forces army colonel.

During his time as a professor, Hillar earned over $100,000 for his teaching and speaking stints. He even conducted training through a small business called Bill Hillar Training and ran a website to promote his business.

If convicted, Bill is can expect to spend 20 years in the slammer. Perhaps he’ll have some genuine stories to tell once he’s out of prison.