Larry, W4CSC wrote:

Just like the Volunteer Examiner ham licenses, it wouldn't surprise me if
you
could buy one for $500 under the table.

I'm a Volunteer Examiner, Larry. I'd be seriously shocked if anybody
offered $500 instead of just taking and passing the very, very simple test.
Id be less surprised if some beautiful young woman offered me $500 for sex.
If somebody did offer to buy a license, I'd tell them to go take the QRZ
practice exams over and over til they regularly got 80% correct, then spend
the $500 on a rig and come take the exam.