Fake diplomas from domestic and American “universities” continue to stir up trouble in the Chinese job market, despite growing media exposure. Some customers are aware of the fraud but are eager to take the shortcut; others did not realise they had been swindled until the organizer of their program disappeared. From The Economist:
As well as ripping off aspiring students, Chinese crooks also cater to businessmen who want to plump up their CVs. In April nine people stood trial in the capital charged with selling fake degree certificates from non-existent American colleges. They charged up to 190,000 yuan ($30,000) each, selling the diplomas mainly to corporate executives. The businessmen paid up, went to a few classes and received the diplomas, with no exam required.
[…] For those who cannot afford a degree from a fake foreign university, more than 100 fake Chinese universities now offer diplomas for sale. Many of them have websites and use names similar to those of real colleges.
[…] “Chinese people pay more attention to having a diploma than they do to having a real education,” says Mr Xiong. “A diploma is worth actual money, whereas an education is not.”
Read more about academic misconduct in China via CDT.
