(ECNS) – Some college students in northern China are paying impersonators to attend classes for them, according to a report by China Central Television (CCTV).
Such "imposter" services are allegedly present in several provinces, including Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, and Jilin.
In extreme cases, up to 10 percent of a class might be comprised of imposters.
A CCTV reporter attended a class on behalf of a student at the Harbin University of Science and Technology. The reporter found five other imposters in the room, but the teacher took no notice.
"Even if you are chosen to answer a question in class, it's ok to say you don't know," according to an imposter. "They (the teachers) don't really ask."
The CCTV report said the imposter students are running an organized business, and charge according to the duration of the class. Some agents charge five yuan to find an imposter for one class.
Four other randomly chosen universities also reported active imposter students.
Imposters operate on the Internet through chat rooms, and are sometimes referred to as "class substitutions." In return for money, they offer attendance service not only for classes, but also physical examinations and even for dormitory presence.
With about 1,200 members in one chat room, it takes minutes to make a deal, which might range from a one time service to long term contracts (monthly or even annually).
The chat rooms are active across multiple online platforms, including QQ groups, WeChat, and Baidu.
According to the report, demand for attendance service mostly comes from one of three types of students: wealthy kids who are unwilling to show up, students who have off-campus engagements, and occasional clients.
The supply is generally from junior and senior college students, who have fewer classes to attend and are open to earning some extra income.
