Scholars among victims of 'ghostwriter' cheat
By Li Qian |
May 22, 2012, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
PROFESSIONALS and academicians were among the 50 people who were cheated of nearly 2 million yuan (US$316,400) by a crook who claimed he could hire renowned experts to ghostwrite for them and, thereby, facilitate their promotion.
The suspect, surnamed Wang, who did not even have a university degree, established a website called "English International Essay" through a foreign server in the beginning of 2011. He publicized online ads, claiming he could contact ghostwriters from abroad and at home even though he simply plagiarized other people's papers from the Internet.
Dozens of scholars from Sichuan, Zhejiang and Shandong provinces fell victim to the scam because they needed high-quality papers in their quest for a higher professional title, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.
A higher professional title brings higher pay and better reputation. But applicants have to publish high-quality papers or pass exams to secure a senior title. Therefore, some not-so-proficient scholars seek ghostwriters or bribe paper reviewers to climb up the academic ladder.
Wang said he lured people into paying 40,000 yuan for an essay by claiming "our website has helped many clients to get higher professional titles."
In a bid to "make his business appear legal" and win their trust, Wang drew up contracts ruling a client should pay 30 percent when the abstract is done, pay another 40 percent when the essay is done and pay the last 30 percent once the paper is published.
The swindler was arrested in Hunan and some of the victims have been identified. But they refused to admit their lapse, claiming it might ruin their career prospects and academic reputation.
The suspect, surnamed Wang, who did not even have a university degree, established a website called "English International Essay" through a foreign server in the beginning of 2011. He publicized online ads, claiming he could contact ghostwriters from abroad and at home even though he simply plagiarized other people's papers from the Internet.
Dozens of scholars from Sichuan, Zhejiang and Shandong provinces fell victim to the scam because they needed high-quality papers in their quest for a higher professional title, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.
A higher professional title brings higher pay and better reputation. But applicants have to publish high-quality papers or pass exams to secure a senior title. Therefore, some not-so-proficient scholars seek ghostwriters or bribe paper reviewers to climb up the academic ladder.
Wang said he lured people into paying 40,000 yuan for an essay by claiming "our website has helped many clients to get higher professional titles."
In a bid to "make his business appear legal" and win their trust, Wang drew up contracts ruling a client should pay 30 percent when the abstract is done, pay another 40 percent when the essay is done and pay the last 30 percent once the paper is published.
The swindler was arrested in Hunan and some of the victims have been identified. But they refused to admit their lapse, claiming it might ruin their career prospects and academic reputation.
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