In Ningde, Fujian, a Hunan man bought 245,000 counterfeit certificates for 28,000 RMB, intending to sell as scrap paper. Police arrested him; he received 2 years 8 months imprisonment and an 8,000 RMB fine.

Social Context

Fake certificate trafficking violates China’s ‘Criminal Law’ Article 280, with penalties escalating based on volume and intent. The ‘Certificate Verification Platform’—linked to 36 government databases—now enables instant authenticity checks, reducing demand and aiding law enforcement in tracing supply chains across provinces.

Safety Tip

Verify all official certificates via the issuing authority’s official website or WeChat mini-program before acceptance or payment.