Fake passports uncover TOEFL scam in Chiang Mai

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Fake passports uncover TOEFL scam in Chiang Mai

By The Nation

 

Chiang Mai police on Monday arrested two Chinese women who allegedly used fake passports to sit for a TOEFL exam on behalf of paying clients.

Jing Su, 22, and Jiang Jiang Xuan, 26 – the spellings a transliteration of their names from Thai as police heard them – were charged with using fake passport and visa stamps.

 

Chiang Mai Tourist Police chief Pol Col Adul Srijunta said his team was tipped off by Associate Professor Songphan Tantrakul, deputy dean of humanities at Chiang Mai University, who helps run the TOEFL (English as a foreign language) exams at the school.

 

Songphan noticed the two women sitting for Monday’s exam, which drew about 30 foreigners, and remembered them taking the test earlier. He said they used different names each time.

 

He summoned police, whose arrival while the exam was still underway prompted five sitters to flee. They were not caught.

Police said Jing’s passport allegedly carried the name “Xu Kashing” and Jiang’s was issued for a “Lin Xiying”.

 

They allegedly admitted being hired by Chinese agents to take the exam for others in exchange for 10,000 to 20,000 yuan (Bt50,000 to Bt100,000) plus travel fare to Thailand and other countries. This was the first time they’d been arrested.

 

They said they travelled using real passports but used fake ones when taking exams.

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-16

[edwardandtubs]

This is why the UK government doesn't recognise TOEFL or any ETS exam as a secure English test. IELTS exams require photographs and fingerprints so little chance of anything like this happening.

[nausea]

So a TOEFL is basically useless as far as the UK is concerned, and we can see why. Seven out of thirty, that's almost a quarter; it doesn't sound like it's a one off either, or restricted to Thailand.

[elektrified]

How could the cops let them get away? Sounds like an easy pursuit. No?

[brewsterbudgen]

1 hour ago, edwardandtubs said:

This is why the UK government doesn't recognise TOEFL or any ETS exam as a secure English test. IELTS exams require photographs and fingerprints so little chance of anything like this happening.

You'd be surprised!  Some IELTS candidates manage to sneak the answers in, sometimes written on their leg!  How they get hold of the answers is even more concerning...

[jspill]

15 minutes ago, elektrified said:

How could the cops let them get away? Sounds like an easy pursuit. No?

Young Chinese women... perhaps they were but agreed to some other 'arrangements' with police back at the station. 

[Meljames]

9 minutes ago, jspill said:

Young Chinese women... perhaps they were but agreed to some other 'arrangements' with police back at the station. 

 

Does seem they are willing to go to extremes for money.

[tonray]

2 hours ago, edwardandtubs said:

This is why the UK government doesn't recognise TOEFL or any ETS exam as a secure English test. IELTS exams require photographs and fingerprints so little chance of anything like this happening.

They have replaced TOEFL with the "Glasgow" exam, after listening to a tape of Scotsmen, if they can understand more than 20% of what was said, they fail.

[saminoz]

"Police said Jing’s passport allegedly carried the name “Xu Kashing” and Jiang’s was issued for a “Lin Xiying”."

Not so much about learning English, but all about the Cashing of cheques.

Ching Ching!

[Lucky mike]

Wong Wong Wong!

[BangkokReady]

I guess this is one occasion where "when in Rome" can get you into trouble.

[observer90210]

Such issues have been reported in western countries amongst students sitting for medical degree examinations.

 

Not suprising that it occurs for other branches that perhaps may have a lower level of scrutinity, that too in Thailand.

[edwardandtubs]

4 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

You'd be surprised!  Some IELTS candidates manage to sneak the answers in, sometimes written on their leg!  How they get hold of the answers is even more concerning...

Well then you need to look at their legs more closely! 

 

Any ideas how the answers are leaking? It's supposed to be a 'secure English language test' approved by the British government for visa purposes.

[Loaded]

1 hour ago, edwardandtubs said:

Well then you need to look at their legs more closely! 

 

Any ideas how the answers are leaking? It's supposed to be a 'secure English language test' approved by the British government for visa purposes.

IELTS tests are supposed to be conducted on the same day at different locations around the world but there may be a time difference between them. Hidden cameras (in pens for example) on candidates during early tests relayed to a coordinator.

 

However, cheating may only help you in the writing or reading components in an IELTS test. It would be difficult to cheat in the listening and speaking components. This means there would then be a suspicious 'jagged' profile. IE 2 components score significantly better than the other 2. A local 2nd examiner takes a look and this is also usually passed onto a senior examiner in London.

 

The British Council has put in checks to make it difficult for surrogates to take the test.

 

 

 

 

[chippendale]

5 hours ago, saminoz said:

"Police said Jing’s passport allegedly carried the name “Xu Kashing” and Jiang’s was issued for a “Lin Xiying”."

Not so much about learning English, but all about the Cashing of cheques.

Ching Ching!

[samsensam]

 

any decent and professional EFL establishment in the uk only accepts teaching qualifications obtained in the uk

[The Old Bull]

In BC Canada you can take an interpreter along when you do the written part of your drivers licence.

Unbelievable!

[Loaded]

11 hours ago, samsensam said:

 

any decent and professional EFL establishment in the uk only accepts teaching qualifications obtained in the uk

TOEFL is a language proficiency test for people planning to come to live or study in the UK. IE they can't take the test in the UK because they take the test to get the visa to go to the UK.

 

What does that have to do with teaching?

 

 

Edited October 17, 2017 by Loaded

[brewsterbudgen]

 
any decent and professional EFL establishment in the uk only accepts teaching qualifications obtained in the uk

What nonsense. CELTA and Trinity TESOL courses are accredited and can be taken all over the world.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Suzy]

22 hours ago, edwardandtubs said:

This is why the UK government doesn't recognise TOEFL or any ETS exam as a secure English test. IELTS exams require photographs and fingerprints so little chance of anything like this happening.

The TOEFL test requires a photograph of the examinee taken immediately prior to test commencement.

 

[Aussieroaming]

On 16 October 2017 at 1:48 PM, tonray said:

They have replaced TOEFL with the "Glasgow" exam, after listening to a tape of Scotsmen, if they can understand more than 20% of what was said, they fail.

That's why my dads nickname is "swahili jock" because when he has got a skinfull his Glaswegian accent comes to the fore and he might as well be speaking Swahili.

[overherebc]

On 16/10/2017 at 2:48 PM, tonray said:

They have replaced TOEFL with the "Glasgow" exam, after listening to a tape of Scotsmen, if they can understand more than 20% of what was said, they fail.

Haud yer wheesht. Itz no awe eh uz thit tok lik thaat so itz no.

If yeez canny unerstaun is itz yooz thiz iz shtoopit, rite.

[overherebc]

1 hour ago, overherebc said:

Haud yer wheesht. Itz no awe eh uz thit tok lik thaat so itz no.

If yeez canny unerstaun is itz yooz thiz iz shtoopit, rite.

One tries one's best.

[Ruffian Dick]

I'm sure they speak Engrish lear good.

[BuddyDean]

Chinese negotiating with songtaew driver in English is way worse than fingernails across the blackboard..

[smotherb]

On 10/16/2017 at 8:18 PM, Loaded said:

IELTS tests are supposed to be conducted on the same day at different locations around the world but there may be a time difference between them. Hidden cameras (in pens for example) on candidates during early tests relayed to a coordinator.

 

However, cheating may only help you in the writing or reading components in an IELTS test. It would be difficult to cheat in the listening and speaking components. This means there would then be a suspicious 'jagged' profile. IE 2 components score significantly better than the other 2. A local 2nd examiner takes a look and this is also usually passed onto a senior examiner in London.

 

The British Council has put in checks to make it difficult for surrogates to take the test.

 

 

 

 

Seems if you had the technology for a video-capable pen, you could have an transmitter/receiver-capable earpiece.

Edited November 28, 2017 by smotherb

[paz]

On 10/17/2017 at 12:16 AM, The Old Bull said:

In BC Canada you can take an interpreter along when you do the written part of your drivers licence.

Unbelievable!

Why? In California there are alternate languages form, and  I'm sure you appreciate you can take the test in English here.

The idea is that language barriers are not a deterrent to learn on road law's and be licensed.

 

[wakeupplease]

My My another P fatman B scam coming to a place near you, paul give it up you are giving us farangs a bad name here. Greedy sod eat out Portugal, now here to make us poor Brits look bad.

[brewsterbudgen]

Seems if you had the technology for a video-capable pen, you could have an transmitter/receiver-capable earpiece.

In IELTS you have to use the pencil provided.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[smotherb]

18 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

In IELTS you have to use the pencil provided.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Only referencing what was said, so use video glasses then.