Trade in fake language exam certificates has been flourishing over the past few years, national daily Magyar Hírlap said on Wednesday.
On August 20, eleven graduates of the Miklós Zrínyi University of National Defense were refused their degrees pending an investigation into whether they had submitted fake language certificates. Online classified site apronet.hu includes dozens of ads offering “to sort out” language exam certificates for those “who have no time to study”, said the paper. Certificates for a written language exam cost Ft 100,000-Ft 130,000 (around €370) and oral exam certificates are Ft 20,000 more.
An advertiser told the paper that the latest technology is used. With the help of tiny earphones and micro-cameras, the correct answers are dictated to students sitting the exam and doubles are used in the oral part. A police official told the paper that counterfeiting public documents may result in a three-year prison sentence, which also applies if someone uses a double for an exam and then submits the document as if it was theirs. The same applies to those who sell these services, the official added. (Econews)