Federal authorities announced the breakup Tuesday of a California-based immigration fraud ring that allowed Chinese exchange students who couldn’t pass English-language requirements to pay imposters to step in and take the tests for them.
Using fake Chinese passports, the imposters would stand in for the would-be students, passing the Test of English as a Foreign Language — a prerequisite for many schools before they’ll offer a foreign student admission, and therefore before they’re eligible for a student visa.
Prosecutors say six people were involved in the fraud scheme, taking at least 19 exams on behalf of others.
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Liu Cai, the alleged organizer, paid his fraudsters $400 per test, prosecutors said.
Mr. Cai and his team were indicted by a federal grand jury in California last week, and five of them were arrested Tuesday morning.
A sixth person is believed to be living in Taiwan.
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