China tackles growing identity crisis

In fact, Wang had passed the college entrance exam, but the letter offering her a place at university in 2003 was intercepted by the father of another student, a girl called Zhang Yingying, who then attended college under Wang's name. When she graduated Zhang was presented with a certificate that carried her photo but showed Wang's name and ID number. After graduation, she landed a job as a teacher at a vocational school.

When the Zhoukou police investigated the case, they discovered that Wang's enrollment letter had not been delivered to her home in the city's Shenqiu county, but had instead been handed over to Zhang's father in nearby Shangshui county.

When the investigators uncovered the fact that Zhang had failed the college entrance exam in 2003, her father, Zhang Heting, confessed that he had bribed the teacher in charge of mailing enrollment letters to obtain Wang's. He then bribed police officers to obtain a fake ID card and hukou for his daughter.

Now, 13 people alleged to have been involved in the case have been detained, and three of them - those said to have fabricated false hukou certificates - are under further investigation.

Despite her relief, Wang was still dissatisfied. "I left my home address and phone number with the public security bureau in 2003, and there were plenty of other ways they could have contacted me, so how could such a drama still happen? How could the fake ID card and hukou exist for such a long time?" she said.

Since the case was resolved, the mother of two has regained her confidence and has studied the law related to identity issues.

As a result of the case, Wang appeared on television many times, piquing the curiosity of her 7-year-old daughter.

"She kept asking me why I was on the TV. I couldn't explain, I just told her to study hard and go to college. I still believe knowledge can change a person's destiny," she said.

Now, 13 years after her name was stolen, Wang still wants to study at university and is determined to fulfill her ambition.

Ongoing deception

Unlike Wang, Liu is awaiting the results of further investigations into her case.

In late September, Liu and her husband tried to buy a car, but she was told that her identity information was incorrect. "To my surprise, an online identity system showed another woman's photo on my ID card," she said.