A gang of fake exam takers was arrested recently, accused of illegally taking exams for others in Hengshui, Hebei province, Beijing Evening News reported.

More than 100 people sat for an adult college entrance examination in October in place of actual candidates for the exam, who paid money to hire them, a story in the newspaper said.

The gang's leader, surnamed Cheng, found via the internet exam candidates who wanted to pay someone to take the exam for them.

Fees ranged between 2,000 yuan ($291) to 3,000 yuan.

Each fake exam taker earned 100 yuan ($15) to 500 yuan for taking the exam, the story said.

Impersonators hired to take the exams had to resemble the actual candidates.

The fake exam takers received special training on how to use a fake admission card for the exam, and how to react in case they were found out by test supervisors.

Police in Hengshui said the gang had more than 20 members, including college students who helped find fake exam takers at their schools.

In 2015, cheating on tests was written into China's criminal law.

People who take exams for someone else or help others to do so are punished according to the law.

Contact the writer at: zhangyu1@chinadaily.com.cn