Hong Kong student uses beauty app to falsify exam results for university entry
Defendant, 22, pleads guilty to count of attempting to obtain services by deception after submitting fake copy of her DSE exam certificate
A Hong Kong student has admitted to using a beauty filter app’s image editing function to alter the university entrance exam result in her application to enrol in an undergraduate programme last year and improve her chances of admission.
Ng Tsz-ying, 22, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a count of attempting to obtain services by deception for submitting to the Education University of Hong Kong a fake copy of her certificate in the Diploma of Secondary Education examination.
Fanling Court heard how the accused uploaded an image of her certificate that appeared to show she had attained Level 3 in English, whereas she had only achieved Level 2.
The defendant secured an offer for the university’s English language studies bachelor's degree programme after passing an online interview in July last year.
The institution discovered the discrepancy after receiving Ng’s official DSE results from the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority the next month.
Ng admitted she had altered her digital certificate “for fun” before telling police she used the Chinese selfie app Meitu to improve her chances in the application process.