A college student from a family with a three-story hotel pretended to be poor to fraudulently obtain first-class financial aid. The school recovered the funds and issued a demerit punishment.

Source: Nanchang Evening News

On March 23, a netizen revealed that students at Hebei Finance University allegedly fraudulently obtained national student-aid funds by fabricating their financial hardship. A screenshot of the most recent progress in handling the governor’s letterbox attached by the netizen shows that the student involved has had the relief funds already issued to him or her recovered and has been given a disciplinary warning.

According to the content of the screenshot, on February 20, 2026, a student surnamed Shen reported through the Hebei Provincial Letters and Visits Bureau the case that a student surnamed Zhang at Hebei Finance University had fraudulently obtained national student-aid funds.

Student Shen filed a real-name complaint against student Zhang: “He concealed his true family economic situation, fabricated financial hardship, and obtained 4,800 yuan in national student-aid funds. His family runs a three-story restaurant and has stable business income and asset conditions that are clearly higher than those of ordinary families, which fully fails to meet the eligibility requirements for applying for national student-aid funds. I urge the school to attach great importance to this, conduct a thorough investigation and deal with it severely, and uphold educational equity.”

Based on the school’s response in the screenshot, after receiving the tip, the school attached great importance, established a special working group, and took investigative measures such as reviewing student aid application materials, investigating the student, interviewing the parents, and conducting an on-site home visit. On February 17, 2026, it was determined that student Zhang had concealed his family’s economic situation. On February 19, 2026, in accordance with the school’s rules and regulations, the school made the following decisions: revoke his eligibility for evaluation of national student-aid, recover the student-aid funds that had already been issued to him, and issue a disciplinary warning.

On March 24, the reporter reached the complainant, student Shen, after several attempts. He said that the reply from the provincial governor’s letterbox mentioned above was true. He is in his third year at Hebei Finance University, and he reported a classmate, student Zhang. He said student Zhang hit someone and then played poor to fraudulently obtain national student-aid funds.

Student Shen said that on December 2 last year, a conflict arose over seat-taking. He was injured by his classmate Zhang, and immediately experienced discomfort such as dizziness and headaches. After examination, it was confirmed that he had injuries to his head and face, and soft-tissue contusions were found in his neck, waist, and back as well. He is still resting at home. Student Zhang received an administrative penalty from the police and was fined 500 yuan.

Student Shen receiving treatment at the hospital

In addition, student Zhang also “played poor” to fraudulently obtain 4,800 yuan in first-class national student-aid last year. He reported to the school in December. Although student Zhang has already been given corresponding punishments and handling by public security authorities and the school, this incident has caused serious negative impacts on his normal study and life; both his physical and mental well-being have suffered serious harm. Up to now, he has taken leave from school and is staying at his family home in Yingkou, Liaoning. He has already spent more than 80k yuan on medical expenses. Student Zhang has not apologized and has made no compensation. He has kept all the documents, and next he will sue student Zhang to seek civil compensation.

“Your举报 of student Zhang’s family running a three-story restaurant—how did you know about this?” In response to the reporter’s question, student Shen said he learned it from classmates, and he also checked it online, then told the reporter the specific address and name of that hotel.

The reporter found through an industrial and commercial database search that the three-story “grand hotel” mentioned by student Shen was just changed this March to a “restaurant,” and that the operator Zhang Qing had also changed to Zhao Mou.

A classmate of student Shen said that the student Zhang who hit someone recently also did not attend classes. The reporter called the operator Zhang Qing at the aforementioned grand hotel. The other party admitted that he is student Zhang’s father. When the reporter then asked about student Zhang’s current situation, the other party quickly hung up.

The reporter contacted Hebei Finance University’s general office and multiple other departments to ask about the matter. A staff member said that you should not trust one-sided information; everything should be based on official notifications. When the reporter asked where the official notification can be seen and when it will be issued, the other party said, “Check the school’s official website—it will be there. You just need to pay attention all the time.”

Source: Qilu Evening News, Jimu News

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