Yan Zhen/ Shanghai Daily news

Educational authorities have moved to prevent a scam that sees local college hopefuls masquerading as overseas Chinese students in the hope of an easier entrance, Shanghai Daily reported.

From this year, only people who hold a foreign permanent residence permit and live abroad for at least two years between April 17, 2003, and April 17, 2007, are eligible to sign up as overseas students for the city's college entrance examinations.