China's Ministry of Education warned students Thursday to beware of fake university diplomas sold overseas, sometimes by internet in countries such as Germany, France and Singapore.

"The ministry is strengthening efforts to authenticate foreign diplomas of Chinese returning from study abroad in order to crack down on forged diplomas and illegal practices," said a ministerial official.

Overseas Chinese embassies have asked Chinese students to report any case involving selling or purchasing forged diplomas and are urging them to register at the local Chinese embassy as soon as they arrive at an overseas school so that the school and the future diploma can be authenticated as quickly as possible.

Chinese students often seek advice on the validity of degrees issued by overseas schools before they go abroad to avoid fraud.

Since 1978, more than 400,000 Chinese students have studied abroad, with more than 100,000 returning to the country over the last two decades.

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