A MAN who allegedly pretended to be a professor to swindle 114,000 yuan (US$16,700) from an uncle keen to get his niece into a good university was charged with fraud yesterday.
　　
　　Gu Bin, 59, claimed he was a Spanish professor at Shanghai International Studies University, and victim He Qiguo was worried about his niece Xiao Yan, said Minhang District prosecutors.
　　
　　Her mother died in a traffic accident when the girl was preparing for college entrance exams in 2006. He felt sorry for her.
　　
　　Gu suggested she apply to Shanghai International Studies University but Xiao Yan's marks weren't good enough.
　　
　　When He met Gu at a banquet, Gu told him that the university president surnamed Dai was an old classmate. Gu said he would visit Dai's home in person but it might cost 100,000 yuan.
　　
　　To win He's trust, Gu showed him student registration forms from another university, saying that he had helped them to win places, prosecutors said.
　　
　　He agreed and gave Gu 4,000 yuan at first to buy gifts.
　　
　　However, his niece's name was not in the admission list for August 2006. Gu told him there was some trouble but promised to get his niece enrolled in January 2007. He asked for money to help develop relationships with officials, and He gave Gu a total of 114,000 yuan, according to prosecutors.
　　
　　When Xiao Yan's name was again missing from the January list of enrollments, He asked Gu for the money back. Gu said he'd spent it all, so He reported the matter to police.
　　
　　Gu, who has been jailed twice for fraud, told police he didn't know the university president at all. Gu thought the scheme would pay off his gambling debts.