Identity theft: Chinese ex-soldier finds out about the 23-year career he never had

After leaving the army in 1995 Wu Ruihua tried to get a job with his local government but was repeatedly rejected

In October he discovered that the position he wanted had been filled by an impostor … whose wife was head of human resources

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Wu Ruihua served with the People’s Liberation Army from 1992-95. Photo: Weibo

Published: 7:59pm, 5 Dec 2019Updated: 8:10pm, 5 Dec 2019

A former soldier from central China has cried foul after discovering he was the victim of identity theft more than 23 years ago, costing him a steady and well-paid job with his local government.

Wu Ruihua, from Dancheng county in Henan province, served with the People’s Liberation Army from 1992-95. After leaving the service he worked in various jobs, including as a farmer and an odd-job man, and most recently as a painter and decorator, the mobile app Shangyou News reported on Wednesday.

But in October, the 47-year-old made a surprising discovery. While looking through a list of retired soldiers who had been found work by the military veterans affairs bureau in Dancheng, Wu saw his name beside a note saying he had landed a job in 1996.

Wu says he has missed out on more than two decades of steady work. Photo: Weibo

It is common in China for local authorities to find work for servicemen and women within government organisations or state-owned companies after they leave the armed forces.

But Wu’s job was news to him. So he began to investigate.