We’re guessing the first thing you learn in ethics class is that it’s unethical to pretend to be somebody else when taking a mandatory ethics class.
Real estate agent Ang “Leon” Li wouldn’t know, since, as Canada’s CTV News reports, he sent a family member to take an online ethics course in his place while pretending to be him.
Li was required to take the course hosted by the B.C. Financial Services Authority. But when the person purporting to be Li signed onto the meeting, which was being held on Microsoft Teams, “BCFSA education staff was concerned that the participant was not Mr. Li,” according to a consent order.
“Staff obtained an online photo of Mr. Li that matched his licensing information, and upon examination of the photo, staff remained suspicious that the participant was not, in fact, Mr. Li,” the order reads.
When asked to confirm their identity, the mystery participant claimed their phone was broken, and signed off the meeting before the course had concluded.
Li, meanwhile, maintained it was actually him in the meeting, and chalked up any discrepancy in his appearance to “allergies, lack of sleep, and sickness.” Unconvinced, the BCFSA elected to suspended Li’s real estate license, but it was later renewed.
Upon a follow-up inquiry by the BCFSA compliance and enforcement department, Li continued to claim he attended the course. He maintained that he was sick, and added that his home was hit by a power outage, which would explain his inability to communicate during the meeting.
After some back-and-forth, Li finally fessed up to having a family member take the course for him. His license has since been canceled.
Ethics, as it turns out, are quite important.