No. They are real.
But the problem is that they even do not know what to do with this 5000.
Some people even do not know what the 5000 means.
What I heard is that US IRS give China a whole (long) list about
the F1 student who have $5000 in Tax season 2001. and the people
in China do not know what the heck US want to do. And they just try do
something ....
Anyway, is there anybody pay tax in CHina for this 5000?
I do not think so.