If you don't have a few thousand yuan to buy an iPhone to keep up with your show-off friends, you can now spend much less to buy a service that makes contacts on QQ, a popular online chat network, think that you own the high-status Apple product.

A service that makes a user appear as if he or she has logged onto QQ via an iPhone has been selling well on Taobao, a major online marketplace.

A search for such services results in 1,251 entries. One of the online stores has sold 5,132 products in just one month.

The price for the service is about 2 yuan ($0.32) for one month, 10 yuan for six months, and 18 yuan for one year. Customers also need to provide their QQ username and password to the sellers.

China News Service reported that network safety experts warn netizens that it is dangerous to release their QQ username and password to others. Criminals could use the information to exploit people online.

College student Xiao Qin bought the service, claiming it would help him "have face", according to Changsha Evening News.

Liu Lijing, psychologist from Changsha Psychological Society, said some students see the expensive iPhones as a status symbol. The behavior shows that these children base their self-esteem on other people's evaluation of them.

Liu suggested parents guide children's behavior properly, and reduce competition, according to Changsha Evening News.