Scam warning
Here's a well-used teacher scam that's doing the rounds.
I just wanted to warn everybody that there is a new teaching scam going around, in fact this is the FOURTH variation I have seen of the e-mail reproduced below. The scam always follows the same pattern - a wife who can't speak English, a job offer and a very attractive UK salary. I have no doubt that further down the line anyone interested in this 'position' will have to fork out cash to process paperwork or some similar bullshit.
As a footnote, although the e-mail states that the resume was taken from the ajarn database, I very much doubt it. The ajarn resume database is pay-per-view and scammers are rarely/never willing to pay for contact names and e-mails. Why should they when there are plenty of databases where access to teacher resumes is free?
Anyway, here's the e-mail.
Dear Teacher,
My name is _________________. I am from Germany working currently with (usually an impressive corporate address is inserted here)
I need a professional ESL teacher like you to come and teach my beloved Wife English.
I and my wife wedded last April 2009 and she joined me here in Scotland last May 2009 to start living with me.
She is inability to understand English language to communicate with the people here in the UK that is why I urgently need your attention here to start teaching her English to enable her start communicating with the people here in the UK..
I saw your CV at http://www.teflasia.com and like it that is why I have contacted you.
Requirements for the position includes:
1. Any Certificate obtained as an Applicant with English teaching experience (Bachelors Degree and above).
2. Your recent photo.
3. Your phone number with your country code for proper conversation.
4. Once again your updated CV.
Salary: Monthly salary of GBP3,850.00 will be paid to you on the 20th day of every month and relocation package fee of GBP1,500.00 at the beginning of the contract, including monthly health insurance fee of GBP360.00 and vacation fee of GBP1,700.00 for any upcoming vacation.
As a qualified applicant, I want you to do contact me at once with requirements mentioned above for evaluation through my personal email address at (e-mail address is inserted here) so that we can proceed with the contract.
Comments
The warning of scams is a well rehearsed procedure on many sites, but the bottom line is don’t part with money. Dirk admittedly states that he was ‘stupid’ and not looking as closely as he should have been doing and Beveson says that by using my logic of not parting with money would mean that kids might not get the education they deserve. I scratch my head at the second statement and suggest that the use of logic and a smattering of common sense might well make the difference between now “happily working in China” and losing 800 GBP.
We get paid to work and it might be best to be instantly suspicious of over the top salaries, the appalling use of English and money up front in any employment offer. There is nothing complicated about not parting with money, giving out your credit card details or being wary of offers to part with your money from someone you have never seen on the other side of the world.
I wish you both well and would say to Dirk; don’t give up trying, make this a once in a life time lesson and simply be more careful. There are lots of genuine offers out there and having found the right one you won’t regret it.
By Ian, China on 2011-11-13
Well you can say all you want but anybody can be scammed if you are not looking as close as you should to all the details. Yes I was stupid and got caught in the scam and even tried to do research to check into background and other info. My Dr. Was a Dr. Lin with his wife and children from Tibet. They had moved to the UK and needed someone to teach wife and kids English. Now I know how hard is it to find an English teacher in and English speaking cow try? Well I looked past that thinking for the pay it may not be enough for a teacher living in the UK. So I moved on. I went to the website for work Visas to see what I needed to do. I saw a part about having maintenance money to live on until your first pay came in. So when I was asked to wire money in my own name to be picked up by me upon arrival I thought it was fine. Well a false ID later and I am without a job and out £800.00 to these thieves. I guess my need for a better job and a chance to make a difference blinded me to the truth. I can’t get my money back and my pride is in the crapper and I am learning not to be as open and trusting of others. I hope I can move past this and maybe go back abroad and teach again. Lesson learned.
By Dirk642, Washington US on 2011-11-11
I am and have been happily working in China for the past year. I was also given my foreign expert certificate and have my Z visa. I am the only North American teacher my school has ever had. Were I or anyone else to used your logic, Ian, these kids may not have the opportunity to get the education they are getting now. Your use of ad hominem fallacy only serves to dissuade people from warning others of the scams out there.
By Beveson, China on 2011-08-09
This one is years old! 3000 GBP a month for teaching in the UK and they wanted me to travel back to an English speaking country to do it? As if there weren’t enough people there to teach English already?
I have to say that if you fall for this sort of nonsense, (ip address was Nigeria), you really don’t want to be travelling far from the UK hand holding nanny state and shouldn’t be this far afield in the first place.
By Ian, Thailand on 2011-08-09
These people contacted my son off a legitimate board and as he just graduated was not aware of the scam. Once they wanted money even though sent to him through Western Union in the UK and they said he would pick it up from Western Union we felt something was wrong. Now going back through everything the guys place of business was not real clear and did not have a regular website, the phone was not clear when he called. My son contacted the legitimate board and they emailed back right away that it was a scam. Welcome to the real world!
I then remembered a friend doing a search for scams and this site popped right up so everyone should know they are still at it but the pay is not as good as the other offers. Just 500pds a week. Hope this helps others!
By Dan, USA on 2010-07-08