Job Discussion Forums

[PAULH]

It has come to our attention that at least two of our graduates and six other teachers not connected to our college have been approached by an individual calling himself Dr. Alan Hamilton. I believe he is contacting teachers who have posted themselves on different ESL websites. Once he has contacted female teachers and obtained their phone numbers he conducts a telephone interview and a line of questioning that is inappropriate and we believe, sexually motivated. These questions are asked under the assumption that the teachers would be working with disabled children and they would need to understand how these children would feel. The questioning often focuses on the interviewee's throat and her ability to make 'choking' and 'swallowing' sounds. This man then asks the women to send him inappropriate photos of themselves under the pretence of assessing their health.

Dr. Hamilton claims to represent a school called Bopinesl Inc. in various countries such as Kuwait, Greece, Costa Rica, China, the Czech Republic and Korea. He claims to be either in the country he is recruiting for or in England but he has an American accent. His e-mail address is [email protected]. When asked for information about the school or a website on the BOPINESL organization he declines to give any citing security and/or privacy issues. We encourage teachers not to deal with or contact this individual and not to give your telephone number to him. We also encourage people who have been contacted by Dr. Hamilton to report the incident to their local authorities. Should you have any questions or concerns about this I can be contacted at [email protected].
_________________
Ray O'Connell
Teacher Trainer / Alumni Coordinator
United TESOL
[email protected]

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[Big John Stud]

I can't believe anyone would give their phone number or personal information to someone they meet on this forum!

[phatktb]

First of all, I don't think it's fair to make a statement implying the stupidity of people he contacted. In cases such as mine and many other women, we have been victims of a sexual predator and surely you have more compassion than that.
Secondly, women around the world are beginning to tell their stories and expose the pervasiveness of sexual pretadors in their societies. Victims do not need further humiliation. This type of sexual violation is not mutual and is unwelcome. And in a forum such as this, where a woman may feel free to share her story, comments like yours make it difficult to feel comfortable. I ask that you please refrain from posting such comments that could hurt the victims of this predator.
It is hard enough knowing you have been assaulted by a man who you don't have chance in hell of finding, and it make its harder to take knowing there is no compassion to be found.

Sincerely,
Katie Bortolin

[Guy Courchesne]

Dr. Hamilton, also now known perhaps as Dr Peterson, is locating his victims on job posting boards, where people put up their resume, thereby taking advantage of a widespread service many of us use. First contact is by email, requesting a telephone interview, something that comes off as very normal.

There are numerous warnings about this person around the net and a sticky here on Dave's.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=23190

[Hoser]

[gaijinalways]

But remember the personal contact info would be on the resume. This is a serious problem, but it reminds me of the Nigerians that contacted me through the JALT position I had.

Someone contacting under the guise of a job related interview is worse, though I agree, but if the caller doesn't want to give his own contact information, that would have raised serious security flags with me.