Job Discussion Forums

jonniboy · Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 4:40 pm Post subject: Another scam? Mondragonlingua

While Mondragonlingua seems to be a real and reputable company the ad posted for them on other sites seems to be a clear scam.

"Leading language school Mondrag�n Lingua seeks to appoint both Non EU and EU language Teachers for 3,500EUR/Monthly. We find you private accommodation. We assist you to obtain EU Visa/Work permit."

Sounds very suspect to me. Approach with caution and do not under any circumstances send money for "visa processing", "deposit on accommodation" or "commitment fee."

ochi · Joined: 24 Jul 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Canada

Do I feel silly! I'm new to this field and I applied to this ad but I still had a feeling something was too good to be true. Anyhow, if anyone wants more details, let me know. The last email from them should suffice though.

Please enjoy:
Mondragon Lingua

ATTACHED IS A COPY OF YOUR CONTRACT LETTER AND THE SCHOOL WORKING DETAILS.

FOR YOUR VISA/WORK PERMIT , YOU ARE ASK TO CONTACT (Atty Lawrence Gon�alo at Inmigraci�n de Espa�a Email: [email protected] ) FOR AN ASSISTANCE.

GOTTA love this! I just feel like a fool that someone has my resume with all my details!!

BUT Pls do not waste your time with MONDRAGON LINGUA!

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

The bottom line on all these scams is that, if you have an EU passport, you don't need a visa. If you don't have an EU passport, they CAN'T get you a visa - so it's automatically a scam.

ochi · Joined: 24 Jul 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Canada

No it's not that simple. I do have an EU passport and stated that on my application. They didn't ask for any funds for a visa.

You can just tell the emails are not professional and the wording is too generic.

I also contacted the tel. # and it does not receive incoming calls.

I attempted to call the actual school on the website and there was a vmail each time.

I'm beginning to wonder about the school itself.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I think they'll have been after you because you're in Canada, and they were expecting/hoping you'd be gullible enough to pay for 'visa assistance.' They probably lost interest when (if) they realised that you wouldn't fall for this, because you don't need a visa.

Though I agree with you about the language in the emails, too.

TarynM83 · Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 3

I am grateful that I googled "Mondragon Lingua" and came across these posts!

I'm also a newbie & received a contract on 8/22 from Mondragon Lingua. I knew it seemed too goo to be true! Guess I just didn't want to believe it!

The school website seems legitimate:

http://www.mondragonlingua.com/

I found a legitimate-looking job offer for the same school from 2007. The requirements are much different:

http://www.esljob.org/esl-job.php?job=214

I've emailed the US Embassy in Spain about the job offer. The school hasn't requested any money yet but I'd like to play along and see what their next step is. I'm going to reply to their email and let you know what happens!

jonniboy · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 8:57 pm Post subject:

Oh there is a legitimate company of that name operating, their school name is just being used by scammers - it would be equivalent to me setting up a [email protected] account in order to cheat people.

Note though that on the previous legitimate ad they specifically stated EU passport as a requirement.

Frankly though anyone who expects to go to Spain in the current economic climate and earn 3200 a month shouldn't be put in charge of tossing burgers nevermind an English class.

jill444 · Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 5

Here is how the Mondragon scammers work: I can tell you from experience!
They are waiting for you to book a flight. That's the way they want to get money from you. They have a "travel agent" who is billed as working for Air Berlin and uses their letterhead. (I have also notified Air Berlin). She books the most expensive route you could imagine (I live in southern Portugal and she tried to book an 800 euro flight for me to San Sebastian). You are expected to pay for the flight with the school reimbursing you.
Then she tells you she can only accept cash for the flight, because THEY have been scammed by a former student who paid by bogus credit card! I got wise to them but decided to play with them a bit to see what they were doing. I also spoke via Skype to the person who bills himself as "Mike Church", who says he is American but clearly does not speak like one. Any time you have a question he doesn't want to answer he says he has "a student he has to attend to" and logs off.
This is a well-organized con.
The school is aware of it.

Pauleddy · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 295 Location: The Big Mango

Jonniboy is right. 3200e is huge!

It's almost impossible to earn that sum with TEFL, anywhere in the world. TEFL is notoriously badly paid in general, especially if you are young and new. You can earn more by being a waiter, if you don't mind the hours.

That kind of sum in Spain is the salary of a senior doctor or a lawyer.

Salaries are generally on the low side in Spain, compared with other "rich" countries-- especially in government jobs. My friend's mother is a (25 years served) secretary/clerk in a Town Hall office near Malaga. She earns around 1000e a month after tax. If you work in a store or a supermarket, you will probably take home about 600- 800e. Many young married couples in Spain will both hold f-t jobs just to pay the mortgage...meaning that the kids will be cared for by the granny or sent to kindergarten for 10 hours a day.

I am amazed that anybody would be fooled by this figure.

I would return to Spain tomorrow if I could earn 3200e a month.

Eddy

bboopam · Joined: 26 Sep 2009 Posts: 1

Can anyone tell me any current news about Mondragon Lingua.
Is it possible that some of the offers are in fact legitimate or are all the posts regarding English teachers and Mike C a scam?
Thanks Smile

jill444 · Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 5

They are a legitimate school and there is a "real" Mike Church. You must have an EU passport to work for them. I contacted them and got a long letter from Mike apologising and he sent a job description. I'm on a visa so I never heard back.

Today I received a letter from a school calling itself EIS (Execs International School)--in Madrid. They have no website --their letter says they are "new", but since 2008 which isn't new enough not to have a website. I am thinking they are also scammers...anyone familiar with them?
They contacted me directly (guess I am on every scammers list now)..I wrote back asking for a school address and phone number first.
Anyone know of them?

covenananteacher · Joined: 29 Jul 2010 Posts: 13 Location: New Zealand

I was contacted by this outfit and they wanted me to send them a copy of my passport and a resume. I used photoshop on my passport to hide some details but I realy want to know if this is a legit organisation or not.

Their original ad said "Visa assistance
� paid one way ticket
� salary from �2,400 to �3,100, will be paid due to your qualification and position. "
The address they give is Araba Etorbidea, 4
20500 Arrasate-Mondrag�n.
Tel: 34-945567720/34-911876584"

There is a Mondragon lingua site in that town but at a different address and phone number. I queried this with them and their one-line reply was that this was "the employment department address and contact."

I spoke on Skype with an African (he admitted he came from South African back township) and since the name of the person I was supposed to be interviewed by was"Maidagan Lazkano" I asked him if that was his name and he said Yes. That does not sound like an African name having lived in that part of the world.

They are now saying have been shortlisted and will be contacted for an interview. Should I just bin this, or should I find out what they have to say? Are there any agencies I can report this to check them out? (I emailed the Mondragonlingua contact email on the website to confirm the details twice and have heard nothing back)
Thanks

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

It's 100% a scam.

The salary range you note is FAR more than normal pay for the region, and basically no schools pay airfare at all.

Look, any 'school' or 'recruiter' that claims they can do the impossible (get a work visa for non-EU citizens at the entry level in Western Europe) or who offers a package that is far above the norm for the region is a scam every time.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

However, by all means see what they have to say. It will be interesting to hear how much money they want you to send them Shocked

Please do let us know - far too many innocent people get sucked into these things, even if it's just a temporary rush of excitement (hopefully not too many go so far as to send money!!)

covenananteacher · Joined: 29 Jul 2010 Posts: 13 Location: New Zealand

Thanks guys

Well I am an EU citizen but it is interesting that they don't stipulate that and you obviously know salaries better than I do as I'm not in Europe. So will keep people posted. I feel extremely aggrieved by scammers since most teachers are not highly paid and these people-if scammers-are effectively thieves. I wonder whether/why the REAL mondragon school doesnt do something about it.??