Job Discussion Forums

yeuxbleu · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:27 pm Post subject: SeriousTeachers.com

I registered on seriousteachers.com because it seemed to me to be a legitimate place to find job offers. I just received this email and I am unsure what to think about it? I am unsure if maybe I am the only one who didn't know about this.... or if no one knows? Or if it's even true? Only really found one site so far that really knocks it... Here's the email....
___________________________________________________

Hello,

You're probably not aware, but seriousteachers.com is a fraudulent organization based out of the Netherlands.

I posted a free teaching ad, and when teachers replied -- the site requested money from me.

I immediately told the site to delete my post and below is the response I received, which they posted on their website.

After that, I google searched the company and saw a massive amount of fraudulent activity.

Then I searched their domain registry and they use a front company called privacyprotect.org, which hides their true identity.

The problem is, I am an attorney and international laws consider this an act of terrorism, despite the obviously false libel.

Please get the word out to other teachers that seriousteachers.com is a fraud.

I'll be posting this on the ESL board.

Sorry but this company is not legit.

Jack Stone

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

I don't know about the company, but I'd like to know why someone who claims to be an attorney would say that this practice constitutes terrorism on an international basis, despite false libel?

Hehe Razz

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

Based in the Netherlands??

So am I....... Shocked

Elkythedogsperson · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:07 pm Post subject:

I have been registered with seriousteacher.com for over one year. I never had any problems as you reported. I look at their job postings without problems. I have never received any solicitations for money.

So I will vouch for them, but like any internet forum, don't send money unless you know about their credibility and have a good reason. I'd say whoever sent you this has an axe to grind for personal reasons.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 12:21 am Post subject:

Got to say- seriousteachers.com is an organisation I've never had much time for. We had a long thread about it, and it's TEFL training branch SeriousTEFL ages ago, and since none of us probably want to do that again, you can read about it here:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=71371&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=seriousteachers+com&start=0

It doesn't deal with any of the specifics mentioned in your post, but may explain a bit about the organisation and how they tend to do business.

That said, my own reaction to "Jack Stone" is that he sounds like a total looney tune- I'd block sender and forget about him. He doesn't really reflect anything in particular on SeriousTeachers- any organisation can attract the odd crazy, without it being their fault.

I'd add that his story (not his presentation of it) does have a certain credibility. A while back, before I knew anything about SeriousTeachers, I saw, net surfing, the same "free advertisement" that he refers to. It was then free to PLACE an ad on their site, but they charge you to receive responses to that ad. Odd way of doing business in my opinion.

Best,
Justin

yeuxbleu · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 2:24 am Post subject:

Thanks everyone....
I have, as well, been registered with seriousteachers for a while now (about 4 months) and have not been "spammed" or scammed yet, to my knowledge. And yes, the guy does seem pretty crazy. It seems like the money claims have everything to do with employers trying to find teachers and not teachers trying to find jobs. Thanks as well for the link to that thread, although it did deal more with the Serious TEFL certification and not the website. I guess best I can do is take this "attorney"'s advice with a grain of salt and be a little more skeptical.

Calypso · Joined: 31 Dec 2009 Posts: 27

Seriousteachers.com is merely a conduit linking teachers to jobs to my knowledge. They don't vouch for the offers or the institutions making the offers but just basically provide a place where employees can liaise with potential employers.
I've been with them for a while too & got a position through them with no hassles and no exchange of monies.
As someone else said, I'd simply write the guy off as someone with an axe to grind but still keep my eyes open & my wits about me when dealing with ANY potential employees on the internet, regardless of where they came from.

Lisa M · Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 18

This guy is totally on a rampage. He is referring to that schools have to pay to advertise. Well they also have to on this site. Not sure how that is terrorism...doing business. Teachers do not have to pay anything and never has seriousteachers asked for money from me as a teacher. He is making it up because he was trying to get to some of their teachers on their site by placing an ad and asking them for money for a VISA to Japan and he was immediately stopped as this is stated on their forum. So he is just angry that he got caught and is trying to turn it around. As a matter of fact I have been placed through Seriousteachers website not just once but twice over the years. The site is excellent and the features are very advanced.

Lisa M · Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 18

Actually regarding their job posting system there is nothing strange about it. This clearly explains to the schools before they post what it includes and by the way eharmony.com does this exactly the same. Some sites ask for money first. I think this is a great opportunity for schools.
http://www.seriousteachers.com/Post_Jobs.asp

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Please ignore this; I wrote it having failed to understand what was going on. Sorry.

In the UK, it is illegal for agencies to take money in advance, as opposed to after providing a service. While it may be legal elsewhere, I personally would walk away from any attempt to do so.

Also, in countries with a demand, the agencies take money from employers, not from you. This is the case in China, for example.

Also, why pay agencies to do things you can do? If you have what they are looking for, employers will employ you; just look for jobs yourself (see other threads for how to do so).

Lisa M · Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 18

Cole, they are not an agency. It is a job board and they charge schools for advertising. Again for the teachers is free. Just like this site.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Whoops, sorry everybody. Thanks Lisa.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 4:15 am Post subject:

I agree with you that "Jack Stone" is certainly on a rampage, is probably a pseudonym, and is almost definitely a tool.

I'll repeat though- as an administrator who does advertise, I have paid for advertisements here on Dave's (which worked out rather well) and for advertisements on a number of other sites. I've also advertised on a number of free sites (success varies, but you do the best you can.)

When I first looked at the seriousteachers website, their offer of free trial postings was confusing- it made it seem like a free site when in fact it's a paid one, where you (the school) post the ad for free, but pay to retrieve results. The link provided by Lisa does make it look like they've clarified this somewhat.

Best,
Justin

Lisa M · Joined: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 18

I have been on the site for many years and I tend to navigate around sites a lot in general. That link has always been there. They did not add it recently. Trial does not mean free, unless you say free trial. Lots of companies offer trials of software for example and then you have to pay for it. Very common. All I know is that their site is very advanced and the panel makes it easy to get hired find jobs, teachers etc. The site is not flat, it is very interactive.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:43 am Post subject:

As I said, I've never dealt with SeriousTeachers.com directly, so I'll leave it at that. Lisa clearly likes them; I personally have some reservations. We all seem to agree that Mr Stone, Esquire, is a bit of a joke.

Something else that occured to me as I was reading this, though- How did "Jack Stone," or whoever, get the OP's email address? I don't know how the system works, but surely they don't just give out that information??? If they don't he may have done something fraudulent, in which case they should probably take some kind of action.

Anybody know how ST handles teachers information?

Best,
Justin