Job Discussion Forums

sudharsansn · Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 14 Location: Canada

Hi,
About a few weeks ago, I applied by e-mail to this job in Abu Dhabi. The institution was The British School which seemed to have a legit website and a valid e-mail address (instead of some Yahoo id).

Immediately they sent me an application form and an interview questionnaire. I sent it in yesterday and I am not even certain if the answers were very good. However, today I got an employment contract from them asking me to enclose my passport number and signature requiring that I send it to them by post. The employer's name is Paul Coackley. It just seemed too good to be true, the salary was 4850 USD and accommodation was provided, etc.

When I checked that e-mail again, it said "Kindly click UAE EMBASSY for direct application of your entry permit through The Embassy of United Arab Emirates website". The link highlighted was not the UAE government website but some .tk website (http://uaeembassy.tk/) which seemed blatantly sketchy and also had images and logos from the UAE govt posted on it except for the fact that when you click on them it takes you to the actual embassy website!

I am supposed to wire money to this guy:

Application Fee: 1680AED per person.
Payable to Receiver's Name: ABUBAKAR MUSA..
Office: No.1 Dubai Int'l Airport Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

I'd really appreciate if someone could tell me if this is legit or not. The school seems to have a website and there is, I assume, a British School in Abu Dhabi. However, I am not very convinced at this whole process. Any information would be greatly apreciated.

Thanks

sudharsansn · Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 14 Location: Canada

This is the e-mail.

"We hereby enclose your Contract Agreement for your perusal.
To avoid any mistake you are required to endorse your full names and signature in the contract as appeared on your International Passport including your convenient contract starting date and finishing date
(Example: 15th April 2010 to 14th April 2010)

Note: It must be 1 year duration contract Only. [Renewable upon successful completion]

Please make sure that your filled and signed Contract Agreement and approved entry permit copies are sent together via postal service direct to our school address below to enable us issue your 2ways flight ticket and also legalize your employment at United Arab Emirates Labour office as soon as possible.

THE BRITISH SCHOOL
1st Street Al Khubairat, PO Box 4001, Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates.

Kindly click (http://uaeembassy.tk/)for direct application of your entry permit through The Embassy of United Arab Emirates website.

Thanks for your co-operation."

If this is indeed a job scam, I am wondering it if could be red-flagged.

Thanks.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Did you read the sticky at the top of the page. It is a running thead on all these scams that have been showing up regularly for the last couple years.

Here is the dead giveaway from your post:

http://uaeembassy.tk

The .tk immediately tells you that it is a scam (not to mention all of the too good to be true information). Why would an embassy in the UAE have you applying through some tiny island in the Pacific where every other scammer has their websites?

All of this has been red-flagged for a couple of year right at the top of this page.

VS

crystalstair · Joined: 13 Mar 2010 Posts: 1

Don't fall victim like we did. We unwittingly lost $1700. When you clik on the link "to the Embassy", you are asked to sed via money wire $458
to a Nadia Usman. We assumed she was working with the Visa Dept but we were a little sceptical as to why the money wasn't to be wired to "The Visa Dept". But, the site looked so authentic, we fell victim and wired $458. A day later we received another wire email this time from the Ambassador urging us to "complete the transaction:" and sent a list of other charges totaling $1287. We should have been really suspicious but we were stupid, we did email the principal of the school who assured us that all moneies would be refunded as soon as we arrived in Dubia. We wired the $1287. We then received another wire from the "Dubia Court" which stated our visa was on hold until we pay court fees of $2880. At that point we woke up and wrote back demanding a refund of all monies. It was too late. We never heard from them again and a week has gone by. I went on the website for the school and saw the email address for the principal was different than the email we had been given originally. I emailed the "correct address" told the Principal what had happened . I got an email back today from the "real principal". He informed me that "we were indeed scammed and he reported the incident to the police in Dubai. I hope this saves others from making a foolish mistake such as we did. We lost money which we really needed.....

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Were you not aware of this website for teachers? Was this your first overseas job?

This has been going on for into three years now in various forms, and because of people not doing due diligence, these crooks continue to make money. There is nothing the police in Dubai can do to get your money back or to stop these people. The scammers are not in the Emirates. They are most likely somewhere like Nigeria.

I'm sorry that this was such an expensive lesson for you. Check here first next time.

VS

heyteacha · Joined: 04 Apr 2010 Posts: 21

Sounds like similar jobs offered through Global Recruiters - lots of made up schools, and there was also a bogus one for Dubai British School (which does really exist).

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 5:55 pm Post subject:

"(which does really exist)."

Does it, really?

NCTBA

heyteacha · Joined: 04 Apr 2010 Posts: 21

geoboz · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 39

Yes, folks, this is definitely questionable. After I responded with several academically targeted questions, all I got back was a pressing request to apply for a visa through a dubious website with a domain in remote South Pacific somewhere near the Samoan Islands (not UAE)! Of particular interest is the claim that the British School DOES NOT have a professional dress code!
What raised my suspicions initially is the less-than-polished English used in the communication, which, it seems, the principal of the British School would NEVER do. Then, when the fake Principal Coackley failed to answer my questions, I checked out the report shown below, which really piqued my curiosity.
I have since sent all of the correspondence to the Email address on the British School's website (which differs slightly--though significantly-- from the one in the ad). The reply is still pending. I will post it when I get it.
Beware, fellow teachers!

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Actually no... it is not 'questionable.'

It is an illegal scam set up by thieves... no question whatsoever. It is one of many out there right now. They will happily take the money of the unwary and the naive.

The real schools involved are aware of the scams using their names, but there is nothing that they can do about it... nor can the police there or in your home country do anything... nor your embassy. One must save oneself...

VS