Job Discussion Forums

SledgeCleaver · Joined: 02 Mar 2013 Posts: 126

Hey guys, I finally got a job in Uzbekistan! The thing is, something really weird has happened.

In order to finalize the offer, I had to send the recruiter my original diploma, my original passport and birth certificate, and $1,000 in unmarked nonsequential bills which will be kept in a steel box in the visa authority. Of course this money will be given back to me in my first paycheck, it's just a legal formality and all part of the contract, which is stamped and signed and everything!

Here's the weird thing: I sent the package FedEx about 9 days ago, but haven't heard from my recruiter in the last 5 days. She's usually very punctual in responding to my emails, very helpful, but all of a sudden, silence. Should I be worried? Maybe I should contact the police in Uzbekistan to make sure she's not in the hospital or anything?

Let me know your advice.

tttompatz · Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 3:34 am Post subject: Re: Question about visas

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

Yeah, this sounds a lot like a grab-the-money-and-run scheme. I hope the OP was joking. If not, your documents and money are probably gone. As for advice, you should contact the agency that issued your passport and inform them immediately, so they can 'red flag' it. I hope I'm wrong, of course, but this sounds like a scam. To echo what tttompatz said above, you should NEVER send original documents or money to anyone for anything.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 5:16 am Post subject:

Must be a wind-up. I could be wrong as the following is really hard to judge:

$1,000 in unmarked nonsequential bills which will be kept in a steel box in the visa authority.

Very Happy

vabeckele · Joined: 19 Nov 2010 Posts: 439

I am able to get them back for you, but I need one thousand dollars to get them back from the authorities and to ship them back.

Send me a pm and I'll give you my bank details.

BenE · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 321

Clearly a wind up unless I really have overestimated the intelligence of the average TEFLer.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 10:02 am Post subject:

That's the dilemma right there, though, isn't it? Very Happy

SledgeCleaver · Joined: 02 Mar 2013 Posts: 126

Why you are laughing? I am very worried about my recruiter, she is a nice lady and I don't want anything bad to happen to her.

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

Ah, SledgeCleaver. No need to worry. She's basking about on a beach somewhere, sipping mixed drinks and enjoying her holidays, someplace US dollars go a long way Cool

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

Sledge Cleaver has posted on the China forum and says (s)he's an American with a 4 year degree in Economics and an excellent GPA from a good school + 5 years teaching experience.

So is this post meant to be a joke?

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 1:07 pm Post subject:

I never even knew that you could FedEx cash. Joke or not, at least that could be something useful to know...

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

SledgeCleaver · Joined: 02 Mar 2013 Posts: 126

Seems I've been busted by Dedicated: yes, I'm an econ grad and there aren't many days when I would send $1000 US to be kept in a jar somewhere.

Was meant as a wind-up and a bit of tongue-in-cheek, not for serious trolling purposes. Ah, to be young and naive again...