Job Discussion Forums

januthin · Joined: 30 May 2004 Posts: 24

I was recently swindled out of 250 dollars by someone who claimed to have hired me to teach at his school in Valencia, Spain. This school has advertisements out with most of the major online job-sites.

He asked for an advance of 250 and in exchange the school would arrange flights, visas, etc. Perhaps I have been naive, but everything seemed legitimate, they interviewed me and the "school" even has a real address and phone number. I was ready to pack for Spain and update my email lists again when they asked for more money, and I knew it was a scam.

I'm not interested in getting my money, or in seeing them punished, I just don't want to see any other teachers taken the way I was. We don't make much for what we do, and it's quite a malicious person who would target the ESL community for a scam.

Just so you know: yes, they will go to great lengths; and no, don't ever advance any school anything as a condition of your employment. If you do, it's the last you'll ever see of it. Consider yourself warned.

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

If you're not a citizen of an EU country, any school claiming to be able to get you legal working papers in the EU (outside of reputable international schools or schools on military bases, or universities with exchange programs) are ALL SCAMMING YOU.

The general rule is that European schools ALMOST NEVER hire ANYONE from abroad.

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

sorry to read about your experience. Sad

Thank you for posting in order to warn others...did you post to the Spain forum?

I suppose that you can consider yourself fortunate that it was not more than $250...although being burned is never fun.

good luck with your next teaching position.

ecocks · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 899 Location: Gdansk, Poland

Sorry to hear your tale of woe.

Use the forum for questions/references and NEVER advance the employer money - they would be the ones to advance money to YOU. Plenty of other countries and schools to work in though. If it's what you want to do, try, try again.

phantombedwetter · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:20 am Post subject:

Januthin,
Are you going to tell us the name and address of this chomper (I would if i'd been fleeced), or are you just looking for a bit of sympathy and a group hug?

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

You should put this -- with the name and details of the scammer -- on the SCAM ALERT global thread at the top of the list.

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

No reputable school would ask a candidate to pay for anything. The school has to pay for everything arranged IF they want to find staff. In the worst case, you are reimbursed for travelling in terms of your contract.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 6:51 pm Post subject:

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

BOttom line, NEVER pay for a job