Job Discussion Forums

real2104 · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 120

I was recently offered a job working as a private tutor in the UK. However, it does have a 'too good to be true' feel to it. The gentleman wishes for me to teach his family English and offers a very generous package including free accommodation, flight reimbursement, health insurance and so on.

Has anyone ever heard of a scam like this?

If you live in the UK why not hire someone local for the fraction of the price? It does seem a little odd...

Perilla · Joined: 09 Jul 2010 Posts: 792 Location: Hong Kong

It's a scam, 99.9% sure. There have been similar others posted.

GMark · Joined: 02 Apr 2010 Posts: 46 Location: China

I got a similar offer a little while back, and I had the same thoughts - 'too good to be true', why fly someone in from overseas?

I think his name was Peng, or something.

real2104 · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 120

Yeah, thought so. When I read the offer I was 99.99% skeptical that it wasn't genuine. Why pay 3000 quid a month+fly someone abroad when you can get someone local for a fraction of the cost?

But I am really curious to know how these these scams work. I mean, let's say I was naive enough to go along with this this overly generous offer and arrive in the UK expecting to be a tutor for this gentleman's family... What happens when I arrive? at what point am I 'scammed'?

I haven't been asked for money or been told to provide any personal information (aside from a resume+teaching cert - which only has my name).

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

Oh, they'll quickly get around to asking you for money. It'll be to 'secure your visa' or 'visa application fee' or something, and they'll promise to repay you as soon as you arrive.

Alternatively, they'll ask for your banking details so they can send you flight money or something Surprised

Utter scam.

real2104 · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 120

Aha, yeah probably.

I love how in the first email it reads "Thanks for the speedy reply to the advertisement." but I never applied to any advertisement ! I merely posted my resume online.

Razz

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

Ariadne · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 960

Some forum members have played along with these scams to see how they played out. The back and forth emails were quite amusing. Why don't you do that and let us know when/how they ask for money... because they will ask for money!

.

real2104 · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 120

Ok, shall do. Smile

artemisia · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 875 Location: the world

I've seen a few of these scam 'job adverts'. They're usually excessively politely worded with capitalised nouns, pronouns and sometimes adjectives. eg. "My dear Wife has been ill and I have been obliged to return to (country name) with our Children to look after Property Concerns. You sound like a Person of Good Character and if You would be so good as to (send money for)..."

Just add in quite a few extra grammatical mistakes to that. This also applies to scam accommodation adverts. I know some international students abroad have been stung over this - don't know if teachers have.

real2104 · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 120

This guy was saying "Oh, I really need an American teacher like yourself." but on my resume it clearly says Australia.

Also, I asked him what startup fees he might require me to send him. He replied "I'll need to ask my attorney and get back to you on that."

HA !

Also, he's a doctor who has misspelled quite a few words... I wonder how he got a job in the UK as a radiologist :O

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

Gringo Greg · Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 2:13 pm Post subject:

That's an old scam talked about on an old TeflWatch thread:

http://www.teflwatch.org/private-tutor-and-nanny-job-offers-2007313.html

It's really funny that they keep going with them, I guess they keep finding suckers....