Job Discussion Forums

ssjup81 · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:20 am Post subject: What's your opinion?

I received this a couple of days ago in response to my resume. What do you all think?

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

It's a total scam. There have been lots of these around.

C'mon, consider. Why would anyone pay to get a North American when he's based in the UK, where there are tonnes of native English speakers right on his doorstep??!!

He'll ask you for some money up front for something. 100% scam

ssjup81 · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:57 am Post subject:

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

Yeah, well, not 'normal' but a common scam Very Happy

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

In addition a quick google via the Post Office web site shows the address and post code (zip code) don't match up...

Chris_Crossley

Not only that, but this person did not even have the courtesy to address the message to you by name even though it was supposed to be a personal response to your application (if, indeed, one had been made in the first place).

Instead, he used the very generalised and impersonal salutation, "Dear Applicant". That lack of thinking on the sender's part also sends a message to the addressee, namely that this person doesn't give a monkey's about how the addressee might perceive such a salutation - unless, being (allegedly) Chinese, he is unaware of the subtleties involved in this.

Furthermore, he also claims he will pay �3,000. Yet how long does one have to work for this money? A week? A month? Even a year? Again, a sum of money on offer without any indication of the time period of work involved is to be treated with the utmost suspicion.

As with anything, though, if in doubt, walk away and don't even bother replying.

perfectweapon · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:03 am Post subject:

SCAM forget it

bluecatbabe · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 14 Location: Middle East

Plymouth is not short of language schools, native English speaking teachers, and opportunities to get extra tuition.

If he was there with his kids they would be legally obliged to get schooling, as well, and most UK schools provide ESOL support for non-native speaking children.

Three thousand pounds is too much for a month's salary in the UK and not anything like enough for a year, even if your board and lodging were free.

So... no....

roywebcafe · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 259

I agree its a scam but how does it work exactly? It sounds like a lot of time wasting.

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

Usually they ultimately ask the scammee to wire money for a flight ticket or visa application - to be reimbursed upon one's arrival, of course.

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

fraup · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 3:36 am Post subject:

I got one of these recently, but the guy was supposedly in Lancashire. When I e-mailed him why he wanted to hire someone from the US when he was already in Britain, he said that 1) he preferred to have his children speak with an American accent and 2) that the British teachers charged 70 pounds an hour. Hard to believe (the second, not so much the first...)

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

That's a kicker (the 70 pounds per hour bit). This has come up before....I'll do a search. It'll be the same scammer we've discussed before.

toteach · Joined: 29 Dec 2008 Posts: 273

I was given the same offer about 3 weeks ago. Below is my offer:

Dear applicant,

I am Dr. Lei Peng a native of Hefei in Anhui Province of P. R.of China. I worked with Anhui Provincial People's Hospital before I relocated to Gloucester, England a month ago and right now, I am in search of a professional International English Language teacher who can take my Wife, Ning and my 2 daughters, Nuo and Mingzhu in English classes.

My wife and Kids are my treasure so I offer to pay you 3,000.00GBP if you will take up this position. I will provide you an Accommodation, furnished with a plasma screen TV, and Internet Ready desktop computer. A vehicle will be available also for Mobility if you can Drive.

I need your updated resume for me to discuss more about you with my family and also talk to your references. Applicant Must be willing to relocate to England.
Hoping to hear from you soonest, Cheers and God's blessings

Regards,
Dr. Lei Peng,
155 Tuffley Lane,
Gloucester, GL4 0PB
United Kingdom.

The only place I believe he/she (?) could have gotten my Email was from SeriousTeachers, as I recently updated my profile there...

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

I was involved - as a punter - in a much more complicated scam. They made me go through all sort of application hoops. The eventual job offer required me to pay upfront for accommodation on arrival. At that point, I became suspicious and found that they used the web site of a real school but were not in fact anything to do with the school.