Dusty,
you're getting good info and advice from John and Frank. When you see red flags like the ones John points out, it's really time to run like hell.

My advice is to not use recruiters at all, anywhere, period. There may (or may not) be a decent one out there somewhere, but their track record with foreign teachers has been a long sad litany of lies, abuse, neglect, and misery.

Good reputable schools in nice cities with decent conditions and compensation packages usually don't need the services of recruiters. It's the ones in poohole cities, and/or offering miserable packages, and/or with a bad reputation among the teachers who must turn to recruiters for their supply of fresh meat.

There are hundreds of web sites (including this one) right now carrying thousands of ads for jobs in China. It's really not hard to find at least a basic job here. Just make sure you're talking to a person DIRECTLY FROM THE SCHOOL. If you aren't allowed to do that, pull the plug on the conversation and move on to the next one.

It's hard enough to find an honest deal in China anyway. Don't lower your odds further by bringing in a middleman!