doesitmatter
- 2009-02-05
Yeah, this one seems to be gaining momentum. There's a few other posts about them here as well. Actually, I kept them on the hook for quite awhile, even knowing that they were scam artists. All of their IP addresses indicate that they're doing this out of America. Finally, they sent me an email titled [My Name] is a FOOL. The body of the email itself said nothing except to repeat prior information about the need for me to hurry up and pay for my visa, even though I told them I wasn't interested until August of September, as I'm currently under contract. They never directly responded to that.
Teachers considering teaching abroad should be more and more careful. In the past, a carefree attitude regarding teaching overseas may have been okay with only a few minor pitfalls now and then; however, the EFL business has become lucrative enough that the scam artists are coming out of the walls. As has been said here repeatedly, they're rodents who prey on the unsuspecting. In this case the unsuspecting are those with high ideals but little in the way of inclination to do the necessary research in order that they will not fall victim to such rodents.
As for research, TESOL schools should be more reality based. That is, they should add to their curriculum a few seminars about how to avoid the scam artists. In addition, they should supply information about websites such as this one that include warnings.
In regards to this particular job offering, a little research revealed the following:
United States IP addresses
TK - the email address ending - is a New Zealand based company. All government emails in the UAE end in "ae."
Labor laws in the UAE stipulate that the cost of visas for foreigners employed in the UAE shall be borne by the employer.
An obvious "need" to get this done as quickly as possible.
Any of these should be a warning light. Unfortunately, many people operate on trust. Con artists know that. Stated simply, though, in this business one should be highly suspicious. Volumes could be written about the scams being perpetrated on the unsuspecting.
State Departments need to step up to the plate also. You can find diplomatically stated warnings about the EFL business in certain countries on State Department websites, but generally those warnings are watered down.
Finally, though, the responsibility lies with the individual. It's easy for many of us to now warn of these things because we learned it the hard way. New teachers, however, should cast off their Pollyanna attitudes right away and make sure they know exactly what they're getting into before making any plans.The above scam is fairly harmless compared to suddenly finding yourself in a foreign country facing the following: no language skills, living in a rat and roach infested apartment, teaching in a dank, unheated and smelly classroom, unpaid, working on an illegal visa, shuttled from job to job, flimsy schedules that have you working split shifts and never knowing when you have a day off, finding out your pay - when it's paid - is not what you were promised, finding out your pay is half of what you should be making, bad plumbing, dangerous electrical setups, leaky gas (almost killed me once), administrators who know nothing about education. The list goes on, but the beautiful thing is that you can avoid all of this, or most of it anyway, if you do a lot of RESEARCH.
Company advertises on a few ESL job websites offering high salaries.
They will contact you asking you to complete an application form.
They will then tell you that they have conducted an interview for you with a prospective employer.
After your reply they will request $250 for a visa processing fee.
Most of the people who were scammed appeared to be non--native speakers. I would presume that the high salary blinded them.
Be warned.
--------------------------------------------------------------
** FRAUD ALERT - Do NOT reply to the scam message below **
To/
From/EMIRATES GOVERNMENT LANGUAGE EDUCATION CENTER,
Find as attached your letter of Employment, Contract conditionality and all other rules and regulations as stipulated by the law of the land.
For your traveling visas and work permit, you are advised to contact
Foreign Employment Visa Issuance Department
United Arab Emirates-Ministry of Interior
Naturalization & Residency Administration-Dubai.
E-Mail:info@uaevisaworkpermitdept.tk
The above office is responsible for final approval and issuance of visas and work permit.
We are urgently looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
H.E. Dr. Ahmad Abdul-Rahman [Director, Dept. of Student Activities]
[EMIRATES GOVERNMENT LANGUAGE EDUCATION CENTER]
P.O.Box 396 Dubai United Arab Emirates
Tel/Fax:+971-501874915
Email:employment@emirategovernmentlanguageeducationcenter.tk
www.emirategovernmentlanguageeducationcenter.tk
UNDER THE CONTROL OF UAE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
From/EMIRATES GOVERNMENT LANGUAGE EDUCATION CENTER,
This is to notify you that Our school Authority has given you 4 Working Days to submit the original copies of your visa/work permit otherwise your Appointment will be canceled and Replaced with Another serious Teachers on our waiting list because we don't understand your motives up to date.
N/B: Our School Authority will provide your 2ways Air ticket/travel documents in due time before your departure date.
For your traveling visas and work permit, you are advised to contact
UAE VISA WORK PERMIT DEPT
United Arab Emirates-Ministry of Interior
Naturalization & Residency Administration-Dubai.
E-Mail:info@uaevisaworkpermitdept.tk
The above office is responsible for final approval and issuance of visas and work permit.
We are urgently looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
H.E. Dr. Ahmad Abdul-Rahman [Director, Dept. of Student Activities]
[EMIRATES GOVERNMENT LANGUAGE EDUCATION CENTER]
P.O.Box 396 Dubai United Arab Emirates
Tel/Fax:+971-501874915
Email:employment@emirategovernmentlanguageeducationcenter.tk
www.emirategovernmentlanguageeducationcenter.tk
UNDER THE CONTROL OF UAE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
Department of Naturalization & Residency -Dubai
ATTN:
For your information Family Visa means Dependant multiple entry/Resident permit which means your family can enter or depart freely anytime from UAE during the period of 2years as soon as your application is successfully submitted then you will be given Visa/work permit while your family will also be granted 2years Dependant multiple entry/Resident permit.
Please note that Each Applicant Visa Processing Fee is 1,060 Dirham[AED] which means applicant with family information will pay Extra 1,060 Dirham[AED] Visa Processing Fee and 365 Dirham[AED] INSURANCE FEE[MANDATORY] per EACH PERSON.
NOTE: Each person/applicant total Fees are 1,425 Dirham[AED] payable in Dirham[AED] or $USD Equivalent direct through western union money transfer to
Reciever's Name:JARI ARMIN
Address : 265 NAIF ROAD, DUBAI(UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)
Please we expect to receive your family Insurance Fee and processing fees payment receipt to enable us proceed for the issuance of your UAE Visa/Work Permit which normally take 2-3 working day to be approved after all required documents and payment receipt are submitted and verified.
Please note that under The United Arab Emirates Employment Laws and Regulations, you are not entitle to engage in anything that can give you monetary reward until your Visa/work permit is issued.
Sincerely yours,
Major General Abdul-Aziz Mohamed
United Arab Emirates-Ministry of Interior
Naturalization & Residency Administration-Dubai.
{UAE VISA WORK PERMIT DEPT}
P.O.Box:3982, Dubai, U.A.E
Tel:+971-501874916
E-Mail:info@uaevisaworkpermitdept.tk
www.uaevisaworkpermitdept.tk
IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of the U.A.E IMMIGRATION and is subject to the jurisdiction of section 70 of the Crimes Act 1914. If you have received this email in error, you are requested to contact the sender and delete the email.
We have today received your resume attached with your letter of
application and interview conducted on our behalf by Global Recruiters.
After going through the submissions, we are satisfied and will be
sending to you your letter of employment and contract working details.
Urgently revert to us on reciept of this e-message.
Yours faithfully,
Jamal Al Mehairi
[Zafirah Language Institutes]
P.O.Box 3962 Dubai United Arab Emirates
Tel/Fax:+971-42080705
Email:infoATzafirahlanguageinstitutes.tk
zafirahlanguageinstitutes.tk
From/Zafirah Language Institutes, Find as attached your letter of Employment, Contract conditionality and all other rules and regulations as stipulated by the law of the land.
For your traveling visas and work permit, you are advised to contact the below listed address directly. This is the office that is responsible for final approval and issuance of visas and work permit.
Atten. H.E. Saif Abdullah Al Shafar
United Arab Emirates-Ministry of Interior
Naturalization & Residency Administration-Dubai.
{Foreign Employment Visa Issuance Department}
P.O.Box: 4333, Dubai, U.A.E
Tel/Fax: +971 4338 1603
E-Mail:infoATuaeimmigration.tk
xxx.uaeimmigration.tk
We are urgently looking forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Jamal Al Mehairi
[Zafirah Language Institutes]
P.O.Box 3962 Dubai United Arab Emirates
Tel/Fax:+971-42080705
Email:infoATzafirahlanguageinstitutes.tk
zafirahlanguageinstitutes.tk