Upfront Fees by Employers

[Niko]

A Scam or Not?

Congratulations on your acceptance as an English Teacher! Before we can proceed, please send us $100 to cover our costs and for registration purposes.

I'm sure there are a few English Teachers that have come across similar requests for money prior to commencing their teaching job.

So is this a scam or not? It largely depends on the school or recruiter involved.

Obviously there are some warning bells that indicate possible scams:

• Well above average salary with all the bells and whistles.
• Far-fetched promises. Luxury penthouse accommodation, discounted unlimited airfares...
• No website or cheaply made website with no real contact information.
• School or recruiter wont pass on referrals.

Not all upfront fees are scams. Some legitimate schools and recruiters may ask a small fee/deposit of $100 or so in order to confirm they are dealing with serious applicants. No school wants to devote time and arrange airport pickup for a teacher who then leaves after 2 days or doesn't even turn up at the airport.

If you have concerns about the legitimacy of an upfront fee, posting your questions in ESL forums is a good start.