List of TEFL scams and warnings

This page lists all of the scams (and companies with very unscrupulous business practices) we’ve identified since 2009. If you become aware of a scam not on this list, or have an update to one already on the list, please contact us.

Please also see our advice on avoiding scams.

Employer claiming to be iEnglish Language Institute, UAE, November 2022 (Updated January 2024 – now posing as Rashid Language School)

Thomas Gren, LG UPlus Corporation / Marcus Ekman, Dexerials Corporation, October 2022

Teachingchina.net, January 2022

Momentum Recruitment, South Korea, March 2021

Dwells family, London, March 2020

Employer claiming to be the English School of Casale, Italy, May 2019

Employer claiming to be Empower Training Idiomas in Barcelona, Spain, April 2019

Engr Qiang Family, December 2018

OYE Optimize Your English in Cartagena, Spain, September 2018

Colombian family living in Scotland scam, September 2018

Scammer claiming to represent Docklands Idiomas in Spain, June 2018

Employer claiming to be Sprakeschool in Zaragoza, Spain, May 2018

Employers claiming to recruit for First Class Language School in Spain, June 2017

Employer claiming to be University of Vienna, March 2017

Employer claiming to be Sri Utama school in Malaysia, January 2017

Bamenda University, Cameroon, May 2016

Employer claiming to be Segi University, Malaysia, May 2015

Employer claiming to be St Gilgen International School, December 2014

Employer claiming to be the Montcalm Hotel in London, June 2014

Employer claiming to be Trent College in Nottingham, UK, May 2014

St. Ermin’s Hotel London, March 2014

Scam emails via the forum, January 2014

Employer claiming to be the Berkeley Hotel in London, September 2013

Job posts for universities in African countries, November 2012

Farooq Language School, February 2012

Employer claiming to be Bladins International School, Sweden, August 2012

Islamic Society of London, January 2012

Michael Noble / Paul Noris / Hossam / James, June 2011

Dong Peng English, April 2011

Employer claiming to be Studley High School, April 2011

Education Ministries Japan, March 2011

Employer claiming to be Ecole Active Bilingue J Manuel, December 2010

Execs Kindergarten College, October 2010

Miguel Diaz, July 2010

Miller family, UK, June 2010

Employer claiming to be Westfield School, April 2010

Employer claiming to be Happy Child Independent School, March 2010

English For All, China, March 2010

Employer claiming to be The Roche School, March 2010

Cheadle High School, January 2010

Ministry of Education Russian Federation, January 2010

Ombrossa International School, France, October 2009

UAE Ministry of Labour / Ministry of Public Works, September 2009

Norman International Academy, Malaga, Spain, September 2009

University of Buea, Cameroon, September 2009

ESL Job scam from Ankara, Turkey, August 2009

Grace Ville Secondary School, August 2009