Avoiding scams and fraud

You can avoid scams by following these common-sense approaches:

  • DEAL LOCALLY WITH CUSTOMERS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON - Most scams are done at a distance.
  • AVOID PREPAYMENT SCHEMES - Anyone who wants to give you money before they meet you should be viewed with suspicion.
  • NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
  • FAKE CASHIER CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON, and BANKS WILL CASH THEM AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE when the fake is discovered weeks later.
  • NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION (bank account number, social insurance number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)

If you receive a suspicious email see if it has already been discussed on the findAtutor.ca Forums by logging in and going to the forums. If it is not already reported there, please post it in the forums or forward a copy to the admin.

DO NOT REPLY to suspicious e-mails. Doing so reveals your e-mail address. If in doubt, wait to find out more information before you reply.

Who should I notify if I am concerned that I may be a victim or potential victim of a scam?

  • PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
  • Non-emergency number for your local police department.

Recognizing scams

Most scams involve one or more of the following:

  • inquiry from someone far away, often in another country
  • Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order,
  • lucrative offer with very little apparent risk,
  • inability or refusal to meet face-to-face before completing transaction

Examples of Scams

1. Distant person offers a genuine-looking (but fake) cashier's check.

  • you receive an email suggesting they hire you as a tutor and offering to pre-pay for a significant amount of tutoring.
  • cashier's check is offered for prepayment of your service.
  • value of cashier's check often far exceeds the tutoring they are planning - scammer offers to "trust" you, and asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service
  • banks will often cash these fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR, including criminal prosecution in some cases!
  • scam often involves a 3rd party (nanny, travel agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc) scam may not initially involve any overpayment, but they cancel the tutoring and request a refund where they let you keep some of the money for your troubles.

2. Foreign company offers you a job tutoring or teaching overseas.

  • foreign company or individual wants to hire tutors or teachers overseas,
  • requests upfront money for airplane ticket, or fees to get started,

3. Shady employment offers with overseas language training program.

  • May be an actual legitimate employment offer, but with a bad history of not paying as promised, or poor employment conditions.
  • Do research before even considering any overseas employment offers.

So far we are not aware of any of the tutors listing on findAtutor.ca actually falling for these scams. Lets keep it that way. Be suspicious of all unusual requests.

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