Red flags from official scam guidance
These warning signs come from published consumer guidance (checked 7 November 2026), not from OTC opinion:
- You are asked to pay to start or to get paid. The FTC’s job-scam data spotlight says: “Never pay anyone to get paid. Someone telling you to pay money to get the money you’ve supposedly earned is a sure sign of a scam.” BBB lists “upfront costs to begin work” and “charges or taxes to withdraw money already earned” as red flags.
- The offer arrives out of nowhere. The FTC advises ignoring generic and unexpected texts or WhatsApp messages about jobs; BBB lists “unprompted job offers”.
- The pay sounds too good to be true. BBB lists “too-good-to-be-true salaries”.
- You are rushed. BBB lists “high-pressure offers to take the job immediately”.
- The interviewer will not show their face. BBB lists interviewers who refuse to turn on the camera, and advises using video in an interview if possible.
- The “job” is liking, rating or boosting things online. The FTC describes task scams that ask you to like videos or rate products in an app and then demand a deposit; that is not teaching work.
Sources: FTC Data Spotlight, “Paying to get paid: gamified job scams drive record losses” and BBB, “Employment scams 2026 update”.
How to check a company in the Online Teachers Company List
- Search the company by name. Open the companies directory and find the company page. If a recruiter’s company name is not listed at all, that is not proof of a scam, but do extra checks before you share documents.
- Check the status. Each listing shows a status such as open, closed or unknown. For example, the Gogokid listing shows the status CLOSED — a message claiming to hire for a closed company deserves a hard second look.
- Use the official source link, not the recruiter’s link. Where a listing has a source, it links to the company’s own page (for example the Preply listing links to Preply’s teach page). Apply through that official page rather than through a link sent in a chat.
- Read the “Is it legit?” FAQ and the teacher feedback. Every company page has an “Is [company] legit?” answer that states the listing status and community score, and says the page does not certify the company. Some listings include saved teacher feedback about support or late payments — read both the positive and negative notes.
- Compare the fees you are asked for with the listing. Marketplace listings that mention joining costs say profiles are free: the Preply listing says Preply’s teach page states it is free to create a tutor profile, and the Wyzant listing says listing a profile is free. If someone asks you for a “registration”, “training” or “equipment” fee before you are hired, stop and verify.
- Share personal documents only after you have verified the company. Real applications do ask for things like a resume, intro video or certificates (see our application documents checklist), so send them through the company’s official site or email domain.
Safer places to start your search
Start from companies whose listings show they are open and hiring, then apply on their official pages:
- Who’s hiring now (refreshed weekly)
- Companies hiring Filipino teachers and companies hiring South Africans
- How to choose an online ESL company and demo lesson and interview tips
- How online English teachers get paid — useful for spotting payment requests that do not match how companies describe paying teachers
If you think you have been targeted
Stop replying, do not send money, gift cards or crypto, and keep screenshots of the messages. Report it to your bank if you shared payment details, and to your local police or national consumer or fraud agency. BBB’s page lists the BBB Scam Tracker, the US FTC (ReportFraud.ftc.gov) and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre as places to report. If a fake recruiter used a real company’s name, tell that company through its official website, and let other teachers know in the OTC community.
What this post does not claim
OTC listings are a teacher-powered directory, not a certification. A company can be listed as open and still not be right for you, and statuses can change. This post does not name any company as a scam, does not quote pay rates, and does not promise jobs, students or income. Always confirm details on the company’s own website before you apply.