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Studying In Singapore
Catching The Foreign Agent Who Cheats

First of all, before you start to find out about how to save yourself from being conned or tricked, allow me to emphasise the fact that the Singapore government and all its agencies have taken effective measures to counter the predators of this issue. However, even with effective strategies to safeguard foreign students studying here, there will always exist that danger that you will be conned by some untrustworthy agents. For your reference throughout this article, I will refer to them as U.A’s. (untrustworthy agents)

The first type of U.A you should protect yourself against is the one that is on the constant lookout for their prey, with strategies to lure the victim into an unfair deal. This most dangerous U.A is the foreign agent recruitment agency, found outside Singapore and is the first interface between a foreign student and a Singapore school. Please note that although we believe only few student recruitment agents are untrustworthy, it is important for you to identify them and keep a safe distance from them.

To identify whether the foreign recruitment agency is untrustworthy, you need to ask probing questions.

The 2 Step Strategy To Catch A Untrustworthy Agent:

Step 1: Collect all printed documents (flyers, etc) that has been provided by the recruitment agency. These documents are of 2 types – the documents from the schools in Singapore and the documents from the agency direct. Study the differences between the two types of documents.

Step 2: Find a possible loophole in the disparity, and grill the marketing people to see the lies they would tell. If lies are told, what guarantee do you have that they will not cheat you?

ROLE PLAY

Let’s assume that you find the following advertisement on the flyer from the agency:

“Study in Singapore without spending a single cent.Fees paid by the part-time work you are employed for. (Note* Fees have to be paid up front but you will earn the amount back with the part-time work provided.”)”

Now compare the above statement with the documents from the school. Do you have such a promotion or guarantee? If you do not find similar promises, question the recruitment agency.

You: Your flyer says I can work in Singapore and earn money, but the school flyer does not say so.

Agency: Oh…minor problem. The school does not want to make promises that you will get a job. (What the U.A is actually saying is – “Don’t worry, trust me.”)

You: I would like to call up the school about this part-time job. Could I have the person’s name and contact number?

Agency: Please do not disturb the school. The school has authorised us to answer all queries. (What the U.A is actually saying – “Don’t call the school.”)

You: If we are not allowed to communicate with the school, why are the email and phone number of the school here? They are here for the students to communicate with the school directly right? I just would like to know who to speak to.

Agency: The school is so huge and there are so many officers. We deal with the top people and they do not have the time to communicate with students direct. They expect the students to liase through us, their agent. . (What the U.A is actually saying is – “Don ‎t call the school.”)

You: Never mind then, I will call up the school about the job thing myself – just to ask general questions.

Agency: You don’t need to do that. Actually the part time job scheme is our agency’s way of helping the students. It is from us and not the school. So they would not know much about it. (Note the wolf has changed his argument from the school not wanting to make promises to the school being uninvolved with the job.) Why don’t you ask us the questions about the job? . (What the U.A is actually saying – “Don’t call the school.”)

You: So what jobs are on offer?

Agency: Many jobs – working in restaurant, in the school – as waiter, tutor, cleaner, etcetera. . (What the U.A is actually doing is painting the picture that getting jobs is easy in Singapore.)

You: Will you find us the jobs?

Agency: We will send you for interviews and whether you get the job, it is not for us to determine. (What the U.A is actually saying – “Getting a job depends more on you than on us.”)

You: How will you get a job when your agency is based here, not in Singapore?

Agency: We are based in Singapore too.

You: Can I have the contact information?

Agency: Actually, our agents are in Singapore. They will fix you up with a job interview. . (The U.A is changing the story again from being based in Singapore to not being based there.)

You: Ok, can I have their contact information.

Agency: They are very busy people and they do not have time for you. We do.

(What the U.A is actually saying – “Don’t call the agents.” If these agents exist)

You: My friend was expelled from the Singapore school and deported because he was caught working. Are you sure I can work in Singapore?

Agency: You are wasting my time. If you want to sign up, sign up. Otherwise I got other prospective students to attend to.

(What the U.A is actually saying – “You have checkmated me. Now get lost!”)

That’s how you catch a Untrustworthy Agent!

 
 
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