None of the items below is, on its own, proof that something is wrong, this is a discussion of signs of scams and red-flag behaviours. The point is to recognise patterns. The structure mirrors the order you'll typically meet a tutor: profile, then messages, then payment, then lessons.
Red flags in a tutor’s profile
A profile that doesn’t match the person. The most common tutoring scam doesn’t involve a real tutor at all. Someone copies a genuine tutor’s photo, qualifications and bio, posts them under a new name, and takes deposits. If the same photo appears under a different name elsewhere, stop there. Some tutors use an illustration or a non-face photo for privacy, which is fine. What matters is that the person you speak to on a video call matches the profile.
Claims you can’t check, with no willingness to fill them in. Plenty of tutors write short profiles. That’s fine, and “Cambridge graduate” is often just modest shorthand. It also helps to know what a platform has actually checked. On some sites, qualifications are simply typed into a profile by the tutor, and nobody looks at a certificate. On Tutorperch, a Qualified Teacher or SEND badge means our team has seen the certificate and matched it to the tutor’s identity-verified name. Other qualifications on a profile are the tutor’s own description, so it’s still worth asking about them.
Reviews that don’t add up. A run of five-star reviews posted within a few days, all in similar phrasing, is worth a closer look. On Tutorperch, only families who have unlocked a conversation with a tutor can leave a review.
Red flags in pre-booking communications
Pressure to pay a large amount before any lesson has happened. Paying for a first lesson or trial in advance is normal, and many tutors ask for it. A demand for a block of lessons, a “registration fee”, a “materials fee” or a “booking deposit” before you’ve had a phone or video call is how deposit scams work. The money arrives and the tutor stops replying. If a tutor does want a block booking, it’s reasonable to ask to start with one lesson first. A genuine tutor asking for advance payment will happily talk to you on camera first and tell you what happens if a lesson is cancelled. A scammer usually won’t, because the aim is to take the money and stop replying.
Messages claiming to be from Tutorperch. Our staff never message you inside a tutor conversation and never ask you to pay through a link sent in chat. A message asking you to “verify your account” or pay a fee through a link is a scam. Report it.
Avoiding a phone or video call. A ten-minute phone or video call before the first lesson is the simplest way to confirm the person matches the profile. A busy tutor might suggest a different time. Someone who has a new reason every time is a concern, especially if they’re also asking for money.
A DBS certificate that doesn’t check out. Private tutors aren’t legally required to hold a DBS check, so not having one doesn’t mean anything is wrong. Some tutors also prefer not to send copies of their certificate, which is their right. The concern is a tutor who says they have one, but whose certificate has a different name, looks edited, or turns out not to exist. Since 21 January 2026, self-employed tutors in England and Wales can apply for an Enhanced DBS check through an umbrella body. Scotland uses PVG and Northern Ireland uses AccessNI. Tutors with a Tutorperch safeguarding badge have had their certificate checked by our team against their identity-verified name and date of birth. See run your own DBS check.
Contacting child directly without parental consent or awareness. Before lessons begin, arrangements should go through a parent. A tutor who asks for a childs' number or social media before the first lesson should be asked why, and good practice is that contact with a student should be in a group with the parent or the parent Cc’d in.
Red flags around payment
Payment methods with no comeback. Gift cards, cryptocurrency, PayPal Friends & Family, and money transfer services to someone you’ve never met are the methods scammers prefer, because the money can’t be recovered. Bank transfer, card payment, PayPal Goods & Services, and payment services like Stripe or Wise are all normal. Tutors based abroad who teach online will often have an overseas or business account, which is fine once you’ve had a lesson and know who you’re dealing with.
The name on the payment doesn’t match the tutor. If you’re asked to pay a different person, a “business partner” or an “agency” that wasn’t mentioned before, pause and ask why.
A deal that depends on paying up front. “£10 an hour, but only if you pay for 20 lessons today” is a common hook. The low rate gets your attention, and the up-front block is where the money goes. Rates vary widely. Students and newer tutors often charge less, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s only a problem when the rate comes with pressure to pay a lot at once. See how much does a tutor cost for typical rates by level.
No clear answer on cancellations. Most tutors have a simple policy for cancelled or missed lessons. It’s worth asking before you start, so everyone knows where they stand.
Red flags in lesson conduct
These signs are less about money and more about safeguarding. They’re rare, but they matter most.
Conversation drifting onto the child’s private life. Some chat is part of good teaching, because rapport helps children learn. Repeated conversations about the child’s home life, friendships, romantic interests or appearance are different.
Asking for time alone, out of your sight. For online lessons, it’s normal for older students to work on their own. It’s the tutor asking you to leave, or to turn the camera away, that’s the concern. In person, a request to take the child somewhere you haven’t arranged and agreed to is a hard stop. Lessons in a library or a café, or an outing you’ve planned together, are fine.
Gifts, money or favours to the child. A card or small gift after exam results is lovely. Repeated gifts, money or special favours are a recognised grooming pattern; see the NSPCC's signs of grooming
Secrecy. A tutor asking a child to keep anything from their parents, whether a private chat or a special “deal”, is one of the clearest grooming signs there is.
Contact outside lessons that you don’t know about. Messages between the tutor and your child that bypass you, especially late at night, need a conversation.
Changes in your child. Children who are uncomfortable with an adult often go quiet about lessons rather than complain. If a child who used to talk about lessons stops, or becomes anxious beforehand, that’s worth paying attention to.
A note on what these signs are and aren’t
Most tutors who tick one of these boxes have an ordinary explanation. They’re busy, they keep their profile short, or they prefer not to share documents. The list is there to support your judgement, not replace it. If something just feels off, it’s fine to pause lessons while you ask questions. A good tutor will understand.