Scam hits woman looking for work on nanny job website

It is a scam we hear of time and time again. But this may be a new twist on the Nigerian check scam.

[Politically Incorrect]

At least these scamers do this surreptitiously, not hiding behind the title of senator, congressman, or president (capitalization left out on purpose).

[Ellen]

Thank you for posting this information. I have also been contacted by this same person via Care.com . I also have been communicating with "Alfred Atakorah" for approximately 6 weeks. Fortunately, I have not received any funds for the Nintendo DS at this date and I have not invested my own funds.
It is very disheartening to learn that this is a scam.

[Mara]

She was very stupid!!! Everyone has learned of these scams so why do we still have stupid people falling for it?

[jess2209]

something identical happened to me i was selling a matress on craigslist a man responded and said he was interested , he said he lives out of town and will mail me a check, so i gave him my information and he said as soon as i recieve it and cash it to contact him so that he can have his movers come get it. I figured since he said he would wait until i am able to cash it so i figured hes an honest man and then i got an email stating that he just noticed the bank sent me the check for his rent instead of the 120 i was asking for a matress so he said once i deposit it to keep an extra 50 for myself for all the trouble and to send him the rest by western union! I recieved the check and he sent a different name and another state as the info to wire the money back to him so i got a little suspicious i figured if he really sent me a check for 2000.00 dollars that was really his hed be worried about his money and fight to get the remainder of it back so i wrote him an email because i had heard of these scams before i told him my banker said the check didnt clear and that the bank said that account is involved in fradulent behavior if he wants his money he can ask the bank 4 it ! I NEVER HEARD from him again! he didnt even reply to my message and usually he would email me back right away

[Elaine]

The same thing happened to me, But you have to remember and be "SMART" Not to do any money negotiations with someone you have not met in person!!!!!!!!!! We told them we would wait until they moved to the US until we could talk about any money, salary and hours. They never emailed back.

[Politically Incorrect]

Do you all ever wonder what these thieves, these con artists, these liars, these rodents who want to take you money illegally, and Obama have in common? Everything!!! Think about it!

[SusanB]

NEVER,EVER accept checks or do favors for people over the internet, never allow workmen to be paid before the work is done. When will these poor people learn. It is hard to say no, but the spelling and pronunciation is easy-N-O

[nannie30]

Also, I remember this guy Alfred, he emailed me and told me to email him off line, red flag #1. The whole story sounded too familiar, red flag # 2. I went email him back and the ad was gone in a day, red flag #3.

Scammers are everywhere. You have to know what to look for. Sites like sittercity and care need to pre-screen the ads.

[nannymichelle]

I have been hearing a lot of terrible stories about care.com and sittercity.com

First of all, there have been some tragedies of sexual predators using fake names and getting nanny jobs on nanny websites this summer. Two shocking ones: one in June and another in July.

Recent complaints on facebook and yahoo chat groups about care.com allowing parents to post job offers for less than minimum wage.

Plus, both sittercity.com and care.com have had ads claiming the pre-screen nannies but they do not. But, the article about misleading ads did say that the businesses are trying to fix that problem of ads stating the pre-screen.

It was greataupair.com that still claimed they pre-screen. The articles said they consider Visa application pre-screeing for aupairs, which means nothing for nannies.

Anyway, another example why everyone on any job posting site need to be careful. The nanny is lucky it was only money she lost and not worse.

[Bev]

I'm Looking for a nanny for my 3 year old starting next month. Need someone who is able to work flexible hours. Some overnights may be required in our home preferably. References required.

If interested please email me: [e-mail]

Thanks,
Bev

[Jessica]

He did it to me too! On nannies4hire.com

heres the message he sent me

My names is Lucas Benton and my wife name is Jennie from Malaysia, we will be relocating to United State on the 30th of October 2009, we need someone who can start working with our family on 21th of October 2009, because we’re going to get very busy when we arrive, that is why we need someone to be in charge of our child.

The name of our child is Maria, 5 years and about 3 months old.

We need someone during the week (Monday to Friday) and another person on weekend (Saturday and Sunday), We will need someone as well for (Wednesday from to Friday evening, 4pm to 7pm) you will be resuming work by 8am and close by 3:30pm from Monday to Friday. On weekend, Saturday you will resume work by 8am to 3:30pm, but on Sunday you will resume by 11am to 3:30pm, because we will be going to church together with her. The third offer is from 4pm to 7pm. Our offer for Monday to Friday is $600.00 and for weekend is $300.00, and the Wednesday to Friday evening is $300.00 as well.

Just choose the one that please you or let me know if you can do both, which will be seven days all together in a week, and your money will be added together for you. A car can be provided for you, if needed. Our new house address is 1805 OATLANDS CT WAKE FOREST NC 27587 that’s where your service is needed at.

I want you to contact me through my personal email, so I can always receive your message in time, because am always on it, GET BACK TO ME THROUGH MY EMAIL [e-mail] I will be waiting to hear from soon, I will give you my mobile line as soon as I hear from. Contact me back with your references to know you’re capable of taking care of our child.

Thanks.

I didn't lose any money though because my bank realized they were fake money orders before they allowed them to process.

[yarissa]

oh my Gad i cant believe this man said the same to me but when i ask for reference he stop writing , because i did said if you want some one to care you child you supposed to ask for police report ,you don't hire some one you don't know without any question .
I don't understand how can people like him do this. there is many single woman included me looking for a job because we need to support our family and crazy like him just offer kind of magic work that is not real . I m so angry

[karolina]

this guy scammed me too...but his name was jerry benson....offered me to take care of maria who is 5 yrs 3 months old.......everyone needs to watch out and be more carefull this guy is pulling scams left and right and we need to do something about it so that others dont get scamed....

[Disgusted]

I was scammed by this guy as well and received the same exact message as the above message that Jessica posted. I was going back and forth through email with this guy for about a month. Not knowing it was a scam at first I actually wired the money back over to him and I am now overdrawn $3000 from my bank account. The guy that is scamming all of us used the name Lucas Benton for me and he continues to still call me and email me. I am in absolute disgust! I have already contacted the local FBI and police department. I am going to continue to do everything I can to get a hold of this guy. If anyone else has any information they would like to share about this guy please post as much as you can because I am defiantly following up on this because I did lose money and I want to put a stop to this before other girls become victims as well.

[dman]

I have a friend that this happen to. The guys name was Lucas Benton and he had an associate from New York name Kenzy Brown. She would get the money order from Brooklyn, Ny and deposit it in the bank and then transfer to Malaysia. This guy even called my friend on the phone. I really would like to catch this creep. Would anyone like to discuss more about this? I think we should network together and maybe we can catch these people.

[Malaysia scam]

I actually called this guy on the phone!!!!!! OMG He said his name was Randy Brown . This is the second e mail he sent me to let me know I got the job....ya RIGHT!
HE WENT SO FAR AS TO GIVE ME HIS PHONE NUMBER AND HE ANSWERED WHEN I CALLED!
"Greetings!
How are you today? I hope fine! This message is to let you know that you have been accepted for the job. Your work commence as soon as we arrive over there on the 15th of November 2009.
I will like to let you know the amount for each offer again, so everything can be well understood by you:
Monday to Friday (8:00am-3:30pm) is ==$600.00,
Wednesday to Friday (4:00pm-7:00pm) is $300.00
Saturday to Sunday $300 (8:00am-3:30pm) Please Note: Since we will be going to church on Sunday with Maria you have an advantage of resuming working at 11.00am on Sunday. So if you choose the Monday to Friday option, you can also choose the both offer if you think you are fit for the both, but let me know the actual offer you choose.
Once again the name of our daughter is Maria, 5 years and 3 months old. She likes watching cartoons very much and she loves playing video games. Maria is a very gentle and active girl, she like meeting new friends as well and has no allergies; she is excited in places like the beach, museum, zoological gardens etc. She is very obedient and doesn’t get provoked so easily and sometimes she could be angry like most kids do, when this happens, just try and pet her and she becomes more interesting.
You are free to ask what ever question you like to know about Maria and my family, and I am very sure you will love working with my family, I will also scan my family pictures to you in my next email and explain more about my family and about Maria to you.
I want you to go and price (1 Nintendo DS Game, with 7 different Games Disc price at any, Best Buy, Circuit City, or any other game stores in your area) that you will bring along with you for my child when you are coming to resume your job, because she wants something new and the types that are available in Malaysia are made in Malaysia characters. That is reason of needing you to assist me buy this for her, so make sure you get back to me with the price of the games, so I can arrange how the money will get over to you as soon as possible.
A reference is required at least. Our house address is: 13224 N 13TH Lane Phoenix, AZ 85029
Thanks very much."

[Mallory]

I had this exact same scam happen to me.I recieved these same emails over two and a hald weeks ago. I'm fifteen years old.

[RinaDiana]

My name Rina Diana.
I have that e-mail too. When I apply on care.com .
The same name maria 5 years old and jeannie his wife also they send me they picture.
They from belgium and stay in malaysia. They want came to USA for stabilish her wine contribution in USA.
And his associate just send me money $2000.
But I m greatfull because I couldn't sleep until now ( 2.38 am).
and I read this news.
So I m not do before something wrong for tomorrow morning.
And they used christian language also like God mercy.
That's hurt for me too.
Thank you tammy for posting this scam

I know its hard to live right now. But I believe both of us will get good job in the future.

God bless you and thank you

Regards

Rina Diana

[RinaDiana]

CRAZY

[Amy]

I got an e-mail from an individual named 'Randy Brown' about 2 months ago. He said he was from Malaysia and needed a babysitter when he moved to the us. I later found out he was a scammer!
there is another person that e-mailed me about 2 days ago- BEN JERRY. he also claims to be from Malaysia. Please be very careful with these people, don't even respond to their e-mails, because it's a trick and they are all scammers.