Thursday

Beware.... scam on Care.com

Just an FYI to all those that use care.com.  My daughter is almost 20 and currently works fast food. in speaking with her today she informed me she put her two weeks notice in at her job because she got a new job she found on care.com.  She proceeds to tell me that a man named John hired her to watch his 3 year old son from 3p-7p M-F for $400.00/week in Alvin, TX.  She then tells me that he is sending her some money for her first week but he is going to add some extra because he needs her to go and pay for something for him.  (which came in the mail today, YES, she gave him her address ) it is a cashiers check (fake I am sure) for $2750.00!!!  

I had her ask him for his address and he told her he would send it later.  Then I had her ask him to contact me.  which he did, by text..and it went like this..  (excuse the grammar, I am typing exactly as he did)

Him: Hello, its Mr John, sorry are you Shanna's mum?

Me: Yes I am, Can you explain what it is you are asking of Shanna?

Him: I told you to be my son childcare and she agreed

Me: She said you wanted her to pay for some furniture?  Also please tell me about your son.

Him:  My son is 4 yrs old and he is calm and gentle

Me: and the furniture?  Explain that situation please.  What is his name?  Where do you live?

Him:  I live in Houston 

Me: Explain that situation please, What is his name?  What part of Houston?

Him:  WHY ALL THE QUESTION

Me: Because I am her mother and I don't know you.  Did you send her payment already?  Frankly I am concerned that you would allow someone that you have never met to take care of your child.

Him: YES

Me: In what form?

no further replies...  notice the discrepancies in the child's age and where he lived. 

Now I am sure that no one on here would fall for something like this, but my daughter did and I just wanted to let someone know!


18 comments:

Leigh Raymer said...

Thank you for being such a good mom! You should hand this info over to law enforcement to prevent a future tragedy

Taleia said...

I'm mostly just dying laughing that somebody thinks it's okay to get involved with their TWENTY YEARS OLD ' life like this. I mean, I can see giving advice, but to think that it's okay to step in and text yourself is absolutely hysterical.

Unknown said...

Why because she is a caring mom? Once you have kids you will see, that you always feel protective of them. Nice to see families sticking close and helping each other out.

Just a mom said...

OP here. Taleia why so rude? Yes, i stepped in because my daughter is very gullible and naiave. She actually thought this was legitimate. There us no need for you to be rude. I was simply letting people know about a scam.

Anonymous said...

Your daughter is an idiot.

Taleia said...

I'm not being rude, I'm being realistic. There is a line between caring and hovering (and inappropriate) and you clearly crossed it. Anyone who is 20 years old should be able to handle their life without mommy stepping in. You should def warn her if you think this is a scam, but to actually ask for the number and text to check up for her is just ridiculous.

Just a mom said...

Just so you know... my daughter is the one who sent him the text and asked him to contact me. We are very close and like i said in my previous post she is very gullible so asking "mommy"for help/advice is normal in our family....

Unknown said...

Exactly. Some families are just close. I see no harm in helping family out. It actually is a leaning experience. There is no limit where we can learn from an experience or from a mistake in life. We are a close family and help each other out.

Anonymous said...

Every family is different, Taleia. For some this is perfectly normal, for other bizarre. My mom and I are best friends but at 20, I'd rather swallow glass than let her get involved in my business. I made a lot of mistakes, and my mother would say there are some things one has to learn on their own skin. My housemate (25 yo) and her mother aren't all that close but they see it as perfectly normal as to buy all of her groceries and pay her bills (she's employed and with a ba).
care.cm is full of scams, when my account was still active I'd get an email or two per month that were scams, and sometimes even texts. You have to get smart to avoid scams, and if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is ( 1 child, 4 hr/day, 20hrs/wk, $20/hr for a total newbie? Keep dreaming).

Unknown said...

I make $25 hour for one older kid

Anonymous said...

This happened to me! I was contacted by a man who gave me an elaborate story (after me asking him LOTS of questions) about how his family is moving to my area and they would like to hire me to take care of their child. Since they were moving here with close to nothing he was going to send me money to buy his daughter a carseat and furniture for her bedroom. We abruptly stopped communicating when I asked to speak to him on the phonedge and refused to send my address. Watch out fellow nannies.

Anonymous said...

*phone*

Anonymous said...

OP
I think you are a great mom. I have three kids in their twenties and I would do the same thing. Your daughter is not an "idiot" as some poster rudely claimed. Adults fall for these scams ALL the time on craigslist. You were just looking out for her. You came on here to help out people who work in the child care industry and you get subjected to verbal abuse. This world has gone mad.

Anonymous said...

Taleia, your time would be better spent in an English Composition class.

Leigh Raymer said...

To the poster who used the term "idiot" - that poster most usually has very good advice which is usually not sugar coated so I think she was having a bad day. We ask no name calling but lot's of good discussion - like above! It's NEVER too late to get good advice from your mom, even when she is in heaven

Ino said...

My daughter is 19 years old and an after school nanny for a family in Manhattan. It's absolutely okay to step in! I've recently done it for a family taking advantage of her with success. Congrats to this parent! Our 18-22 year old adult- children still need us!

Anonymous said...

You are an exceptional mother who listens to your instinct and looking out for your daughter!
It is exactly what you suspected a SCAM!

Anonymous said...

Someone tried this on Cl back in 2006 when I was selling my furniture. They sent me a check maybe $500-$600 more than the asking price, then said oh sorry I made a mistake, can you please send back the difference. I was like yeah right.
I would never guess these scammers are now using care.com