My daughter has applied for a position as a nanny on your site. She is discussing a potential job with a person and I am worried that we are unable to check up on anything about this potential employer. She is relocating to a new state, as is the potential employer. He is a single father, having lost his wife and one child in a car accident. My daughter would be taking care of the surviving child. I just want to be sure this is legitimate.

asked by Marlene L. on 8/27/15

18 Answers
Thumbnail of user cathyk11

I would be cautious. I hope she is not moving for the job, as that is NOT a good idea. I get text messages daily from people asking me to email them (often for a friend), or someone coming from out of town or whatever. I delete these right away. First of all, they should go through the regular website and email you. No one would hire anyone without first meeting them, checking references, etc.
I am sitting at the home of someone I took with through the Care site. I first communicated via email, then set up a face to face and met the kids. If it seems too good to be true, it is. USE COMMON SENSE! Seriously, if you don't have common sense you really shouldn't be taking care of kids, pets or anyone else!

Helpful  (2)
Thumbnail of user sarahl78

Do not listen to this person and stop messaging now. This is a SCAM a very very big scam. This is called the fake check babysitting scam... He will prob ask about a wheelchair and offer advance in pay... The text will open with Good day, then send kindly respond to my personal email... Please be aware.

Helpful  (2)
Thumbnail of user rosea57

Scam that is rampant on Care.com. Company is doing nothing to stop scammers. My college student granddaughter has received numerous emails hiring her and wanting to pay in advance. They are always relocating to area, have disabled child, want to advance pay plus a large amount to pay for something. Always same basic story. Today she is meeting a man claiming to be federal officer about cleaning his house. Meeting in public place and warned not to go with him. Told her to check his ID. Care.com is a site for scammers.

Helpful  (1)
Thumbnail of user jenniferr82

Be careful of this. I was doing the opposite, looking for a house cleaner. Started at Care.com & began getting responses from a site called Thumbtack. Needless to say, both persons I tried to hire never showed up. Neither do background checks on anybody. Somewhere on both it says you must do this yourself, some mumbo jumbo about how they do the "best they can in screening"--that could mean they do nothing, they just list anyone needing someone such as a nanny or anyone looking for work.

Helpful  (1)
Thumbnail of user teeas

There is no way this is true. It screams danger, seriously, that's just obvious.

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Thumbnail of user susanr62

This is not legit. It's a scam that happened to our son also. When we discovered it was a scam due to inconsistent contact, incorrect use of the English language, and unwillingness to communicate via phone calls, we decided to go along with it to see what would happen. A fraudulent Chase Bank check was sent via UPS and we took it to Chase Bank where they verified it was a closed account. They turned it in to their fraud department for investigation. Hope this helps.

Helpful  (1)
Thumbnail of user johng210

This is a complete SCAM. Soon the request for money will come. My daughter went through nearly the exact same thing but she figured it out before committing to anything.

Helpful  (1)
Thumbnail of user melissas62

NO, don't go through with it!
I have received countless text messages claiming similar job offerings such as yours, and when I reply they never answer me back. They also offer crazy amounts of money for the job. How do I know it's a scam? When I say to meet me for an interview at MY home ( when my husband is home) or I'll come to their home WITH my husband they never respond... criminals!

Helpful  (1)
Thumbnail of user ceceliab2

Tell her not to go for this! The man could be a serial killer, or someone who ties women and girls up in
Their basement!

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user kathys57

When in doubt, DON'T! I got similar offers and they are scams. Better to be safe than sorry if motivations are unclear.

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user jeffreyl27

Don't use care.com There are 1,000s of ways people scam you.

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user susieh4

If it sounds too pitiful to be true...

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user alysias1

Its a huge scam! This happened to me as well, just cut all communication ASAP!

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Thumbnail of user suzannes23

Good Grief! This is an ongoing problem with Care.com. Please be careful, I truly believe this site is a Scam

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user desireeb6

DO NOT LET HER TAKE THAT JOB. IT IS A SCAM. There is a group of scammers using that same exact story (using different people and names each time). They have tried to scam me at least 8 times with the same story. The conversation will eventually lead to them asking her to cash a check or money order and offer to pay her in advance. The check or money order is bad and she will be left with the bounced check. They usually say the check is for a wheelchair or something of the sort. They prey on nice caretakers with some sob story about relocating and having a disabled family member. Same scam and story every time.

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user susanm136

Sounds very suspicious. If you can't confirm this is legitimate, assume it's a scam. If the potential employer offers to pay anything at all up front, cut off communication.
Ask this person for work references and check them out! He is surely employed if he is looking for a nanny. Do a background check as well. If he is legit he will certainly understand and give you the info you need to obtain it. Ask for a driver's license number and state issued.
You can not be too careful! First and foremost though, if he offers to pay anything up front and asks you to cash a check, keep the agreed amount then send the remainder back to him, run DON'T WALK away asap.

Helpful  (0)
Thumbnail of user laurenr19

This is a scam. Don't fall for it. Very common on care.com.

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Thumbnail of user valerieh11

Same thing happened to me. It's a scam. Cease all communication with the potential employer at once and do not deposit any checks they send.

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