Craiglist Scam:

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  • Heidi
    Daycare.com Member
    • Sep 2011
    • 7121

    Craiglist Scam:

    email to me regarding my Craigslist ad, my responses are in blue:

    >>>> Hello,
    >>>> I am Wensly Hunte a single father who lives in the
    >>>> Netherlands(Europe).I will be relocating to the United Sates of
    >>>> America
    >>>> (U.S.A) due to my transfer to wisconsin.I am looking for
    >>>> childcare/babysitter who can assist me to watch my daughter while i am
    >>>> at
    >>>> work. I want you to get back to me with your service charges from
    >>>> monday
    >>>> to
    >>>> friday.
    >>>>
    >>>> Thanks as i await your sincere reply.
    >>>>
    >>>> With regards,
    >>>> Wensly Hunte.

    So, at first I was buying the bs, I have to admit. Got kind of excited. THe foreign thing did not throw me, I move here from Germany at the age of 3, so I thought it was just "accent"...at first


    Hi Wensly-
    >>>
    >>> Thank you for your email.
    >>>
    >>> I would be happy to talk to you further about childcare for your little
    >>> girl. Do you have any details about your move yet? Will you be in the
    >>> Necedah, Mauston, or New Lisbon area? When will you be moving here?
    >>>
    >>> I am sorry, but I cannot give you a rate without more information. I
    >>> usually discuss the details in during the interview process. I will say
    >>> that my rates are competative to others in the area, and your daughter
    >>> would get the very best care here!
    >>

    >> Hello B-,
    >>>
    >>> Thanks for your quick response to my email,I work for an N.G.O Non
    >>> Governmental Organisation that takes care of children living with
    >>> HIV/AIDS
    >>> we are sponsored by UNIAIDS and A.S.O Aids Service Organisation so am
    >>> just
    >>> sationed here
    >>> We will be arriving wisconsin by next friday 27th of Jan hence we will
    >>> set
    >>> up an interview with you piror to your resumption but i have to make
    >>> sure
    >>> everything is well organized and arrange before leaving. I want you to
    >>> get
    >>> back to me with your service charges from monday to friday.You will be
    >>> watching her from 8am-5pm.
    >>>
    >>>
    >>> My daughter Nicole is 2 years old,she likes to play around with kids
    >>> and
    >>> like to be pampered with toys. My daughter is healthy,i just need
    >>> someone
    >>> to take care for her when am at work.All necessary contracts will be
    >>> filled on the interview thats if you do the contract thing.
    >>>
    >>>
    >>> I would like you to get back to me with your total charges for a month
    >>> during your available periods because my affilated company will make an
    >>> upfront payment for my first month in the states to help me settle
    >>> down.
    >>>
    >>> Kindly send the following details to get your paycheck processed .
    >>>
    >>> ---------Name:
    >>> ---------Address:
    >>> ---------City:
    >>> ---------State:
    >>> ---------Zip code:
    >>> ---------Phone: Home and cell:
    >>> ---------Age:
    >>> ---------Sex:
    >>> ---------Present
    >>> ---------Present occupation:
    >>> ---------Number of years as a babysitter:
    >>> ---------Number of available reference:
    >>> ---------Email
    >>>
    >>> I would anticipate your response,Thanks for your anticipated service.
    >>>
    >>> Regards
    >>>
    >>> Wensly.
    >>>
    >>>
    THis is where I gave him SOME of the info he asked for, but only what he could get off my website and dcf's website...

    Thanks so much for the response madam,But pls give me a specific amount
    >> you charge for a whole month?
    >>


    >> $500.00 will cover the month

    Hello Mrs B,
    > Thanks for your sincere response to my emails.I am ok with
    > your asking price but there are some things i will like to know about
    > you?Will you be responsible for her feeding and diapers?Or will i have to
    > bring it my self weekly?Will i have to pay extra fee for feeding and
    > diapers?are you married or a single parent like me?Do you have kids?Is
    > your enviroment kid friendly?Do you have pets?Get back to me so i will be
    > sure of what kindda enviroment my daughter will be living at or would you
    > prefer to watch her at my place.Kindly be informed that you would be
    > getting an upfront payment for the first 4 weeks of your working period
    > before i start caring for the bills myself after i am settled in New
    > Lisbon.
    >
    > The paycheck would be issued to you as soon as possible,also i wont want
    > you to be suprised to have some excess fund on the Check of $500 that will
    > be mailed to you cus i will need your assistant by helping me to send the
    > remaining excess funds that will be on the check to the agent in charge of
    > the furniture and fittings of my new home in New Lisbon.All you need to do
    > upon the receipt of the payment is to deduct your own charges for 4 weeks
    > and forward the rest to the agent who will be in charge of the furniture
    > and fittings of my new home.
    >
    > Thanks so much for willing to watch over my daughter for me.
    >
    > I hope to hear from you soon.
    >
    > Regards,
    > Mr. Wensly.


    >really!????|


    You should be ashamed of yourself for trying to take advantage of someone
    in this way! A quick internet search easily told me that this is a fraud
    scheme. As soon as you mention sending money back to you, you lost!

    If you are going to go around ripping people off, why not go for the big
    time and rip of some big company, not hard-working people who care for
    children!

    Perhaps you would like the phone number of my 90 year old neighbor so you
    can send her some "money" too! Maybe you can pull the old "you won a
    sweepstakes" scam!


    >
  • cheeseheadmama
    Daycare.com Member
    • Aug 2011
    • 76

    #2
    I had something similar happen to me last week. The person sent an email about her "daughter" but referred to her by 2 different names in the email, "Ashley" and "Jenny". I thought that was a little weird, but responded with a minimum of information.

    Got a response with an explanation saying that her 2 YO daughter's name is "Ashley Jenny" but she prefers to be called "Jenny". What? The kid is TWO, how can she have a name preference. Everything smelled a little weird about it so I eventually just told her the spot was filled.

    CL has been full of creepers lately. The only responses I have gotten from a posting to sell some furniture have been bogus too. Don't know what is going on but it is completely annoying!

    Comment

    • KBCsMommy
      Licensed Daycare Provider
      • Jul 2011
      • 392

      #3
      OMG!! Im in California and I too have received this email. I didnt reply because it just looked like a fraudulent email. When I showed my husband he told me " dont you dare answer that!" But it was the exact same wording. Weird!

      Comment

      • wdmmom
        Advanced Daycare.com
        • Mar 2011
        • 2713

        #4
        I have received this type of email too. It's always a single working parent looking to relocate in your area needing childcare for (a very common child's name/usually a girl...ex. Mary, Sarah, Jessica, etc).

        It's the same game. They want you to cash a bogus check made out for much more than your rates with the expectation of giving money back to them.

        I had a friend fall into this a few years ago. Got a check for $3600 and was suppose to send back $2600. The check questioned the validity and the police were called. Had the bank cashed the bogus check, he would have been charged with 3rd degree theft (because of the amount) and given that he was on probation, he would have went to prison for it!

        Comment

        • sharlan
          Daycare.com Member
          • May 2011
          • 6067

          #5
          Originally posted by cheeseheadmama
          I had something similar happen to me last week. The person sent an email about her "daughter" but referred to her by 2 different names in the email, "Ashley" and "Jenny". I thought that was a little weird, but responded with a minimum of information.

          Got a response with an explanation saying that her 2 YO daughter's name is "Ashley Jenny" but she prefers to be called "Jenny". What? The kid is TWO, how can she have a name preference. Everything smelled a little weird about it so I eventually just told her the spot was filled.

          CL has been full of creepers lately. The only responses I have gotten from a posting to sell some furniture have been bogus too. Don't know what is going on but it is completely annoying!
          How funny, I am in SoCA and this was on our local Craig's List last week. Plus the mother is deaf so everything needs to be done via email or text.

          Comment

          • busymommy0420
            Sharkgirl0829
            • Oct 2011
            • 247

            #6
            My Step-dad was taken for $3000 in a similar situation. He was given a check for $3000 and then asked to wire $2500.00 and he could keep the $500 difference. HE DID IT and the check was returned of course for insufficient funds. My Step-dad is retired and not as quick with his wit. My sister and I have a financial background and knew it was a scam right away but were to late.

            ***My theory is of it seems to good to be true then most likely it is NOT true.

            Thanks for sharing...you might save someone else some money!
            Proud Mommy of Six...

            Comment

            • Michael
              Founder & Owner-Daycare.com
              • Aug 2007
              • 7946

              #7
              It amazes me how this keeps these creeps in business. The fact is, people do send them money. Out of a thousands of email they only need a few to come through to make good money. I don't know if anyone read about the Korean father and daughter that were duped into that Nigerian scam. They actually sent money and went to Africa to get the payout. They were kidnapped and help for ranson.

              Blogger is a blog publishing tool from Google for easily sharing your thoughts with the world. Blogger makes it simple to post text, photos and video onto your personal or team blog.

              Comment

              • sharlan
                Daycare.com Member
                • May 2011
                • 6067

                #8
                My fil lost over $150K to scammers @ $12K a pop before we found out. They would call him and tell him that he won a lottery and had to pay the taxes before they could send it to him.

                Comment

                • saved4always
                  Daycare.com Member
                  • Dec 2011
                  • 1019

                  #9
                  My friend had similar response...

                  My friend's husband put an ad for her out on Craig's List and she received a similar email a year or so ago to the one you received. I think the details were different but the one she got was also in broken English and wanted to send money to her like that. She immediately knew something was fishy and ignored the emails after that.

                  Comment

                  • Michelle
                    Daycare.com Member
                    • Jan 2011
                    • 1932

                    #10
                    I get so many of them in my e-mail I don't even know if it's a real parent or not until I open the e-mail. Then I see the usual misspelled words, coming to America junk.
                    Can we get a virus from just opening an e-mail?

                    I have seen some daycares say on their ad...

                    "We do not respond to e-mail's due to scams . All e-mails from cl will go straight to my spam folder...If you would like a tour of my facility, call me or contact me through my website"

                    This is the best thing to do...I'm going to do it soon.

                    Comment

                    • cheeseheadmama
                      Daycare.com Member
                      • Aug 2011
                      • 76

                      #11
                      Originally posted by sharlan
                      How funny, I am in SoCA and this was on our local Craig's List last week. Plus the mother is deaf so everything needs to be done via email or text.
                      Yes! I did a reverse look-up on the number she wanted me to send a text to and it showed up as a land line in the LA area. I knew it was a scam as soon as I saw that. Good to know I am smarter than the creepers out there! happyface

                      Comment

                      • Crazy8
                        Daycare.com Member
                        • Jun 2011
                        • 2769

                        #12
                        I really thought everyone knew all of these things are scams. I actually feel sorry for anyone who IS moving to the US and needs child care, cause I'd never believe them!!!

                        My friend just posted on FB that her friend was taken for a few thousand dollars in another scam - there are people calling claiming to be DEA agents - getting the numbers of people who have ordered pharmacuticals online or by phone and are scaring them claiming they will be arrested and their homes will be searched, etc. unless they wire them $$$ to pay their fines.

                        I have told my mother ANY TIME anyone asks you for money over the phone you DO NOT give them any info!!!! Anytime someone emails you asking you to click a link DO NOT do it. Go directly to the site on your own. I recently got an email from what looked like my cable company - it wasn't!! Be careful with EVERYTHING you do online!!!

                        Comment

                        • momofboys
                          Advanced Daycare Member
                          • Dec 2009
                          • 2560

                          #13
                          Originally posted by sharlan
                          My fil lost over $150K to scammers @ $12K a pop before we found out. They would call him and tell him that he won a lottery and had to pay the taxes before they could send it to him.
                          So sad - sounds almost like what happened to my dad. When he was in early stages of Alzheimers (before we knew he had it) he was scammed out of most of his retirement by scammers from out of the country. Very sad.

                          Comment

                          • Daycaremomof2
                            Daycare.com Member
                            • Oct 2011
                            • 101

                            #14
                            I had the exact same e-mail from the netherlands. I stopped replying when they asked me for all of that information- too many red flags. What is wrong with people!?!

                            Comment

                            • beachgrl
                              Daycare.com Member
                              • Aug 2011
                              • 552

                              #15
                              I have had many of these types of emails, ridiculous!
                              Last edited by Michael; 01-20-2012, 03:00 PM.

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