Babysitting scam, should I be worried about my safety?

I already know the text and emails I exchanged were from a scammer, From a "Nancy Philip". She wanted me to watch her two sons and send me a check for a "wheelchair seller" for $2000 and keep $400 for myself, and send the rest to buy the wheelchair. My concern is that I didn't listen to the warning's going off in my head and I sent her a resume before I found out she was a scam (which contained my full address, phone number, name, email, a brief description of myself, and a photo of me.)

She sent me a photo of herself with 2 children, which mollified me into thinking she was legit. Said she saw my profile on a babysitting website [should I include which site?]. I haven't heard from her since I emailed a confirmation that my info was accurate but I'm scared of what she will do with my information. A lot of harm can be done with a photo, and my address. People are saying that this scammer is located in another country, and won't find me, but I looked up the IP address and it said it originated in California. It is also very easy to look people up on the web (especially with the info she already has) and to find out more info about me and my family.

This is the first email she sent me as follows:
Hello,

Thanks for your response, I am glad to read from you. I am a single
Mother of two, David and Kelvin, they are 5 and 1+ years respectively.
I attended Texas School for the Deaf where i achieved my highest
qualification. I have my own business (Self Employed). I attend the
catholic. We are in the process of relocating to your area. I am 39
and i am hard of hearing. I work based on the development and
counseling of the deaf people in the community, i am moving to your
area in few weeks and i really need a honest and responsible care for
my kids.

More importantly, David is currently placed on a wheelchair due to an
accident he had some months ago. He can walk a few distance though but
the specialist advised he uses the chair for a while and i am planning
on getting him a powered wheelchair and have contacted a seller. You
will care for them starting [date]. I will appreciate if you
can tell me a few things about yourself and maybe attach one or two
pictures of you, below are your duties:

Cooking for the kids
Caring for the Kids
Cleaning the kids

This could be a temporary/permanent job. It depends on what your
schedule looks like but i do like to be sure if you are available the
first month. I made some research on the wages for your service and i
have decided to start with $400 per week and as time goes we can
negotiate on a new pay as my kids get along with you. I want to inform
you that i have a seminar i will be attending to as soon as i arrive
and will be having an interview section with you immediately i arrive
with my kids. Also i will like to include your pay to our payroll for
the period just to have you booked down and secure for my kids. I will
be needing the following information below to issue out the check to
you and i need your direct mobile number so i can text you in case i
need to pass an urgent information:

Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Phone #:

I have made some arrangements with the wheelchair seller, so as soon
as you get the payment, you will deduct $400 for your first week and
have the rest sent to the wheelchair seller for delivery as soon as
the check clears, i hope my kids will have the best of time while they
are in your care and i hope you will treat them right just like yours,
attached is a picture of me, David and Kelvin. Get back to me as i
have a lot of issue to put in place prior to my arrival. I look
forward to hearing back from you.

Thank you and God bless,
Nancy P.

If this check is sent to me, what should I do with it? I also have a photo of "her and her kids", along with full header email address, and a text only phone number, but I'm not sure if I should post it.

"Nancy" also sent me a text message, which was how all of this started in the first place:

Hi.My name is Nancy,I'm currently in Connecticut but in the process of moving to your area,I read your profile on [babysitting website] and will like to have you as my sons nanny.Starting [month] ending,9am-12pm,Mon-Fri. They are 5& 1+ respectively. Email me your resume/references to [email protected] [I've decided to post her email after all] for more details.

So the email in the first post is what I got back from her after sending over my resume and info. The number she was texting me from was (612)-851-9551, and then she switched phones and I got a text from this number: (720)-599-5771. I tried call the 612 number and one of those robot voices said it was a text only number. I haven't heard from her in two days so far, and I'm assuming she would contact me again to see if I got the check, and cashed it, as the scam requires. The longest wait in between emails from her was about 3 days, so if her scam is still in play with me, I guess I'll get an email from "her" in a day or so : (

She is in Africa. The IP address is in Mountain View, at the Googleplex.

You haven't given her enough info to commit identity theft, which she wouldn't try anyway. Don't worry.

When the check arrives, mark it fake, tear it up, or bring it and the envelope to the police. Do not cash it. Ignore all further attempts at communication from the scammer. Do not tell her that you found out it's a scam.

I really don't think your safety is in jeopardy at all. HE/SHE/IT may bug you for a while, but like VX said, stop all communications with IT.

The US Postal inspector's office has much more authority than local cops do, so if the fake check comes in the US mail, your best bet is to make a copy of all of the material that comes in the envelope, then take the originals to the Postal Inspector's office ( they don't usually take copies, they want originals for fingerprints, and other testing). Often times, these packages arrive via UPS, or other private delivery to avoid such problems.

You can find your local Postal Inspector's office here : http://locator.uspis.gov/locator/

If you are really worried about your personal information, set up alerts here : https://www.google.com/alerts
put the information contained in quotes ( ergo "123 Main St" , not 123 Main St ), and make separate alerts for your name, address, and whatever other information you gave that you are concerned about. Its also a good way to find out what web sites have information about you, that you can probably get it out of the publics eye with a simple request to be removed.

How funny (but not really if you actually got scammed)! I just got a text from the infamous Nancy Philip from care.com yesterday. She sent me the same spiel about her kids David and Kelvin and the whole wheelchair thing.

I had this feeling something wasn't right because 1, if she got my information off of care.com, why not message me on the actual website 2, the picture she sent of her and her sons were hellllllza pixelated 3) intuition.

Anyway, long story short, I'm glad I googled "her" before I went any further. To the OP, thanks for posting this warning. I probably wouldn't have went through the trouble with cashing the check, but it's nice to know now so I'm not wasting my time.

BEWARE OF NANCY PHILIP ON CARE.COM!

I hope her hard of hearing ass can read this, punk!

Actually, "she's" changed her name in 7 days. NOW she's Victoria Nelson, and she gleaned my phone number from care.com (which I have subsequently taken down.) Fake texting service through Nevada. Her story this week: What's interesting is my daughter is an Interpreter for the Deaf. Someone who was born deaf would actually have these slight grammatical issues. I'm sorry I gave "her" my address. I declined the check cashing and asked to Skype an interview. I imagine I will never hear from "her" again.

Thanks for your message. My name is Victoria Nelson. I recently moved from Phoenix to Seattle with my family but i'm moving to your area. on 21st of August and i will need a nanny for my son immediately. His name is Joe, 6 years old and the time would be from 9am to 4pm Saturdays and Sundays only. This is a long term position but its fine to start temporary. Some weekdays are also flexible if you are available but we may need to discuss that in person. I`m willing to pay 18/hour. I believe its a great pay and i`m paying that much because i want quality care for my son.

I lost my husband and a 7 months old baby in December. It was my late husband`s birthday and he decided to take the kids out while i was still at work. Joe happens to be the only survival from the accident but he currently uses a wheelchair. I have had terrible times in the last few months and this is one of the reasons i have decided to move to your area because staying here brings back some sad memories. Kindly be honest if you have experience with childcare because i want the best care for Joe. I'm hard of hearing and can only communicate via writing, reading lips or text messaging. I hope that isn't problem? I'm easy going and love to laugh. I can send you a picture of me and Joe in my next email.

It will be nice to read about you. I want a nanny who is willing to be a friend and family. Please note that i have a few applicants for this position but i made you our first choice so i wouldn't appreciate a waste of time. Make sure to include your complete name, address including zip code and cellphone number in your response so i could check the map to read the distance between us also to have your address on file. You may ask questions in case you have any. I await your quick response.


Thank you!

There is a trait in the message that you got that is fairly specific for West African, not deaf. There is another trait throughout both messages that is common to West African scam letters, but is also found in chatspeak. The reason she claims to be deaf is that you wouldn't understand her accent unless you were African yourself.

What address did she send the message from?

Hi I'm 19 years old and a current victim of this scam this week. The scammer got my information off of care.com. being that I have been looking for a job for a while I easily fell for her trap. She made me feel bad for her for loosing her husband and baby. I sent her all my info after telling me she wanted to send me the wheel chair for her 6 year old wheel chair bound son . The check is suppose to come this week. This morning I decided to check this situation out so I Googled babysitting scam and came across this cite. Everything was the exact same thing she told me except she changed her name to Helen Hudson. Her email is [email protected] she texted from a texting app the number is (561) 240-1773. I am awaiting the arrival of the fake check what should I do when I receive it ?

Don't cash or deposit it. Turn it in to USPIS, if it was mailed, or the police otherwise, or shred it.

The scammer will ask you if you got the check. Don't answer.

Don't cash or deposit it. Turn it in to USPIS, if it was mailed, or the police otherwise, or shred it.

The scammer will ask you if you got the check. Don't answer.

Thank You . I'm very happy that I found this site before it was too late.

Hey guys. She got to me too. Except now her name is ashley brown. Same children (David and kelvin). I knew it was too good to be true. She scheduled a face to face meeting with me though. I just want everybody to watch out for ashley now.

I too received a letter from Helen Hudson. Alarms went off when she asked for my address. I kindly sent her these posts about "Her" and let her know that I don't give my information to scammers. I'm really in need of a job too so I gave her more than a little bit of my mind.

[AlanJones]

In future please do not point scammers to our site or tell them that you know they are a scammer. The warnings posted here are porbably now worthless as "she" will have spent 60 seconds setting up a new email address to continue scamming and anyone searching like you did won't find the warnings of it being a scam.

I got scammed by Helen Hudson too. My dumb head thought it was a legit job offer. Unfortunately I had all ready sent her my resume. Here are our correspondences.

Thanks for replying to my message. My name is Helen. I recently moved from New York to Atlanta GA with my family but i`m moving to (city/state) on 15th of October and i will need a nanny for my son immediately. His name is Joe, 6years old and the time would be from 9am to 1pm Saturdays and Sundays only. This is a long term position but its fine to start temporary. Some weekdays are also flexible if you are available but we may need to discuss that in person.
I`m willing to pay 18/hour. I believe its a great pay and i`m paying that much because i want quality care for my son. The start date is 16th of October. I lost my husband and a 4months old baby in April. It was my late husband`s birthday and he decided to take the kids out while i was still at work. Joe happens to be the only survival from the accident but he currently uses a wheelchair. I have had terrible times in the last few months and this is one of the reasons i have decided to move to (city/state) because staying here brings back some sad memories. Kindly be honest if you have experience with childcare because i want the best care for Joe. I`m hard of hearing and can only communicate via writing, reading lips or text messaging. I hope that isn`t a problem? I`m easy going and love to laugh. .It will be nice to read about you. I want a nanny who is willing to be a friend and family. Please note that i have a few applicants for this position but i made you our first choice so i wouldnt appreciate a waste of time. Make sure to include your complete name, address including zipcode and cell phone number in your response so i could check the map to read the distance between us also to have your address on file. You may ask questions in case you have any. I await your quick response.

Thank you!

Hi (Stupidhead,)

Thanks for your email again... Without much been said, we have decided to hire you for this position and i really hope you have an eventful time caring for my son. His name is Joe, he is 6 years old and like i said in my first email, he's well organized. As for me, there's not much to be done so i would like to state a few major things you'll be doing while in the house.

* Performing light housekeeping tasks (dusting, making beds, changing linens, cleaning kitchen, etc.)
* Running Errands in timely fashion
* Preparing meals and cleaning up meal-related items
* Providing medication reminders and making sure he takes the drugs prescribed to him.

The Start date is 16th of October, Asides from the recently concluded surgery, he doesn't have any major illness and he's a very healthy boy. You really do not need to move him from one place to another because he's able to move himself around but we are just adhering to the doctor's instructions even though he thinks he won't be needing the wheel chair for long and he has no allergies or whatsoever. There will be gas reimbursement and other fringe benefits as well and most often you'll be paid in advance because of my belief that everybody has needs to be taken care of from time to time so i guess we are good on that aspect.

I understand people are been careful these days so if you don't mind we could all meet for Lunch or Dinner to share a good laugh together a day before you start working. This could be an open place or anywhere close and its okay if you bring someone along with you. I would really appreciate your commitment to this job and we hope to get nothing but the best from you and not be disappointed at anytime and i would like you to see this position as though you are helping us and been part of the family. That been said, i have decided to pay you half of your salary ($225) in advance for the first week of your service before our arrival.

I did get a good response about the inquiry i made for the powered wheelchair so I'll be finalizing everything before the end of the day. I am planning on having the wheelchair seller deliver it to you so you can have it ready for Joe on arrival since the seller will be shipping it through FedEx or UPS to avoid delays and there's no one presently at home to receive it on our behalf. He currently has one he's using at the hospital but we are not allowed to bring it home and it would be a whole lot of stress to buy one here because of the load and because its a powered wheelchair and quite heavy as well. I would really need your help on this one until we arrive. Please let me know if this works out fine for you so i can arrange for it as soon as possible.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank You and God Bless


After that I told her I will not work for people I do not meet in person and she has not replied since.

Just got contacted by Helen Hudson as well.
phone number 5612401773 or (561)240-1733
email address [email protected]

I'm posting her information up here because this thread is the only way I knew I was getting scammed. I googled her phone number as soon as I got her text and found this forum. I didn't reply at all and reported the issue to care.com since that is where she said she got my number from. I don't plan on replying at all. Hopefully others will google her name or phone number or email to see this thread before getting scammed themselves. Thanks for posting, I probably would have taken the job if I didn't see this!