Au Pair Scam

I recently received this e-mail, and I am unsure if it is a scam or not.. . . (The E-mail is copied below)
Firstly, there are simple spelling mistakes, which you assume such an educated person would make right?
Also, when ever I have received other e-mails asking me to be an Au Pair, they never included information on where they worked, or how much salary I would receive in the first e-mail.
Could you please let me know if this is a scam, if so I will contact the website I am signed up to, to make sure the other Au Pairs are aware of this..



Dear Aupair,

I'm an American family working and living in the united kingdom,my wife is late and am a single father of one, i have 2daughters that is 2&4 years old and am looking for an Au Pair from Any Country that can speak English and is willing to stay with us for a minimum of 6 - 12 Months.

I saw your profile on www.findaupair.com and i decided to contact you, to discuss the possibilities of having you as our aupair in the spirit of cultural exchange. We’re a laid-back and happy family. I work for Gallery Group united kingdom; a Multinational Oil Company i work as a Senior Project Manager and my wife Licen was also working in the same firm with me ,we have 2kids called Favour and Anita.my kids goes to school 5 days a week from 8.45am to 2pm and we all love the outdoors,you can visit our company's website www.gallerygroup-uk.net.

This effectively means that we mainly hang out in the garden at home or sometimes go out on day trips to just about anywhere; beaches, country parks, adventure parks, activity farms, seaside towns, forest walks… you name it. Favour & Anita are very easy going kids and as such you can get along with them easily. Your accomodation would be fully furnished and i would be paying you 560 GBP weekly throughout the duration of your stay with us.

I shall make available a vehicle for you to use if you can drive,i would also pay your travel expenses. my only 2kids means so much to me hence am are offering this salary so that you can put in your best while taking care of him. i would like to know when you can be available because i would like an aupair that can start as soon as possible.

Please e-mail me if you would like to discuss the position with me, while you send your pictures and introduction about yourself.i have attach my family picture for you to see our wonderful family,You can also contact us via our phone number+447024073508.

Best Regards
Tippins Johnson
For The Family

Hi and welcome to Scamwarners.
It's a scam for the reasons you mentioned. There's also the rather strange names and the 4470 number. This is a free one that transfers your call to somewhere else in the world.
We have had several other reports of au pair scams that mention the Gallery Group, entirely genuine, but scammers often steal the names of real people and businesses.

EDIT Can you post the scammer's email address? Thanks

Hi, here is another one -- the same phone number, but different names (and number) of children , and different offer:

From: Tippins Johnson [[email protected]]
Sent:
To: [email protected]
Subject: Farm Manager Needed.
Dear Manager,

I am Tippins Johnson, An American citizen working with an Oil firm here in UK. I live with my family my wife Licen and my only daughter Jolie, Recently I completed my farm project. I built an extensive farm which is expected to produce both live stock and grow crops for local consumption and export purposes. The fishery aspect is expected to normalize the high demand of good and healthy fishes in the London area. Hence am contacting you because i have read your CV from http://www.timesjobs.com as a farm manager for us to discuss the possibility of having you come to manage this new project. You will have to upon arrival scrutinize the team or body that will work with you in the farm, set certain things right in the farm. I want to be paying you for the first six months 1650GBP per week until we can be able to look at the income generated so far. If you are interested please contact me via my private Email [email protected] or call my direct mobile +447024097990 or text to +44 7960554113

Sincerely

Tippins Johnson

Here is the email heading:

Return-Path: [email protected]
Received: from web52205.mail.re2.yahoo.com (web52205.mail.re2.yahoo.com
[206.190.48.128]) by mx.google.com with SMTP id
10si10076919qcf.10.2010.06.19.00.28.23; Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:28:23
-0700 (PDT)
Received-SPF: softfail (google.com: domain of transitioning [email protected] does not designate 206.190.48.128 as permitted sender) client-ip=206.190.48.128;
Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; spf=softfail (google.com: domain of transitioning [email protected] does not designate 206.190.48.128 as permitted sender) [email protected]; dkim=pass (test mode) [email protected]
Received: (qmail 66618 invoked by uid 60001); 19 Jun 2010 07:28:22 -0000
DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=yahoo.com; s=s1024; t=1276932502; bh=
h=Message-ID:X-YMail-OSG:Received:X-RocketYMMF:X-Mailer:Date:From:Reply-To:Subject:To:MIME-Version:Content-Type; b=
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
X-YMail-OSG:
Received: from [41.205.160.157] by web52205.mail.re2.yahoo.com via HTTP; Sat,
19 Jun 2010 00:28:22 PDT
X-RocketYMMF: ninobrown4all
X-Mailer: YahooMailClassic/11.1.4 YahooMailWebService/0.8.104.274457
Date: Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:28:22 -0700
From: Tippins Johnson <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
Subject: Farm Manager Needed.
To: [email protected]
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
boundary="0-723045499-1276932502=:65781"
X-MS-Exchange-Organization-SCL: 4
X-MS-Exchange-Organization-PCL: 2
X-MS-Exchange-Organization-Antispam-Report: DV:3.3.5705.600;OrigIP:172.16.20.2

Made a couple of small edits for clarity - Ralph

Welcome here Berger.

Thanks for posting that email with the headers. I traced the originating IP and it's from Nigeria.

I've just looked up the IP 41.205.160.157 in IP Locator (http://www.ipaddresslocation.org/ip-address-locator.php) -- It's definately Nigeria:

IP Address Finder
-------------------------------------------------
IP Address: 41.205.160.157
Hostname: dial-pool3.ph.starcomms.net
IP Country: Nigeria
IP Country Code: NGA
IP Continent: Africa
IP Region:
Guessed City:
IP Latitude: 10
IP Longitude: 8
Organization: Starcomms Nigeria (v4 allocation)
ISP Provider: Starcomms Nigeria (v4 allocation)
-------------------------------------------------

Welcome, Berger - & thanks for your post.

From the headers:

Received: from [41.205.160.157]

No surprises really:
41.205.160.157 Nigeria

The English grammar plus the +4470xxx (redirect) phone numbers - absolutely no doubts that it is a pathetic scam attempt!

Well done for spotting it.

Mr Tippins Johnson sounds like a complete idiot.

Has this scammer sent you any family pictures...Ask him to do so....also I had a funny journey with this character...I had a good laugh at the end..but did get him to send many photos...strangely many different photos of "him"...his "mom & Dad...his "only daughter LICEN"...I feel bad for the innocent child being used in the pictures...portraying.."Single Father/daughter situation...If you would like I will post the Photos..

People who live this way if you don't take them seriously...can give you a good laugh.

Removed complete quote of earlier post - Ralph

Hi Britishqueen, welcome to Scamwarners.

What you are doing is called Scambaiting, (deliberately communicating with known scammers in order to waste their time) and we generally prefer it not be discussed here.

Posting any emails you received or photos you were sent is a great idea but telling those who have been emotionally hurt by scammers all about the fun you have been having is not always as helpful as we would like.

419eater is our sister site and there they do discuss scambaiting, why not take a look http://www.419eater.com

Oh!
OK...It is not that I want people to understand that I had "fun" Absolutely NOT...

what these people do really harms many..

.It was a way to hopeful allow readers to know if they come across such a situation...quickly get the upper hand...I will go to the reccommended site...thank you for the advice..and internet site location information...as I am new to all of this...I really feel bad for the child in the photos..wish there was a way to catch people who use childrens photos...

Removed quote of the post directly above - CF

When somebody is contacted by a scammer, the minute that they realise that it is a scam, they should drop all contact and not write to that scammer again.

Scambaiting must only be done with a totally fake identity, fake email address, fake details. It is something totally separate to taking the correct action (ie dropping all contact) when one has been the target of a scammer.

But I expect you are now learning about that at the 419eater site!

Here is the reply from the scammer:

From: [email protected]
Subject: DETAIL INFORMATION
Attachments: Tippin's Farm.docx
Dear Manager,
Greeting's from the Tippin's Family.
Note you are required by my counsel to fill in the information counseled in the attached file for the
preparation of your contract document with my family.
Have a nice day.
Warm Regards,
Mr. Tippin Johnson
For The Johnson's Family

The content of the attached file "Tippin's Farm.docx" as follows:

Dear Farm Manager,

We are so glad to read from you again knowing that you want to come and be part of our family as our Farm Manager. I will like you to send your complete personal information;

1. Full name: ...............................................
2. Country of Nationality: .............................
3. Current Resident Country:.........................
4. Contact Address: .....................................
5. Telephone/Fax no: ...................................
6. Marital Status: .........................................
7. Sex: ........................................................
8. Age:.........................................................



I shall go to my lawyer to prepare the contract which I will send to you via email for your review and acceptance.

Be informed that we shall take care of your tax here in London; you will be updated fully in the contract letter.


I will take care of your flight ticket, visa fees to enable you join work with my farm with ease.

Warm Regards,
Tippins Johnson
For The Johnson’s Family

Some lines from the email's header:

Received: from [41.219.255.145] by web63301.mail.re1.yahoo.com via HTTP; Sat,
26 Jun 2010 09:38:43 PDT
X-RocketYMMF: ike4you300
X-Mailer: YahooMailClassic/11.1.4 YahooMailWebService/0.8.104.274457
Date: Sat, 26 Jun 2010 09:38:43 -0700
From: <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
Subject: DETAIL INFORMATION
To: undisclosed recipients:;
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="0-1868303623-1277570323=:87734"
Return-Path: [email protected]
X-MS-Exchange-Organization-SCL: 4
X-MS-Exchange-Organization-PCL: 2
X-MS-Exchange-Organization-Antispam-Report:
DV:3.3.5705.600;OrigIP:172.16.20.2

Again, IP address [41.219.255.145] points to Nigeria (checked with http://www.ipaddresslocation.org/ip-address-locator.php ):

IP Address: 41.219.255.145
Hostname: dial-pool94.lg.starcomms.net
IP Country: Nigeria
IP Country Code: NGA
IP Continent: Africa
IP Region:
Guessed City:
IP Latitude: 10
IP Longitude: 8
Organization: Starcomms Nigeria (v4 allocation)
ISP Provider: Starcomms Nigeria (v4 allocation)

Thanks Berger, great information that will be a huge help - Well done

Hello,
I just got this email.
In my enthousiasm I react but now I got an email back that made me wonder...
Can you tell mee if this is a scam?

FIRST MAIL:

Dear Aupair,

We are Deck ’s family from The United State of America , We are a nice and fun loving family but we are currently based in London in England (UK).

I work as a production engineer for Continental Tyre a German based Tyre Company. My wife Helen also works with the same company as an Administrative Assistant. We were posted on contract to ( UK ) were we currently reside but we would be returning back to ( USA ) after our contract expires.

If you need to inquire about the authenticity of our employment with the company and our current posting to ( UK ), you could contact our company on [email protected] for more information.

Our busy schedule prompted us to seek the assistance of an aupair, we searched for potential nannies on findaupair.com site and we found your profile and liked it. Your basic duties would be to take care of our kid. We have a maid who would undertake of housework hence your basic responsibility is with our child Micheal.

We would be offering a salary of 1800GBP which would be paid to you at the end of every month and a weekly pocket money of 220GBP.We knows the amount is high but we are paid well by our company and we want the best for our son. You would have a furnished accommodation with Television Set, Internet Ready Laptop, Fixed Landline telephone and a car for your use.

Indicate your interest by sending us your picture, phone number and some character references for us to evaluate and consider you for the position.

On the issue of travel documents, we would take care of the cost by undertaking care of your traveling cost. In saying this we would be paying for your flight tickets and visa procurement charges.

Let us hear from you so that we can discuss more on the offer. You can contact me on this same e mail portal or via my direct mobile phone number +44-7024036567 or +44-702-4063975.

Best regards

Robinson Deck

For the family.

SECOND MAIL:

Dear aupair,

How are you doing today? Hope you are having a wonderful day.



We were so glad to read the information that you sent to us, we’ve gone through it and we fill that you can make a good match to our son Micheal.

I intend going to my lawyer's office today to inform him about our decision to employ you so that he will prepare a contract letter for you. After which I will go to the office of the UK HOME OFFICE here in London to seek for their approval in the contract and also seek for their advice as they have the legal power vested on them to issue Visa and permits to worker that are coming to work in the UK.



We would also like to inform you that Micheal will turn 4years old on the 19th day of July, as such we are planning to host a birthday party for him on that day so we would like you to be here before then so that you will get to know each other better before his day although Micheal our son is an easy going person he doesn't find it difficult to get along with anybody.



As for travel your expenses, we would undertake the cost of your traveling expenses as long as you will take good care of our son Micheal.



We would advice you to allow us to take care of your traveling documents so that you will not make any mistake since you have never been here before okay. As soon as our lawyer is through with the contract letter I will take it to the office of the UK HOME OFFICE here in London for approval and get back to you, Hence you wait for our instruction so that you will not make any mistake okay.



Have a great day ahead, for we wish our email finds you and your family in good health.



Helen my wife and Micheal my son said that I should send their best regards to you.



Please don’t hesitate to call me on my phone number is +44-7024036567 and +44-7024063975 if you have any question regarding to this message.



Yours sincerely

Robinson Deck.

For the family.

Hi gewoon.eef, welcome to Scamwarners.

The simple answer, yes, it is a scam.

I read as far as where is said

"We are Deck ’s family from The United State of America ,"

There is some bad grammar in there but the one thing that stood out, nobody from The United States of America is going to get that wrong

They then go on to say that they are currently in the UK, a common storyline for scammers.

Next I scrolled through until I found the suspected phone numbers;

44-7024036567 or +44-702-4063975.

I am not sure why they needed to show you 2 of them but the thing that stands out here is that both phone numbers are a UK redirect phone service, these phone numbers can be set up by anybody from anywhere in the world, calls to these number will be redirected to any phone, anywhere at all in the entire world including to Africa, a person who was actually in the UK would have no use at all for one of these phone numbers but to a scammer who is in Africa and pretending to be in teh Uk they are very handy.

No doubt its a scam, please do not reply further to these scammers