Au-pair scam?

Hi there,

I registered on au-pair site http://www.newaupair.com, favorited a couple and they contacted me via my email adress with these messages. Is this a scam, or someone posing to be someone else? Or does it sound safe. This is my first time trying to find au-pair work.

Ciao x,

Thank you for your interest.

We'd like to tell you something more about us.

As per our profile we have a couple of 2 years old babies (23 mounths) .
They spend a lot of time outside (mainly on the beach or on the romenade by
the lake).

They walk and we need an energetic person that follows
and takes care of them.

Your accomodation will be by my wife's mother house that is only 1 minute away
from us. You will have your private facilities and indipendent entrance.

We are asking you to work 6 days a week - total ca. 40 hours a week (some in
the morning and some in the afternoon) Your pocket money will be based on the ordinary aupair agreement.
If you are coming by plane the nearest airport is Milano Malpensa and we can
pick you up at the arrival (if you come by car it is fine).

Where we live is a nice charming village by lake Maggiore. From here you can
easily go to the main town like Verbania, Varese, Milano or Switzerland (Canton
Ticino).

We really think you will feel as part of our family and we will give you our
best assistance.

For us it is fine if you will start from 20th August (this date can be a little flexible) for 2/3 months.

The most important thing is that you play and speak English with our children
and to be serious and responsable. We hope you do not have a too strong
accent.

We also think it is correct for both sides to have a period of trial of 2
weeks (anyway I really think you will feel fine with us - and you know already
us).

Hoping it is all fine and hear from you soon, best regards, ciao (do not
hesitate to ask if you have any question).


Samuele and Giuliana, Mattia e Sofia

Hallo x,

we thank you for your email and the information about yourself. We would be happy if you decide to choose our family and are able to join us starting from the end of August for two or threee months.

Your weekly pocket money will be Euro 100,00.

About the flights to Italy normally are the girls that are doing on their own. The nearest airport is Milano MALPENSA and we can pick you up at your arrival.

We hope to hear you soon and we send you our best regards

Giuliana, Samuele, Mattia e Sofia

----Messaggio originale----
Da:
Data: 20/07/2010 20.27
A: <[email protected]>
Ogg: RE: Soory, Ciao Tabitha. Samuele and family


Ciao Samuele and family,

Thanks for telling me about yourselves it was very interesting to read! I am extremly interested in applying.
I would like to tell you a bit about myself and ask some questions if that is ok.

I'm x I am eighteen years old, and live in a village outside of London, in England UK. I have excellent English skills as my mother's tonguge is English. Although I was born in England I am a quarter Greek Cypriot and a sixth Italian on my fathers side.
I believe myself to be a confident, friendly and an easy to approach individual. I enjoy meeting new people and socializing. I have a calm temperament and I am generally a very patient person. I enjoy working with children from ages 3 months to thirteen years, and participating in creative activities with them such as painting, drawing, decorating cakes and making things. I am a very social person, with an open mind to all cultures and different kinds of people. I have a positive outlook on life, and am normally very smiley and happy most of the time, even when I'm feeling under the weather.
I am experienced with children and have worked in a nursery for work experience with children aged 6months to five years old. I love children, and regularly babysit once a week. I find it fun communicating with children and understand that it is essential to build a close personal relationship with them when working with them so that they feel safe and comfortable around me.
I have many different hobbies and interests these include singing, acting, dancing, musical theatre, reading books, writing poetry, painting, drawing, designing, cooking different food from around the world and socializing. I am a particularly creative person and enjoy all aspects of art and design as well as enjoying performing arts.
I would like to become an au-pair as I love working with children and I would also like to experience Italy.

I would also like to ask if you would be able to fund the flights to Italy or if I would have to do it myself?

Thanks very much!

x

Dear x,
we are glad you are interested coming to stay with us.
Well, it is not a problem if you cannot swim.
Our account number is 830312. We do not have a web cam, but you cansee our pictures from our account. If you like our telephone number are on our account (besides our number at work is +39 0323 788046 - it is an Hotel, as we work there).
Ask what you need, or call us (we will be happy to speak with you).
Ciao samuele e famiglia

---------- Initial Header -----------

From : "x
To : [email protected]
Cc :
Date : Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:41:07 +0000
Subject : RE: R: Cavagnera family

>
> Hello,
>
> Thank you for the information. As this is over the internet and I could be going to meet anyone, I would appreciate it if you would be able to send me your membership number on here from http://www.newaupair.com. Would you be able to go on webcam to me to prove your identity, speak over the phone and send me pictures of yourself and your family. As you may be aware you can never be to careful.
> All this sounds fine. I thought I'd tell you as you mentioned you live nearby a lake that i can't swim so I hope that wouldn't be a problem.
>
> Thanks
>

Ciao x,

was nice to hear you on the phone. If you like to stay with our family we are happy.

If you found a flight for the 19th of August it is fine and if you are sure in your decision book the flight.

We hope to hear from you soon and regards

Giuliana, Samuele, Mattia e Sofia

----Messaggio originale----
Da: x
Data: 21/07/2010 12.59
A: <[email protected]>
Ogg: RE: Cavagnera family


Ciao Samuele and family,

I am extremly interested in coming to stay with you as an au-pair. There is a flight on Thursday the 19th of August. Would it be ok to come then? Also should I book the flight soon?

Thanks

Tabitha

Please help me!

Thanks

x

Welcome!

I cleaned up the format of your post a bit to make it a little easier to read. I also removed your name and email address to help preserve your privacy and prevent your information from being picked up and used by spammers and scammers.

Based on the correspondence you have posted, this is not an obvious scam; I see no evidence of a money request or setup for a money request, and while the English does contain mistakes, they are not the typical African mistakes. however, I will defer to some of our support members who deal more frequently with this type of scam.

Welcome!

I cleaned up the format of your post a bit to make it a little easier to read. I also removed your name and email address to help preserve your privacy and prevent your information from being picked up and used by spammers and scammers.

Based on the correspondence you have posted, this is not an obvious scam; I see no evidence of a money request or setup for a money request, and while the English does contain mistakes, they are not the typical African mistakes. however, I will defer to some of our support members who deal more frequently with this type of scam.

Thanks very much. Yes that's what I thought. But as it's my first time doing all of this I'm quite vunerable. I've spoken to this family on the phone and I spoke to the wife and husband and the children.
I've seen pictures but my Dad said they looked to old to be parents. So I don't know whether they are safe to go and meet or not!

Hello tabithacate

As Dotti says, this correspondence shows no typical signs of a scam. The working arrangements are a little more demanding than would be expected, but not excessively so.

Have you telephoned the work number they gave you? This is the telephone number of a genuine hotel, and the management there may be able to confirm the identities of the family.

Nonetheless, if you are feeling vulnerable about going to live with and work for people you have not met, you may feel safer making arrangements through an established agency, preferably one that you can physically visit in your own country, or possibly one in the country you hope to work in.