Juliet Payne - Mrs Mary Ranger (Agent). SCAM?

Hi, I'm from Spain and I've received an offer to be an Au Pair in Staten Island, NY for a family called Payne. They've sent me some e-mails and pics of the family and also gave me an email of an agent called Mary Ranger who is supposed to work for Instant International Travel Tours.

Here are some mails that really sound as a scam, I wish it wasn't as I was really excited about the idea of going to live and work to NY.

Dear Applicant,

Thanks for the message you sent to us. We really appreciate your effort concerning working with Juliet Payne in the United States. Your category of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program (DS-2019) allows you as a caring live-in childcare provider between the ages of 18 and 35 to live as an extended member of your host family in exchange for room, board, and a stipend. Whilst the main priority of a successful applicant will be to take care of the kids, you should also have free time to enjoy life in the U.S.
For processing of your J-1 Exchange Visitor Program and Working Permit, We will like to have some information about you so as for us to start with the processing. You will have to get back to us with the below information so as for us to go ahead with your visa application.There won't be problem processing your Traveling Document. Below are the information's you will have to provide to us :

1. Your Full Name
2. Your Full Address
3. City
4. State
5. Zip code
6. Country
7. Phone Number
8. Sex
9. Date of Birth (D.O.B)
10. E-mail address
11. E-mail address of your Host Family
12. Full Name of your Host Family
13. Scan Copy of your Certificate of Birth
14. Full Home address of your Host Family

Get Back to us with the above Information's for further processing of your Working Permit and your J-1 Exchange Visitor Program Visa. This will take us up to 20 days at maximum efficient. Delays depend on you and your host family. We are looking forward for your quick response.

Thanks

Best Regards

Instant International Travel Tours

Mrs Mary Ranger (Agent).

Good evening, thanks for your positive response.

Your duty?
You'll be working 5 to 6 hours a day. You are required to prepare the kids for school and take them to and from school. (that is, take them to school and later go and pick them from school in the afternoon). Care for and stimulate the children both mentally & physically, to ensure their intellectual, physical and social development. Look after their physical well being, encouraging proper use of everything - wash and bath them, help them on how to dress and undress. You are required to spend time with the child, running errands, house cleaning and light cooking is a possibility, but not really a requirement. We prefer someone who will reinforce our desire to teach our children responsibilities and do not expect to undertake the children assigned tasks but instead to find ways to encourage them to complete tasks (I mean not to spoil the kids by doing everything for them).
On weekends (Saturdays) you'll take them out to new places such as beach and other recreational places (You are fully free on Sunday).
Our offer?
We shall be offering you 450$ per week (We hope it is enough since we will cater for your feeding). You and the kids will be going for shopping once in 5weeks. There is free internet facilities in the house for your use, private room, bathroom and a private car for you in taking the kids to school provided you know how to drive or willing to learn driving. Getting you a driver's license won't be herculean.
Our interest?
The family's interests include the zoo, doing yoga, soccer, water skiing, snow skiing, walks in the park, playdates with friends, the arts, literature, traveling, shopping, and our kids.
We love adventure, arts, traveling, soccer, literature, laughter and our wonderful children. They are very active wanting a partner to bounce and spin with them. Convince me that you are capable of doing this job to my satisfaction.
In conclusion, I will like to know if you are pleased and agree with the working terms before we proceed to your visa application. I wait to read back from you.

Help me please!

Thanks!

I didn't even have to read the emails to tell you it is a scam. Your own description was enough.

There are very strict rules governing au pairs in the US. One of those rules is that in order to get a visa, you MUST be sponsored by one of the au pair agencies on the US government's approved list. There are no travel agencies on that list, so that alone guarantees this is a fake.

The writing also tells me very clearly that you are NOT dealing with an American. The mistakes and syntax are consistent with an African writer. They also can't seem to make up their minds how many children they have (sometimes they say "child" as in one, other times "children.")

There are actually several other things that say for certain it is a scam, but I won't point them out as I don't want to educate any passing scammers.