Is this a scam

Hie,

I am an au pair looking for an au pair job so i got a response i was just wondering if this is a scam or not.

Below is the first mail i got.

Dear Au Pair/ Nanny,

I am Mrs Lisa Collins, from United Kingdom. I work with the United Kingdom Marine as the Chief Engineer and I don't usually stay home unless during weekends. My contact address is :

81, Moorgate
London EC2M 6SQ
United Kingdom.

and I will like you to know that I have just two kids which names are Jenny and Kel there ages are 2 years and 4 years old. I want an Au Pair or nanny for them because they are the only one left at home after their Mother divorced me for another man.

WORK DESCRIPTION:

Your services would be needed for at least 6months to 12months.
I need someone Honest,Caring,Trustworthy,Loving,Affectionate,Concerned,Understanding and Loves Children.
Do you have an International Passport for applying for a Visa to U.K?
Do you have a valid working visa to work in (U.K)?
A copy of your resume'/CV and a photo

YOUR PERSONAL DETAIL:

Your full name.
Your contact address.
Your phone number and fax number.
Your age.
Your country..
Your previous family name.
Your Previous family E-Mail Address.
Your identity card please very important.

QUESTIONS FROM ME:

How many Years of experience do you have as an AU PAIR/Nanny?
Do you have a Driver's License?
How was the last family with like?
Have you ever traveled overseas?
Can u speak English?
Can u cook?
Can u Drive?

Your duties will be taking the kids to school and bringing them back home, play with them, go to museums, playground, watching movies, prepare/serving their snacks and foods. You will have your Private Room which will have Bathroom, Toilet, Television, and Air-Conditional. You will have access to the Internet and a Telephone at home to get in touch with your family&friends and loved ones. You will be having Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays as your off days, so to enable you have enough time for yourself. As for your salary, I will be paying you 2000 Pounds every 4 weeks and a pocket fee of 500 pounds weekly which I suppose should be Okay by you and as regard to my family picture, I have attached them for you to see Okay...
I hope to read from you soon.

Warm regards,

Lisa Collins.

Then after replying i got the mail below.

Dear Nanny
Thanks for the quick response and am so sorry for the late reply. I want to know if you are ready to work with my family, kindly email me back and I would like to know if you have a valid UK visa and work permit to work here with me in the UK....If you don't have visa and work permit, I would advise you to email my agency to help you for the UK Visa and Work Permit, here is the link that you will contact them ([email protected]) If you contact them let them know you are from me and explain to them all you need for the traveling to UK and I want to tell you that I will help you pay for the half payment that the agent ask you to pay for the visa and work permit here just to tell you how urgent I need you here and to assure you on how serious I am about you coming here to work for my family as an Au Pair, the job is already yours.As for how long you can work for my family, well i think that depend on how long you will like to work here with me but left for me, I do not intend to see you off in the next 2-3 years because I really would need your services. I will be very grateful if you respond better to me..... You have nothing to worry about you will be treated like one of the family and you will have 5 days to work in a week and 2 days as your off day that is Saturdays and Sundays. You will have the opportunity to do what ever you want to for you own good on weekends.I already discussed about you with my lovely kids, they seem to like you despite the fact that they are yet to see you. Well hope to hear from you soonest.

Warm regards from,
Mrs Lisa Collins.

--- On Tue, 6/9/09, xxxxx xxxxxx <[email protected]> wrote:


From: xxxxx xxxxxx <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Au Pair Is Needed To Come And Work In United Kingdom Immediately
To: "Lisa Collins" <[email protected]>
Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 10:40 AM


Dear Mrs Lisa Collins,

Thank you for your mail.

I am Miss xxxx xxxxxx from Malawi and i am 24 years old. I am intrested to be an aupair or nanny for your children. My contact address is: -

Miss xx xxxxxxxxx,
C/O xxxxxxxxxxx,
Ministry of Trade and Industries,
P.O. Box xxxxxxx,
xxxxxxxxx xx

Tel: +xxx xxxx xxx

I have never worked as an au pair before but am looking forward for the experience. I have experience in looking after children. I know how to cook and i have a drivers licence i really love kids so i promise to be so loving and caring.

I have an International Passport to apply for a visa in the U.K. Currently i dont have a valid visa to work in the U.K.. I have travelled overseas before and i know how to speak english.

I will send you more details as soon as possible.

Thanks,

Miss xx xxxxxx

Edited out real life identifying information -- CW



--- On Fri, 5/6/09, Lisa Collins <[email protected]> wrote:


From: Lisa Collins <[email protected]>
Subject: Au Pair Is Needed To Come And Work In United Kingdom Immediately
To:
Date: Friday, 5 June, 2009, 3:24 PM

Please let me know if this whole thing is a scam before its too late.

Hi Mbix and Welcome to Scamwarners

I just read the first 2 lines and I am comfortable in saying it is indeed a scam based on the level of English used
I will do some more digging and I am sure we can have some proof to add shortly

[AlanJones]

Hi Mbix and welcome to ScamWarners,

Yes it is a scam, there is a topic on Lisa Collins here - viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2737&p=10467&hilit=Lisa+Collins#p10467.

You will notice that in my post, which comes from the same email address (Lisa Collins <[email protected]>) she claims to be in New York.

You will eventually be asked to pay fees to the travel agency by Western Union money transfer.

A definite scam.

Note this search on scammers mail click here

Television, and Air-Conditional.

That's a sure sign of a scam. See here. It should be air-conditioning, which is very rare in houses in the UK.

2000 Pounds every 4 weeks and a pocket fee of 500 pounds weekly

That's impossibly high for an aupair/nanny, and well above average pay in the UK.

You've given your name, address, and email address in your posting, and I suggest you edit it to remove all personal information. It's better and safer to be anonymous here.

[AlanJones]

As Arnold says, "Air-conditional" seems to be a feature of this type of scam format. I've seen it on a couple of them that I have received in addition to the Lisa Collins one.