SCAM ALERT: Arlington Heights police received a report of a scam attempt recently. A potential victim was contacted by a subject through Sittercity.com where baby sitters/nannies can network with those needing their services. He emailed she got the job and he would send her a check in advance for the first month of work. She was expecting around $1,000 but received a check for $3,800. She was suspicious of the amount and filed a police report. The check was not deposited and the potential victim lost no funds.
If this scam would have continued, the offender would have asked her to deposit the check and wire the excess funds back to him. By the time the bank would determined the check was fraudulent the victim would be responsible for the funds sent back. The fake checks look real, but they are fake.
REMEMBER: ALWAYS BE SUSPICIOUS OF THOSE ASKING YOU TO WIRE FUNDS.
The offender likely searched for the victim on Sittercity.com. Offenders often scan newspaper and online advertisements for people listing items for sale, and check postings on online job sites from people seeking employment in different version of the scam. They place their own ads with phone numbers or email addresses for people to contact them. And they call or send emails or faxes to people randomly, knowing that some will take the bait.
In work-at-home scheme, offenders may claim that the work-at-home victim will be processing checks from their “clients.” The victim is instructed to deposit the checks and then wire the offenders the money minus your “pay.” Offenders may also send victims a check for more than the specified pay “by mistake” and ask victims to wire them the excess.
In the sweepstakes and foreign money offer variations of the scam, offenders tell you to wire them money for taxes, customs, bonding, processing, legal fees, or other expenses that must be paid before victims can get the rest of the money.
Anyone having information about this or any other serious crime in Arlington Heights should submit an anonymous text tip by texting the keyword 847AHPD and your message to 847411(tip411) or call Arlington Heights Crime Stoppers at (847) 590-STOP. Callers are guaranteed anonymity and may qualify for a cash reward of up to $1,000.
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