SHERWOOD, AR – A Sherwood teen is warning babysitters to watch out when using websites like Care.com
The girl says scammers targeted her after she set up a profile to find a nanny job.
“I thought it was a good idea,” Alicia Wingfield says.
When Mikaila Wingfield first used Care.com looking for a nanny job, her mother Alicia didn’t imagine potential scammers might be using it too.
“It sounded all very legitimate,” Alicia says.
18-year-old Mikaila got the idea after her friends successfully landed jobs from it. It didn’t take long for users to contact her, but she says the messages seemed a little fishy.
“From out of state, said they’d be in your area soon, they said they could pay in advance,” Mikaila says.
At least three people like that reached out to Mikaila, claiming to be parents needing babysitters. They asked for her personal information but refused to speak over the phone. Some even seemed to mix up their kids’ names or genders.
“It didn’t add up, at all,” Mikaila says.
Growing skeptical, Mikaila asked for references to prove her potential employers were really who they said they were. But all they gave her was hostility.
“They shut it down, they were like you’re wasting my time don’t ask anymore questions,” Mikaila says.
Care.com has warnings on its website about check scams. It also has resources like background checks to make sure caregivers are who they say they are.
But the site offers very little to verify the care seekers. And Alicia Wingfield thinks that could put teens like her daughter at risk for kidnap and trafficking.
“That was my thought. Is this a way they’re luring in young girls?,” Alicia asks.
Which is why Mikaila’s still looking for a nanny job, just not on Care.com.
“We decided that it’s not a good idea,” Mikaila says.
This time, she’ll try it the old fashioned way. The Wingfield family filed a report with the FBI about the questionable messages. They’re still waiting to see if anything comes out of that.
We reached out to Care.com for comment on this safety issue, but they have not yet responded.
The girl says scammers targeted her after she set up a profile to find a nanny job.
“I thought it was a good idea,” Alicia Wingfield says.
When Mikaila Wingfield first used Care.com looking for a nanny job, her mother Alicia didn’t imagine potential scammers might be using it too.
“It sounded all very legitimate,” Alicia says.
18-year-old Mikaila got the idea after her friends successfully landed jobs from it. It didn’t take long for users to contact her, but she says the messages seemed a little fishy.
“From out of state, said they’d be in your area soon, they said they could pay in advance,” Mikaila says.
At least three people like that reached out to Mikaila, claiming to be parents needing babysitters. They asked for her personal information but refused to speak over the phone. Some even seemed to mix up their kids’ names or genders.
“It didn’t add up, at all,” Mikaila says.
Growing skeptical, Mikaila asked for references to prove her potential employers were really who they said they were. But all they gave her was hostility.
“They shut it down, they were like you’re wasting my time don’t ask anymore questions,” Mikaila says.
Care.com has warnings on its website about check scams. It also has resources like background checks to make sure caregivers are who they say they are.
But the site offers very little to verify the care seekers. And Alicia Wingfield thinks that could put teens like her daughter at risk for kidnap and trafficking.
“That was my thought. Is this a way they’re luring in young girls?,” Alicia asks.
Which is why Mikaila’s still looking for a nanny job, just not on Care.com.
“We decided that it’s not a good idea,” Mikaila says.
This time, she’ll try it the old fashioned way. The Wingfield family filed a report with the FBI about the questionable messages. They’re still waiting to see if anything comes out of that.
We reached out to Care.com for comment on this safety issue, but they have not yet responded.