We received a tip from one of our readers that they unfortunately had been scammed by someone on Craigslist.  It appears as though they only got a little bit of information from our nanny but we wanted to get the word out to others in case they might come across Mr. Combs.  We would like to think Amy for reporting this to us and would encourage everyone to let us know if they feel they have been a party to a nanny scam.

Here is the communication Amy got from Mr. Combs:

Hello Amy,

Thanks so much for your interest in our nanny advert placed onCraigslist. My Name is James Combs, my wifes name is Lisa with our children Sarah and William.We are in the process of re-locating from Burmingham, United Kingdom to your city. I will be coming there with my family to work on contract basis with United States Environmental Protection Agency on a private research work. I need of someone who can help me with some of the house hold chores running some errands when necessary and babysitting my kids Sarah and William taking care of them as yours around these hours of 2pm – 6pm from Mondays through Fridays. You would only be needed for few hours per week at your convenience and will like you to get back to me with your available hours.

My kids are lovely and very smart and fun to be with and they learn very fast. I will be needing your service till the end of the year but am offering $350.00 per week as compensation for a trustworthy and honest candidate. I have a Personal Assistant who is helping me with the re-location process. It’s okay if you prefer to be a live-in or live-out nanny as i can drop my kids at your home everyday and will greatly appreciate if you will be delighted to accept this offer as we would be arriving soon.

If you accept this position, I will instruct my finance manager to forward to you a check for your first week upfront payment by express mail so that i can be rest assured of your availability for the job and wouldn’t need to search for a nanny anymore. I will as well run a background check on you as soon as we arrive in the State because it’s not easy to leave a child with someone just like that and i hope you understand my concerns.

If this employment opportunity is acceptable to you, kindly get back to me asap with the information below required for confirmation and further proceedings to take place:

Full name:
Contact Address: (No P.O. Box)
Apt #:
City:
Zip Code:
Home & Cell numbers:

Our expected arrival date is 15th of September but you will be paid beginning immediately, as i will have several small assignments for you to complete prior to our arrival, such as checking our new apartment for necessary supplies, purchasing what may be needed before our arrival, etc. All we ask from you is honesty and sincerity. And am sure you will enjoy the time you will spend with my Kids.

Please do get in touch on time so that we can start making arrangements with our travel agency while i await your swift response regards this employment offer and the requested details.

Sincerely,
James Combs.

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A nanny is a child-care professional, and deserves to be treated with proper respect and professional courtesy. Many families have never hired a nanny before, and may not be sure how to handle the new situation. Every family is different, and every nanny is different, but there are certain areas that pertain to all, and here you will find a sampling of what a nanny should be able to expect from an employer.  Some of these are flat out obvious but this is just meant to be a quick checklist that you should have handy when looking for your next job as a nanny.

1. Fair Wage – Wage scales vary from area to area, with highest wages in metropolitan areas. Nannies should receive appropriate pay for their location.
2. Room & Board – These should be considered as inclusions for live-in caregivers. Nannies are often considered “part of the family”, but should be provided with a measure of privacy in their living accommodations.
3. Vehicle – Nannies should not have to use their own vehicles for work-related driving, and are often given the use of a vehicle for personal reasons as well as for work.
4. Duties List – Responsibilities should be clearly delineated, with a nanny’s primary sphere revolving around child-care, not house cleaning or errands. If extensive household work is required, compensation should reflect the additional work. Hours and days of employment should also be clear to all parties.
5. Safe Home – A nanny has every right to expect a safe and healthy work environment, and shouldn’t have to work in a house full of smokers unless he/she agrees to do so beforehand.
6. Harassment – The nanny shouldn’t have to worry about being chased around the dining room table by a lecherous parent or relative; there is no place for any such behavior in a reputable household. No live-in employee should ever feel physically or emotionally threatened in his-or-her own residence.
7. Health Insurance – Health insurance and medical benefits, if any, should be clearly laid out in any contract, and these are negotiable items in the employment agreement.
8. Paid Vacation – Two weeks of paid vacation per year is a rule-of-thumb standard, but this is something decided between employer and employee, and also applies to paid holidays and scheduled time-off.
9. Payroll Service – Any household employee should be free from worry about proper withholding, and whether-or-not an employer is paying the right amounts of Social Security and Medicare.
10. Out-of-Pocket – It is fair to expect compensation for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the course of childcare duties. Snacks and parking fees are two common examples, and a nanny should have a way to report these expenses so that an employer can make the necessary adjustments.

The time to deal with these points is before entering into an employment agreement, and this will protect everyone, as well as allow for the best relationship possible.

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