Tag Archives: scam

Avoid Falling Victim to Scammers

There are always people out there who are looking for ways to trick people out of their money and personal information. There have been several new scams recently, so we are going to explain ways to identify scams and how to protect yourself.

SCAM #1 – A caller says they are a contact tracer and you may have been exposed to COVID-19 and asks you to pay for a test kit.

  • Contact tracers will not ask you for payment.

What to do? Do not give any payment information to someone who calls you on the phone.

SCAM #2 – Calls asking for your PIN, password, personal information or a payment.

  • Your bank will not call you and ask you for your PIN number or password.
  • IRS and Social Security Administration will not ask you for payment or personal info over the phone. Government agencies usually handle issues like this by sending a letter.
  • The number shown on caller ID can be manipulated, don’t take that as a sign that a call is legitimate.

What to do? Whenever you are in doubt, hang up and call the bank (or company) directly using a number you already have for them.

SCAM #3 – Email asking you to click a link to verify your personal information or share your password or PIN.

  • Be very suspicious of emails asking you to click links.
  • Scammers are very good at creating official looking emails and webpages.

What to do? Whenever you are in doubt, go directly to the website (not using the link in the email).

SCAM #4 – You see an offer online telling you to send them some money and they will double it or a pop-up ad says that you have won a great prize and just need to give them your information.

  • When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

What to do? Do not give your personal information or any money to people you don’t know.

SCAM #5 – You receive a call and you are told to stay on the phone while you go transfer or withdraw money from the bank and if you don’t you will be arrested or your bank account seized.

  • They are using the idea that this is an urgent situation to make you act quickly without thinking to avoid the consequence they have told you.

What to do? Do not follow their instructions.

Whenever you are in doubt, do not do as the caller or email asks. Check with your host parents or community counselor.

One other note: It is very important to keep your social security number private. There are very few situations where you will need to share this (bank, IRS, motor vehicles). Those are times you are taking an action and need to provide it. There is not a legitimate time where someone would be calling you on the phone or emailing you asking for that number.

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Internet Safety and Recognizing a Scam

Au Pair in America values your privacy, and the security of your personal information is always a priority.  For your safety and financial protection, please take a moment to read this section about how to stay safe online and avoid becoming the victim of a scam.

Internet scams/online fraud are becoming more common.  We have all received emails from people claiming to be a well-known bank or telling us we have won an amazing prize, but some scammers take things further.  A scammer may pose as a host family or an au pair organization and will try to gain your confidence via email.  Once they have gained your trust, they will ask you to wire/send money to them using a money transfer company such as Western Union or Money Gram.  Do not fall for this – never send personal details (eg passport info) or agree to wire or transfer money using money transfer companies, cashier’s checks or money orders – you are being scammed!  Always remember that no reputable business or organisation would ever ask for personal details or money to be wired/sent over the Internet.

Most scams involve one or more of the following

  • Poorly written emails from people you don’t know
  • Being offered deals which sound “too good to be true”
  • Inability or refusal to speak with you directly on the phone
  • Odd/suspicious email addresses
  • Demanding/urgent/threatening emails requesting an immediate response
  • Requests for personal information (passport details)
  • Requests to send/wire money via Western Union, Money Gram, cashier’s checks, money orders

    • What To Do:

    If you think you are being targeted by a scammer claiming to be an Au Pair in America representative or Au Pair in America host family, or you are concerned about the authenticity of an email, phone call or message then email info@aupairamerica.co.uk, call +44 207 581 7322 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +44 207 581 7322 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting or contact us via our website: www.aupairinamerica.com. You can also run searches on the Internet to check out suspicious email addresses, so if in doubt, check it out!

    Au Pair Matching Sites:
    Please note that Au Pair in America has no direct affiliation with public au pair matching sites.  If you do post a profile either as an au pair or a host family on a public au pair matching site, please make sure you read that site’s scam prevention information carefully, and, as above, never send personal info or agree to wire/transfer money to people you meet on these matching sites.  If you think you are in contact with a scammer via one of these sites, inform that site immediately.

    Au Pair in America Payment Methods:
    Au Pairs: You will only be invoiced for your Au Pair in America Program Fee once you have placed with one of our carefully selected Host Families.  You will only be requested to pay this Program Fee via your secure, password-protected Au Pair in America Participant Site.  Neither Au Pair in America, nor any of its registered US host families, will ever ask you to send or wire money via Western Union, Money Gram, cashier’s checks or money orders.