{"id":2533,"date":"2014-07-08T11:07:29","date_gmt":"2014-07-08T15:07:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.aupairinamerica.com\/abc\/?p=2533"},"modified":"2014-07-08T11:07:29","modified_gmt":"2014-07-08T15:07:29","slug":"internet-safety-and-recognizing-a-scam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.aupairinamerica.com\/abc\/2014\/07\/08\/internet-safety-and-recognizing-a-scam\/","title":{"rendered":"Internet Safety and Recognizing a Scam"},"content":{"rendered":"

Au Pair in America values your privacy, and the security of your personal information is always a priority.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

Internet scams\/online fraud are becoming more common.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 A scammer may pose as a host family or an au pair organization and will try to gain your confidence via email.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Do not fall for this \u2013 never send personal details (eg passport info) or agree to wire or transfer money using money transfer companies, cashier\u2019s checks or money orders \u2013 you are being scammed!\u00a0 Always remember that no reputable business or organisation would ever ask for personal details or money to be wired\/sent over the Internet.<\/p>\n

Most scams involve one or more of the following<\/p>\n

  • Poorly written emails from people you don\u2019t know<\/li>\n
  • Being offered deals which sound \u201ctoo good to be true\u201d<\/li>\n
  • Inability or refusal to speak with you directly on the phone<\/li>\n
  • Odd\/suspicious email addresses<\/li>\n
  • Demanding\/urgent\/threatening emails requesting an immediate response<\/li>\n
  • Requests for personal information (passport details)<\/li>\n
  • Requests to send\/wire money via Western Union, Money Gram, cashier\u2019s checks, money orders<\/li>\n

    What To Do:<\/span><\/p>\n

    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<\/span> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting<\/span> \"\"+44 207 581 7322<\/span> FREE <\/span><\/span> end_of_the_skype_highlighting<\/span><\/span> or contact us via our website: www.aupairinamerica.com.<\/a> You can also run searches on the Internet to check out suspicious email addresses, so if in doubt, check it out!<\/p>\n

    Au Pair Matching Sites: <\/span>
    \nPlease note that Au Pair in America has no direct affiliation with public au pair matching sites.\u00a0 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\u2019s 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.\u00a0 If you think you are in contact with a scammer via one of these sites, inform that site immediately.<\/p>\n

    Au Pair in America Payment Methods:<\/span>
    \nAu 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.\u00a0 You will only be requested to pay this Program Fee via your secure, password-protected Au Pair in America Participant Site.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Au Pair in America values your privacy, and the security of your personal information is always a priority.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 We have Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[49,136,138,307,350,452,456],"class_list":["post-2533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-au-pairs","tag-computer","tag-computer-scams","tag-internet-safety","tag-matching","tag-saftey-online","tag-scam"],"yoast_head":"\nInternet Safety and Recognizing a Scam - ABC Blog (Annapolis, Baltimore & Columbia, MD)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Internet Safety and Recognizing a Scam - ABC Blog (Annapolis, Baltimore & Columbia, MD)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Au Pair in America values your privacy, and the security of your personal information is always a priority.\u00a0 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. 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My name is Natasha Wrobel and I am the senior community counselor for the greater Annapolis, Maryland area. I have been a community counselor with Au Pair in America since 2000. In college I had the opportunity to study the German language in Austria at the University of Graz. Prior to becoming a counselor I was an attorney with the United States Air Force and was on active duty for nine years. I will retire from the Air Force in July 2015 after 20 years of service. Having lived abroad and studied a foreign language has served me well in connecting with au pairs from around the world in my role as a community counselor. Having hosted an au pair in my home has given me an understanding of the program from a host family perspective. It has been a joy to help facilitate a cultural exchange with these young women and American families as they introduce their children to other cultures and traditions. It is a delight to witness our children gain a better appreciation of our world. 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