Vital Information About Scams and Protection
One of the most dangerous scams in recent years is the babysitting and Au-Pair positions. Advertisements are listed on various media offering these positions, almost always overseas. Good wages, air fare, and other enticements are offered.
These ads are usually accompanied by a request for a resume and a phone number you can dial. The average resume contains a tremendous amount of personal information so great care should be exercised when submitting this document. It can, sometimes, be just another way of getting the information needed for identity theft.
As you get interviewed for these kinds of jobs, you’ll typically find your interviewers to be impressive, cultured, and well-dressed, giving you the impression that the job is easy and well-paying, and paints the country as a great place to be. They offer positions to single women with few contacts or relatives.
They’ll also cite their search for a foreign babysitter to be due to their desire to have their children become fluent in a foreign language, namely yours. This may or may not be true. It is extremely important that, in these interviews, the prospective employee ask questions regarding all aspects of the job as well instead of just answering personal questions. Most scammers are reluctant to give direct answers and if this is the case the job should be avoided.
Far too many instances have seen young women wanting to experience a new country and travel. However, the conditions are much worse than they anticipate, and they are forced to do work for the family. There are even instances where white slavers have taken these kinds of girls.
Once the woman reaches the other country, she is alone with little money and few resources and at the mercy of the employer. As a result, you should research the company that is offering to hire you. Telephone look-up services such as cell-registry.com/205/290/ can verify the that the caller is from a legitimate organization, those looking to take jobs abroad should take advantage of this.
Some scam artists will ask the potential Au-Pair for a cash transfer to cover air fare. They are often told that this is because the employer has certain contacts that will make it easier for the employee to gain admittance into the foreign country. They just collect that money and cut off contact with you.
If, after investigation, the person accepting the job feels that it is legitimate they should be sure there is someone who knows all the details who will check on them should they not be heard from for a time. Once you get to the foreign country, contact the embassy of your country before you meet your employers, so they know that you exist and are there. When you’re in a foreign land, you should be extra careful to protect yourself.