International Nanny Association Cautions Nannies Against Employment Scams

Oct. 16, 2009 - PRLog -- In this economy when nannies are desperate to find good paying jobs, they must be super vigilant and use caution when trying to find a position without the assistance of a reputable International Nanny Association (INA) member nanny placement agency.

Unfortunately employment scams like this aren't new. For the past few years, INA has been getting complaints from nannies about a scam that involves a potential employer offering a nanny pre-payment for a position via check or wire transfer and then demanding the money back with promises of reimbursement. Once the check or transfer is completed, the funds aren't available and the nanny is left with the responsibility to pay the funds back to the issuing bank, leaving her out the cash.

INA offers nannies these four tips when searching for a job without the assistance of a reputable INA member placement agency:

Protect yourself. Never meet a potential employer that you've connected with online or through a newspaper in a private place. Opt for a public meeting area like a coffee shop where there are others around.

Protect your personal information. You really don't know with whom you connecting. It is important to guard your social security number and other important identifying information to prevent identity theft. Use call blocking to protect your phone number until you are confident the position and potential employer are legitimate.

Do your research. Ask for references. Google the employer's name and business information. Do all you can do to verify that you're dealing with who you think you are.

Use a work agreement. When you opt to find employment on your own, you're on your own. Use a work agreement to nail down the specific role, responsibilities and expectations of both parties.

If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Remember all the glitters isn't gold, so use caution and protect yourself from falling for such a scam.

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International Nanny Association
P.O BOX 1299
Hyannis, MA 02601
(Toll Free) 888.878.1477
713.526.2670
Fax: 508.638.6462

INA, a nonprofit organization, serves as the umbrella organization for the in-home child care industry. INA members include nannies, nanny employers, nanny agencies, educators and industry service providers. Since 1985, INA has worked to professionalize the industry by setting high standards for industry professionals and nanny agencies. INA leverages the expertise of industry professionals from around the globe to help increase awareness about the industry, to develop the professional skills of nannies, and to educate parents about the benefits of hiring a qualified nanny to care for their children.