Childcare centre issues scam warning
Dublin People 28 Jan 2012
MANAGEMENT at a Northside creche have issued a warning
to other childcare providers after it was targeted in an elaborate scam.
Anchor Childcare Centre, based in Baldoyle, was
targeted by the scammers who contacted the centre by email enquiring about
booking childcare places.
Relocating
The scammer, purporting to be a woman from England,
emailed the centre and explained how she would be relocating to Ireland for a
period of six weeks and would like to register her two children with the
crèche.
Jean Melia, manager of Anchor Childcare Centre, said
this type of request would not be unusual.
“It has happened before,
? she told Northside People.
Anchor Childcare Centre quoted a price in the region
of
?¬2,000 but received a cheque for Stg£7,950.
“When the cheque for far more than the amount we
quoted came through, the alarm bells began to ring,
? said Ms Melia.
Obvious
“It was obvious at that stage there was something up.
The scammer mailed and was quite insistent that I let her know when we had
received the cheque, which I did.
“I didn’t highlight the fact that the cheque was for
an incorrect amount so the ball was in their court.
?
Once Anchor Childare Centre acknowledged receipt of
the cheque, the scammer explained the far-fetched predicament, which led to her
sending a cheque far in excess of the quote.
Accidentally
According to the scammer, money to cover flights was
accidentally included in the cheque sent and said it was imperative that the
balance be returned without delay.
In her email, the scammer stated that her husband had
just woken up from a triple bypass operation and it was a
“very nervous period
?
for her family.
“Since I am booked to arrive by the weekend, it is
essential that we sort this out to avoid any delays in my trip,
? she said.
“Please go ahead and deposit the payment at your bank
today, deduct the payment for the childcare and send the balance of the money
to my travel agent in order to pay for our flight tickets and other services.
?
Details of the scammer’s bank account were then
provided, followed by the instruction:
“Please once the transfer is done,
attach the bank transfer slip in your email tomorrow. By the grace of God, I
hope to see you on my arrival.
?
Ms Melia said the scammer ceased contact thereafter.
Laundering
“Of course we didn’t lodge the cheque because we knew
it was all a scam or a money laundering scheme,
? she explained.
“My attitude sometimes is to think the worst of people
especially when it comes to something like payment.
“You have to expect that someone is trying to pull a
fast one.
?
Highlighting
Ms Melia added:
“I hope that by highlighting our
experience that no childcare provider falls for the scam.
?
A spokesman for Childcare.ie, Ireland’s National
Childcare Directory, said this type of scam, which was previously used in car
sales, is new to the childcare industry.
“Thankfully, we haven’t seen anybody fall for it and
hopefully no one will,
? he told Northside People.
“We’re aware that a number of childcare providers got
these generic mails.
“It’s exactly the same story and exactly the same bank
details each time.
“As of yet it’s not clear where the scammers are
sourcing the contact information for the childcare providers.
?
A spokesperson for Fingal County Childcare Committee
confirmed that they also issued a warning to childcare providers.
“We just wanted to warn people of what was happening
because it seemed like a fairly elaborate scam,
? the spokesperson said.
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