What Happened
The FTC warned that childcare providers are reporting scammers who pose as parents through email, text, social media or online caregiving platforms. The fake parents claim they are moving to the area, often from overseas, and need immediate care for their children.
According to the FTC, the scammer says a check is coming in advance, but the check is for more than expected. Then comes the familiar move: the parent claims they accidentally overpaid and asks the provider to send the extra money back, often by wire transfer or payment app.
The problem is that the check is fake. The bank may initially show the money as available, but when the check bounces, the provider is responsible for the cash they already sent away.
Why This Matters
This is a fake-check scam aimed at people doing practical, trust-heavy work. Childcare is built on urgency, relationships and logistics. Scammers know that a provider trying to fill a slot or help a family quickly might move faster than their fraud radar can keep up.
The FTC's advice is direct: do not accept a check for more than you charge, and never send money to someone who says they overpaid by check. Only a scammer tells you to send money from a check by wire transfer, payment app, gift card or cryptocurrency.
The Dumb Part With The Imaginary Parent
The dumb part is the script. The scammer invents a family, invents urgency, invents an overpayment, and then asks the person providing care to become the refund department for a check that has not actually cleared.
It is fraud wearing a parent costume and carrying a calculator. The whole scheme depends on making politeness and helpfulness move faster than verification.
The Bottom Line
If a new client sends too much money and wants some of it back, stop. Real families can pay the correct amount through a clean method. The real stupid shit is that even childcare inquiries now need a financial-crime smell test before anybody talks about nap schedules.
Sources
FTC Consumer Advice: Fake check scam targets childcare providers
FTC Consumer Advice: How to spot, avoid, and report fake check scams