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Action Guide Senior & Family Protection Reviewed Sep 7, 2026 Source: Federal Trade Commission

Caregiver, Nanny or Home-Help Job Scam

What to do when a caregiver, nanny, senior-care or home-help job sends a suspicious check or asks for personal information.

Start With First Steps Evidence Checklist Reporting Path Open Defentra
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01

Right Summary

The main consumer right or issue explained fast

Caregiver job scams can combine fake employment, fake checks, identity theft and overpayment schemes.

02

What This Means

Plain-English breakdown of the problem

The scammer may claim to need help with a child, senior or disabled family member, then send a check and ask the victim to buy supplies, send money or provide identity documents.

03

What To Save

Evidence that can matter later
Proof Receipts, bills, letters, emails, screenshots, account records, photos, videos or notices.
Timeline Dates, times, names, phone numbers, websites, payment details and support case numbers.
Responses Save every reply from the business, bank, collector, agency, platform or provider.

Save job post, messages, emails, check image, deposit receipt, payment instructions, ID requests and names used.

04

What To Do First

The first clean action path

Do not deposit suspicious checks or send money. Verify the person, job and payment before sharing personal information.

05

What Not To Do

Common mistakes that can make the issue worse

Do not buy supplies from check funds. Do not share SSN or bank information with an unverified employer.

06

Where To Report Or Escalate

Possible complaint, agency, company or platform paths

FTC ReportFraud.gov, job platform and bank if a check was deposited.

08

Defentra / Elite Action

How this resource connects to evidence, scanning and action

Use Defentra scanner and Evidence Vault to save the listing, check and messages.

Open Defentra Report A Scam Elite Support
09

Source / Review File

Internal quality and trust signals
Resource Type Action Guide
Resource Area Senior & Family Protection
Last Reviewed Sep 7, 2026
Primary Source Federal Trade Commission
10

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Educational Notice

Important limitation

This resource is educational and organizational. It is not legal advice, financial advice or a guarantee of any outcome. Rights, deadlines, reporting paths and requirements can vary by state, account type, product, service, contract, agency rules and case facts.