Craigslist scammer........

[IronFreak]

Too much logic in this statement! LOL!

In all seriousness. Use this as a wake up call.

If you have not already make sure that the day care is well insured. Not necessarily from theft or vandalism , but more so for the safety of the children that are "entrusted" to your wife and your care.
Make sure there is a first aid kit that is up to date and has proper supplies that are not old and crusty. Like most of the First Aid Kits I have opened in my day.
Install a web connected camera or cameras that monitor your front area where there is entry and egress. No excuses here. I installed 2 in front of my place that run 24/7 and have a direct web feed as well as recording for about 200 dollars. Well, I did own all the computers used to setup the system so I guess that cost should be factored in.
These serve 2 purposes. They document any potential issues that arise with clients children or clients themselves.
They are also a large deterrent to potential scum.

Actually set a date and time with your wife to attend to these areas of concern. Make it a hard and fast date that must be adhered to that you both participate in.

Taking the lead in this way will show excellent foresight and planning. Something that cannot help but be appreciated and respected by your wife.

So in addition to making your environment safer you also earn "wife points"!

That's a win-win!

Hope all works out for the best!

We have a commercial insurance policy on the business that's outside the home owners policy. I do like that idea of cameras. I have a tech friend that I might talk to about installing those. We are also certified and licensed by the state and comply and are annually licensed with the fire marshal for all egress laws ect.

Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it. Some good ideas I never thought about.

[Jorgen]

I go with the people that say you will never see this person.

My mom ran a daycare for my entire life out of our house, doesn't the state/local services board offer any sort of placement assistance? Here at least they offer a lot of referrals and she has gotten many clients through that over the years.

One thing though even if you only went word of mouth friends of friends etc. you will never get away from a few crazies every now and then in that type of business but I would seriously look away from the craigslist option seems a little strange to me. Maybe bulletin boards at local churches/schools/large companies would be an option to expand?

[AndrewBird]

Very reasonably priced security equipment here:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/department.asp?c_id=110

How do these scams even work? I mean, if you cash the check, how do they end up with the money?

[IronFreak]

Very reasonably priced security equipment here:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/department.asp?c_id=110

How do these scams even work? I mean, if you cash the check, how do they end up with the money?

The cashiers check is fake, or leads to an empty account. It takes several weeks to process one. They send it, ask you to deposit it then tell them you've done so. Then......they cancel it without telling you, ask for a refund which requires you to fill out a real check for real money and send it back. they cash it, few days or weeks later you find out their check is fake....BOOM you're out money with no way to get it back.

[pantelones]

The date they said they are going to show up we had scheduled to be out of town for our anniversary.

I would not normally give any advice in these types of threads, and probably will never again, but...

I think your answer is plain and simple. Cancel the anniversary and spend what should be a wonderful time elsewhere, in your home having a serious discussion with your wife about this predicament she has put not only the both of you in, but the well being of those you are care taking for. It's not just something that you can shrug off; imagine if that person did break in, and what that would in-turn cause to the young children that are in the house? You can just tell a kid to "forget" a traumatic experience like that, it doesn't work like that...

In all honesty, the chance of that person actually coming to your house and doing so is slim to none, but is that really worth taking the risk? Your own children and the children of others are ALWAYS put before yourself and your own needs and wants. If your wife plans to run a respectable business in the care taking of children, and you plan to have children of your own, then the answer is already decided... That is all I have to say.

P.S. Can you believe that comes from a 22 year old man who will NEVER have children or a wife? And I absolutely hate dealing with kids…

[matthugie]

P.S. Can you believe that comes from a 22 year old man who will NEVER have children or a wife? And I absolutely hate dealing with kids…

I believe that like I believe 22 year old women when they say it. Not that you don't mean what you say, but there's a lot of life left to go. For instance, I rented a room to a grad student in his 30's, said the same thing. His wedding is in May...

OP - I got nothing.

[delatlanta1281]

Just email them back and tell them that here will be no refunds when the check is deposited.

[IronFreak]

^^That what I did...to a point, basically said I wasn't depositing anything and the check will be destroyed. Haven't heard anything back.

[OOMPH!]

They're not coming to your house. Whatever you do don't deposit the check. I've heard about this scam. Once you deposit the check, it will bounce and somehow they wipe out your account. I don't know the details but DON'T deposit the check.

[deutschman]

You could get some of those timers you plug into wall outlets so you can set some of your lights to turn on at night while you are gone. Will help it look like some one is home.
Also tell your two neighbors.
I think they wont show up. Internet scammers are scamming because they dont want to commit physical crime. It way easier and safer to do then B&E.
If I had to choose between trying to trick your wife into giving me her money, and braking into your house and possibly getting killed or arrested, I would choose the trick.
I dont know what the agency is, but I know there is some one you can report internet crime to. I would try that as well, just so there is a paper trail.

[ak-]

They're not coming to your house. Whatever you do don't deposit the check. I've heard about this scam. Once you deposit the check, it will bounce and somehow they wipe out your account. I don't know the details but DON'T deposit the check.

Checks are legal promise notes.
When you deposit one, it's a promise that the bank the check is drawn from will send over X amount of money.
If it's a bad check, your bank will just take the promised money from your account as recourse instead to fulfill the money it was suppose to take in.
Your account is the safety net when cashing checks from other banks.
If you cash a check that is drawn off the same bank that you bank with, it's safe because the bank can just check the funds of the account the check is drawn from since you both bank at the same institution.

That's how that works. I just don't understand how the Nigerian's get money out of it. Maybe they expect you to send them money in exchange for the dummy check or something.