fake reference

[Anonymous]

We've been interviewing nannies and found one we really liked so my husband called to check her references. The first one gave a glowing account but he thought it might be odd that the employer was also foreign sounding (just like the nanny candidate). So I googled the phone number we were provided. turns out this former "employer" is a nanny herself and is listed on Care.com! So she's out... so now my question is what is the best way to confirm that a reference is in fact legitimate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've been interviewing nannies and found one we really liked so my husband called to check her references. The first one gave a glowing account but he thought it might be odd that the employer was also foreign sounding (just like the nanny candidate). So I googled the phone number we were provided. turns out this former "employer" is a nanny herself and is listed on Care.com! So she's out... so now my question is what is the best way to confirm that a reference is in fact legitimate?

Just call the really family,I heard lots this thing.

[Anonymous]

If you found the nanny on care.com, I'd post that as a review. No idea how to check references other than google the name and phone number the nanny gives you. I am a nanny and I always google a potential family before meeting them for the first time. I usually google the email address and name plus city. If they're the professional they say they are, there should be some sort of online presence matching their identity. You should be able to do that for the references the nanny gives you, and then maybe you can ask a question or two that only the real person would know...like Nanny Candidate said you work long hours as a physician when you know it's actually a lawyer or something.

[Anonymous]

This happened to us a few times too - the most egregious was a reference who claimed to have two kids when the nanny had clearly stated the family had three. Not sure there is a good way of avoiding this except to call a lot of references and check ALL the facts the nanny provides about her experiences with that family.

[Anonymous]

As a nanny I have always worked for professionals who can usually be googled. Ask for the references full name and maybe what the former employers career was. Then you can google who you are calling for a reference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you found the nanny on care.com, I'd post that as a review. No idea how to check references other than google the name and phone number the nanny gives you. I am a nanny and I always google a potential family before meeting them for the first time. I usually google the email address and name plus city. If they're the professional they say they are, there should be some sort of online presence matching their identity. You should be able to do that for the references the nanny gives you, and then maybe you can ask a question or two that only the real person would know...like Nanny Candidate said you work long hours as a physician when you know it's actually a lawyer or something.

Not always true. I am a litigation legal secretary. My name is nowhere on the law firm's website. My FB has tight privacy controls and you can't find me by searching my name. My Twitter account is not under my name. I'm still totally legitimate and who I say I am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you found the nanny on care.com, I'd post that as a review. No idea how to check references other than google the name and phone number the nanny gives you. I am a nanny and I always google a potential family before meeting them for the first time. I usually google the email address and name plus city. If they're the professional they say they are, there should be some sort of online presence matching their identity. You should be able to do that for the references the nanny gives you, and then maybe you can ask a question or two that only the real person would know...like Nanny Candidate said you work long hours as a physician when you know it's actually a lawyer or something.

Not always true. I am a litigation legal secretary. My name is nowhere on the law firm's website. My FB has tight privacy controls and you can't find me by searching my name. My Twitter account is not under my name. I'm still totally legitimate and who I say I am.

Then you offer several references, so the nanny you want you has at least something. Although most would probably blindly trust you. Not so bright, is it? I'd want a more safety conscious nanny for my child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you found the nanny on care.com, I'd post that as a review. No idea how to check references other than google the name and phone number the nanny gives you. I am a nanny and I always google a potential family before meeting them for the first time. I usually google the email address and name plus city. If they're the professional they say they are, there should be some sort of online presence matching their identity. You should be able to do that for the references the nanny gives you, and then maybe you can ask a question or two that only the real person would know...like Nanny Candidate said you work long hours as a physician when you know it's actually a lawyer or something.

Not always true. I am a litigation legal secretary. My name is nowhere on the law firm's website. My FB has tight privacy controls and you can't find me by searching my name. My Twitter account is not under my name. I'm still totally legitimate and who I say I am.

it is stil possible for a nanny to verify who you are. At the very least, a nanny can call the reception of your firm and ask to talk to Mary Smith (you). the reception would transfer the nanny to you. so at least it would be obvious you work for that firm (I am not saying calling the firm and ask if you are a secretar there, I doubt the receptionist would give that info - but simply asking to be transferred to you would be easy. if you do not work there, the receptionist would tell the caller that there is no person under that name)

[Anonymous]

Nannies usually don't need to verify who the employers are its the other way around. Potential employers need to check the nannies references

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nannies usually don't need to verify who the employers are its the other way around. Potential employers need to check the nannies references

Stop trying to start an argument. I'm an MB and a nanny has just as much a right to verify her employers. She's going to be working in their house and she has a right to check that they are who they say they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannies usually don't need to verify who the employers are its the other way around. Potential employers need to check the nannies references

Stop trying to start an argument. I'm an MB and a nanny has just as much a right to verify her employers. She's going to be working in their house and she has a right to check that they are who they say they are.

Don't tell me what to do. I wasn't starting an argument seems like you just did. The original post was about checking a nannies references and how to make sure they aren't fake.

And no I don't think a nanny has the right to reference check a potential employer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannies usually don't need to verify who the employers are its the other way around. Potential employers need to check the nannies references

Stop trying to start an argument. I'm an MB and a nanny has just as much a right to verify her employers. She's going to be working in their house and she has a right to check that they are who they say they are.

Don't tell me what to do. I wasn't starting an argument seems like you just did. The original post was about checking a nannies references and how to make sure they aren't fake.

And no I don't think a nanny has the right to reference check a potential employer.

NP. Why? Surely you don't take a job at a company you've never heard of without doing some research? It really is the same thing. Any just so you know, any information that you make public and searchable about yourself is fair game for anyone to look up, be it a potential employer or employee, someone you're dating, or anyone else. You seem to have a bit of an inferiority complex. You being an employer does not give you any more rights or importance than your nanny. You may want to explore why you feel otherwise with your therapist.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I agree with the 13:55. This is about HOW to check nanny references not vice versa. Pretty easy to verify who the employer is since you have our name & address. But I have no freaking way of knowing if the person you give me as a reference really is that person unless I'm given a landline or work phone...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nannies usually don't need to verify who the employers are its the other way around. Potential employers need to check the nannies references

Stop trying to start an argument. I'm an MB and a nanny has just as much a right to verify her employers. She's going to be working in their house and she has a right to check that they are who they say they are.

Don't tell me what to do. I wasn't starting an argument seems like you just did. The original post was about checking a nannies references and how to make sure they aren't fake.

And no I don't think a nanny has the right to reference check a potential employer.

NP. Why? Surely you don't take a job at a company you've never heard of without doing some research? It really is the same thing. Any just so you know, any information that you make public and searchable about yourself is fair game for anyone to look up, be it a potential employer or employee, someone you're dating, or anyone else. You seem to have a bit of an inferiority complex. You being an employer does not give you any more rights or importance than your nanny. You may want to explore why you feel otherwise with your therapist.

I'm not an employer I am a nanny

[Anonymous]

I would ask for at least 5 different references.

Perhaps character references, church references, professor references as well as employer references.

There really is not way to know if a reference is real or not. You simply should just go with your gut on it.

If the reference sounds legit and professional. If the person offers for you to save their phone no.# for you to call later for any future questions is a good sign. If the person tells you a little about themselves and what they do for a living, that is also a very good sign. If it is a letter of recommendation or an e-mail, if they provide a last name, you can always verify it by that.