In August, The Post ran a help wanted ad that was looking for a nanny for two children at an address here in Cedar Springs. It turns out the ad was a scam, and ran in several newspapers. We were alerted this week by Merchant Services that the credit card was fraudulent, and we were charged back for the cost of the ads.

Of greater concern, however, is whether any our readers answered the ad. According to Cedar Springs Police Chief Roger Parent, the perpetrators of the scam were probably trying to get personal information from applicants, and may have tried to charge you a fee for running a background check. If you answered the ad and gave “Mrs. Joy Moore” personal information, please contact the Cedar Springs Police Department at 696-1311.

We try our best to get rid of any classified ads that look like they could be a scam. However, please remember to protect yourself when applying for employment: employers will not ask for money for a background check, and they will not offer to give you an advance check, which they require to be deposited in your checking account. If you are skeptical about a classified in our newspaper, please give us a call at 616-696-3655.