The Emeryville Police Department issued a Nixle alert today warning residents of what they describe as a ‘nanny scammer.’
On the afternoon of Friday April 26th, they received a report from a resident stating someone had assumed her identity as a professional nanny. The resident reported two families in San Francisco had considered hiring her for a shared nanny position.
When the families investigated further, they were able to contact the Emeryville resident. The resident and families soon realized they were dealing with a con artist and contacted law enforcement.
One of the families had a surveillance camera which captured the suspect as she entered their home to be interviewed for the job. After a thorough investigation with the families’ cooperation, the suspect was identified as 60-year-old Darlene Mariana Monticalvo.
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Monticalvo is currently wanted by the Oakland Police Department for several felonies, which among others, involve injury to a child. Monticalvo has a history of running nanny scams and is known to frequent areas of Contra Costa County. She tends to target young, affluent families.
Anyone with information about Monticalvo’s criminal conduct or whereabouts is asked to contact the Emeryville Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Section at (510) 596-3700.
May 3rd Update: Monticalvo was arrested in Kensington last night after being tipped off. According to SF Gate, she scammed at least a dozen victims of over $100,000 over the past four years.