A Webster family says what began as a perfect match soon turned into a parent's worst nightmare.

Police say Carollena Vaccaro, 41, posed as a nanny, using a fake name and a fake social security number and then stole a $25 gift card.

She made an appearance Friday morning in Webster Town Court. And there were plenty of people waiting to see the woman they say swindled her out of hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

To some Carollena Vaccaro was also known as Carollena Chiarenza. To others she was Anna DeRosa. To Dave Brown and Mary Hallet, it was Julianne Hofford.

“She talks about her child-care position, working at camps. She’s worked with children six weeks and up through the teenage years,” said Mary Hallett, who interviewed Vaccaro last August. “She works with children of developmental, emotional and physically challenged.”

“She was there for the two interviews,” said Dave Brown, who also interviewed Vaccaro for the same job. “One was a full day and one was two hours.

They found her on a website linking families with reputable child care professionals.

“After the end of the full day interview, my son’s handheld Nintendo DS mysteriously disappeared,” said Brown.

They say they don’t have proof that she took the portable machine, but say their story is similar to other stories they’ve heard.

Jean Kyper of Ontario, Wayne County, says she took Vaccaro to Chili Town Court to get money for a $1,500 stairmaster she sold her through Craigslist.

“The justice there said as many times as this woman has been in my courtroom, I have yet to see her face,” said Kyper. “She’s done this to a lot of people, a lot of small claims courts and no one has ever gotten paid.”

Kyper says she just wants some justice done for her and all the other people she stole from.

“I just want her to pay for what she has done and stop,” she added. “I think finally she is going to be stopped.”

“I have names of people she's ripped off,” said Claire of Rochester. “I have the police numbers that were filed, the reports that were filed all around the city of Rochester from Charlotte to East Rochester."

Claire, who did not want her last name revealed, says she has been following Vaccaro for a year-and-a-half after she responded to a Craigslist ad. Claire says she was never paid for work done on Vaccaro's home.

“(She was) very convincing, crying, the whole thing and desperate,” she said. “She seemed very desperate for help."

After a brief court appearance, Vaccaro was taken from the courtroom to a local medical facility. The judge says Vaccaro apparently fainted or had some sort of medical issue. A not guilty plea was entered on her behalf.

Those who say she stole from them say she pulled off yet another scam.

"I think it's definitely just a show,” said Kyper. “She's a very good actress."

"More of her scam,” said Claire. “That's how she's a manipulator. It's all fake."

Vaccaro is charged with felony forgery and petit larceny and is being held in the Monroe County Jail without bail. Additional charges are pending. Vaccaro is due back in court Wednesday.

Webster police say if you feel you have been a victim of Carollena Vaccaro, file a report with your local police department. It will be forwarded to the Webster Police Department.

Webster Police Department