MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Viral social media posts and articles from the Santa Monica Observer claim a Minneapolis daycare admitted fraud by posting a Craigslist ad seeking to hire “child actors” for $1,500 per day so the facility could appear compliant during a state inspection. The allegation is based on screenshots of a briefly posted Craigslist listing titled “Daycare hiring child actors for 3-day contract (Ventura Village).”
This claim is misleading and unsupported by evidence.
While the Craigslist post did briefly exist and was later removed, its presence alone does not establish authenticity or factual accuracy. Archived copies confirm the listing appeared online, but the text contains internal contradictions and legal impossibilities. The ad claims the daycare was “forced to close” yet needed children present “while the state is on site.” Minnesota child care inspections do not operate this way. If a facility is closed, children cannot lawfully be present, and inspectors do not allow temporary repopulation to restore funding.
Under Minnesota Statute 245H, compliance is based on records, staffing, safety standards, and children already enrolled, not staged appearances. Hiring minors would also require labor permits, guardian consent, and regulatory oversight, making a Craigslist solicitation legally implausible.
The unusually high pay, political language, and structure of the post strongly suggest it was a hoax, provocation, or manipulated listing rather than evidence of real fraud. Importantly, no confirmation exists from Minnesota DHS, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, or local Minneapolis media.
Verdict: Fiction (Unsubstantiated / Hoax-like).
Sources:
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Media Bias Fact Check – Full Fact Check
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