As Minnesota reels from revelations of massive Somali-led fraud tied to taxpayer-funded programs, a new development has ignited fresh outrage after a Craigslist posting emerged allegedly advertising for “child actors” to help a Minneapolis “daycare” appear operational during state inspections.
Liz Collin of Alpha News drew attention to the listing Sunday evening.
The post, written in broken English, offered $1,500 per child per day for three days to simulate daycare activity for government evaluators.
The text for the ad claims that “white supremacy” is to blame for the mounting scrutiny of Somali-run facilities and asks for “help” with “state vetting after funding loss.”
The since-deleted ad stated:
“My family runs day care here in the city and have for over 5 years, until Monday when funding was cruelly ripped away without cause.
“Due to this insane poor decision clear in white supremacy, we had to close our doors immediately.
“We must prove we are a function day care to get the funding back.
“The issue is, the ENTIRE client base has already found new daycare services so we need to find new clients base quickly.
“To help hurry this state vetting processes, we are looking to hire 20 child actors for 3 days, while state is present on site.
“We pay up to $1500 actor, per day.
“If you are interest, please send your child’s age and a note of what makes your child a special actor.
“Submit phone number as well, as we will be doing quick phone interviews as part of hire process.”
SUBMITTED: Minneapolis Craigslist post in search of child actors for daycare site where funding was “cruelly ripped away without cause.”
“To help hurry this state vetting process, we are looking to hire 20 child actors for 3 days while state is present on site.”
$1,500/day… pic.twitter.com/vvhDCR235g
— Liz Collin (@lizcollin) January 4, 2026
When asked whether the listing was authentic, X’s AI system Grok responded:
“Yes, the Craigslist ad is real (ID: 7905967005, posted Jan 2, 2026).
“It seeks 20 child actors under 5 for 3 days at $1,500/day to simulate operations during state vetting after funding loss, citing ‘white supremacy.’
“This aligns with MN daycare fraud probes: Federal holds on funds followed viral videos alleging scams (PBS, FOX9), though providers deny claims and report threats (NPR, WaPo).
“Inspections found mixed results (CBS).”
Yes, the Craigslist ad is real (ID: 7905967005, posted Jan 2, 2026). It seeks 20 child actors under 5 for 3 days at $1,500/day to simulate operations during state vetting after funding loss, citing "white supremacy."
This aligns with MN daycare fraud probes: Federal holds on…
— Grok (@grok) January 5, 2026
Independent journalist Nick Shirley, whose viral “daycare” investigation triggered new federal scrutiny, reacted to Collin’s post, saying:
“Wow. How convenient that it’s circle radar is right above Quality LEARING Center, amazing work Liz!”
Wow. How convenient that it’s circle radar is right above Quality LEARING Center, amazing work Liz!
— Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) January 4, 2026
Online reaction has been sharply divided, with some users believing the ad reflects real attempts to stage daycare operations, while others think the post may itself be a troll mocking the scandal.
“This is a pattern,” one user wrote.
“Fraudulent shell companies create fictitious companies with inventory.
“But they coordinate the consignment of inventory when auditors arrive for scheduled counting of their widgets.
“This is fraud 101! I’m a CPA and I’ve studied some real life cases before.”
Others mocked the scandal’s Somali ties.
“The grammar is too good, for starters,” one commenter said.
“This is probably a fake ad because they already have plenty of actors operating childcare centers?” another added.
“They can’t be that stupid. It’s a joke post right?” a user mocked.
“Somalis have a deep network which they can call on to bring kids to their daycare,” one argued.
Meanwhile, independent reporter Angela Rose has highlighted additional suspicious activity, pointing to a Minneapolis adult day care facility operating with no visible clients.
Rose noted that Salama Adult Day Care still appears open despite seemingly having no customers.
The center describes its mission online as:
“Provide[s] care and support services for adults in need of supervision and assistance during the day.
“The center offers a safe and welcoming environment where individuals can engage in various activities and socialize with others.
“With a focus on promoting independence and well-being, Salama Adult Daycare C aims to enhance the quality of life for its participants through personalized care plans and meaningful interactions.
“The center strives to create a nurturing and inclusive community for adults seeking daytime care and companionship.”
Rose visited the center to investigate whether it is operating as a legitimate business.
WATCH:
90% of small businesses fail yet the Samara Adult Day Care still has their lights on without having 1 customer seemingly.
Salama Adult Day Care in Minneapolis says online that they
“provide care and support services for adults in need of supervision and assistance during the… pic.twitter.com/xjm1DdfYRi
— Angela Rose (@angelaroosee) January 4, 2026
Rose said her visit raised serious questions:
“Soooo even though their business is meant to provide a safe place, the woman there told me they feed them breakfast and lunch that they can take home??”
She continued:
“It’s giving ‘feeding the future’ vibes.”
According to Rose:
“They close at 3pm and yet she said she was waiting for the seniors to arrive at 2:30…
“No signage outside, no seniors, supposedly only operating after their operating hours, no English, no pictures allowed, old furniture…”
Her conclusion was blunt:
“Even if this was a real business HOW ON EARTH WOULD THEY STAY AFLOAT WITHOUT CUSTOMERS?!”
As federal investigations intensify, Minnesota’s unfolding daycare scandal continues to expose troubling questions about oversight, taxpayer funding, and systemic abuse inside publicly subsidized childcare and adult care programs.
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