So sick of scammers!!

[francis53]

Ok, I have some puppies for sale and a couple of ads out there. So last night I get a message and someone asking about the pups, asked me to send info to his e-mail. So I did, this morning I get his reply asking me to accept his payment, cash it, send the money, and his shipper will pick up the dog. Yea, right, I may have been born at night, but not last night. I used to get the same things when I had birds advertised. Are people still falling for this? These people make me sick, trying to take advantage

[BabyFidgette]

SCAM! Good thing you knew about them!!!! Some people fall for this type of scam.

[bjh]

It is frustrating......I get 'relay' calls all the time from scammers. Relay calls are designed for the deaf and mute but the scammers are taking them over. When a relay operator calls, I just tell them I do not take relay calls and I hang up. The only way to get them to quit calling is to call your phone company and have the relay numbers blocked (there are about 5 different numbers they use).

[MommysBabyRoxy]

I go on puppyfind.com all the time, and I always have at least 2 or 3 ppl out of the ppl I email, sometimes more that are trying to scam me.
They always say they just moved away from the United States, and they even use the LORD in it when they write it, and its obviously a scam. Well we know where theyre going in the end.
They say... send the money, just for shipping, the puppy is free! I just want to get it back to the US, so sent the money for shipping, and I will send the puppy...
Well, how'd you have all the money to get to another country from the US, but you dont have enough money to send a dog through the mail? and why didnt you just leave it here??

[BabyFidgette]

Originally Posted by bjh

It is frustrating......I get 'relay' calls all the time from scammers. Relay calls are designed for the deaf and mute but the scammers are taking them over. When a relay operator calls, I just tell them I do not take relay calls and I hang up. The only way to get them to quit calling is to call your phone company and have the relay numbers blocked (there are about 5 different numbers they use).

Get out?! Why would they be using the relay service?

[kosoma]

Originally Posted by bjh

It is frustrating......I get 'relay' calls all the time from scammers. Relay calls are designed for the deaf and mute but the scammers are taking them over. When a relay operator calls, I just tell them I do not take relay calls and I hang up. The only way to get them to quit calling is to call your phone company and have the relay numbers blocked (there are about 5 different numbers they use).

I agree! We rarely place ads in a paper, but on the few occasions we have, every single time I have gotton at least one of these relay calls. I guess because there is no caller id??? Anyway, for whatever reason they use it, it is extremely aggravating.

The first tme I got one (silly me) I did go so far as to give them my email address. Upon receiving the return email and realizing it was a scam, I informed them that we would not be doing any "business" with them. Would you believe they still sent us a money order? Although it looked real, I took it to the post office....they checked, and it was fake. I gave them printouts of the email, etc. but I don't see how they can really track these people down.

[kanda]

Scammers.....sigh.......! It is so frustrating because I, for one, feel like I have to question and distrust everyone. I knew they targeted us folks looking to buy a yorke, I had no idea that they got your end too.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by BabyFidgette

Get out?! Why would they be using the relay service?

Here is a link to an article that explains it:
http://www.scamorama.com/deaf_relay.html

If you ever run an ad in a newspaper then you can expect some relay calls. They are so irritating. It is so sad because the deaf really need this service and it is getting overrun by scammers.

[BabyFidgette]

Originally Posted by bjh

Here is a link to an article that explains it:
http://www.scamorama.com/deaf_relay.html

If you ever run an ad in a newspaper then you can expect some relay calls. They are so irritating. It is so sad because the deaf really need this service and it is getting overrun by scammers.

Thanks for that info. But I still don't understand why the relay service? Does it make them more "reputable" or does it make people feel bad? What do they gain from that as opposed to just calling direct? Is it b/c they can barely speak English or something?

I've actually used the service before (first time ever this year) because I have a student whose mother is deaf and she asked me to call it to speak with her about her daughter.

Also, sometimes I like to inquire about pups on puppyfind or livedeal to try to report scammers. Well, a few weeks ago I got the deaf story and they referred to me calling a relay service, but I thought nothing of it b/c I haven't heard of it before, and just ignored the emails! Now I do! Thanks!

[bjh]

Originally Posted by BabyFidgette

Thanks for that info. But I still don't understand why the relay service? Does it make them more "reputable" or does it make people feel bad? What do they gain from that as opposed to just calling direct? Is it b/c they can barely speak English or something?

I think most of these relay calls are outside of the U.S. and the scammers are taking advantage of the free service (no long distance). And they cannot speak good English. I can tell by the way the questions are worded through the relay operator. I took a few of these calls just out of curiosity but I would never give them my email address. I feel so sorry for the relay operators. Apparently the scammers are getting to a lot of people because they have a big warning about it at our bank.

[Sookie]

Originally Posted by francis53

Ok, I have some puppies for sale and a couple of ads out there. So last night I get a message and someone asking about the pups, asked me to send info to his e-mail. So I did, this morning I get his reply asking me to accept his payment, cash it, send the money, and his shipper will pick up the dog. Yea, right, I may have been born at night, but not last night. I used to get the same things when I had birds advertised. Are people still falling for this? These people make me sick, trying to take advantage

I think I must be dense, because I don't understand. You have puppies for sale, right? This person wants to send you a check and you cash it, right? Then he wants you to send the money? I don't get that part, could you please explain? And why is he sending his own shipper? Sorry I'm being so duh.

[BabyFidgette]

Originally Posted by bjh

I think most of these relay calls are outside of the U.S. and the scammers are taking advantage of the free service (no long distance). And they cannot speak good English. I can tell by the way the questions are worded through the relay operator. I took a few of these calls just out of curiosity but I would never give them my email address. I feel so sorry for the relay operators. Apparently the scammers are getting to a lot of people because they have a big warning about it at our bank.

Free??? OHHHH that explains it!!!!! Thanks for explaining that! It's a shame that not only do they prey on us unsuspecting Americans, but now they are using a service for the handicapped? That makes me mad!

[BabyFidgette]

Originally Posted by Sookie

I think I must be dense, because I don't understand. You have puppies for sale, right? This person wants to send you a check and you cash it, right? Then he wants you to send the money? I don't get that part, could you please explain? And why is he sending his own shipper? Sorry I'm being so duh.

I'll explain.

Let's say you are selling something for $3000. These scammers tell you they already have a $5000 check made out and if you'd kindly take this one instead. They then tell you to please just send the "extra" $2000 with the item you are selling (sometimes they "give" you extra money for your troubles). Well, before you realize, the check is fake. Now you are out your item PLUS $2000 of your own money!

I'm not sure why they refer to a shipper. Anyone care to explain that part to me?

[RoxyJosMom]

There should be a black hole that scammer's emails could be sent to that would never let those creeps out .

[PANAMA69]

Scammers