[News] Scam Targets Consumers Searching for Puppies

[blackwidow]

It is an old scam with a sneaky new twist. Nigerian criminals -- known for lottery scams -- are now using hard-to-resist puppies for sale.
Hanford mom Anjelica Garcia began her search for a Yorkshire Terrier online. It was for her daughters' Christmas present, after they lost their old pet. Anjelica answered an ad and exchanged e-mails with the seller. It sounded perfect.

But there was a slight problem. The seller says he's no longer living in the United States. The "Reverend Robert Greene" says he took the puppies with him to do missionary work in Nigeria.

"He was a servant of the Lord, so I trusted him," Garcia said.

So, Anjelica sent $600 to Nigeria. The money was picked up on the other end but the dogs never came. When she questioned the seller he had the nerve to ask her for even more money. That's when Anjelica got suspicious.

Doug Broten of the Better Business Bureau has seen many examples of this type of advance fee fraud.

"It's puppies today, it's something else tomorrow. Because the folks in Nigeria are working at this all day long to come up with little twists on how to get into our pockets," Broten said.

He says the people behind these scams do their research, looking for ways to get Americans to trust them. Unfortunately, because this crime happened outside the U.S., getting Anjelica's money back is virtually impossible.

"If you send your money to Nigeria or Canada or England, or anyplace. United States laws don't apply and your money is gone," Broten said.

Angelica wishes she knew that before she lost her money, but she wants others to know her story before it's too late for them too.

"I just don't want them to get hurt the way I did. I'm a middle class person so it was really hard for me to lose that much money at Christmas," Garcia said.

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?se...mer&id=4895847

[bbs-chewy]

When we were looking for our puppy looking online there was one site I tried, the first reply was that same scam, tried again same just a tad different. Wrote the admids of the site never heard back but out of curuosity tried a few more listing and all the same type of scams were the replies. Sad very sad for those who don't know.
Don't know if I can say the sites name or not.

[Nia_Simone]

Hello,

I've been looking for a yorkie for the past 2 weeks online. I've emailed a total of 50 people on these 3 website below about purchasing a yorkie. Everyone responded and about 45 of them had the same story, they sold the puppies to a Reverand who is overseas on a missionary trip and the wheather in Africa is not suitable for the yorkie. They requested to get my full address and other information to get it shipped here. I've also had response from people in Barcelona, Ablaska and Cameroun, with the same story. Hmmm......after the 4th email response I figured it was a scam. The first website below, the people actually post the name of real cities in every state saying the same thing, but when you contact them they state that there overseas and they can ship it to you. Sorry I am a little phineky about sending money gram to people and not seeing or receiving the product.



http://www.dClassifieds.com
http://www.freeadscity.com
http://www.domesticsale.com

[rachelsyorkie]

I saw 2 free/cheap yorkies on yahoo classifieds & out of curiosity asked if they had been placed. Got replies from both, one said he was out of the country but if I would western union the money for travel expenses his christian family would ship her right out to my wonderful home the other was the same except in another state not country. I tried to go back & find the ads to post one warning people they are scammers, but they appeared to have been removed. They tried to sound very honest but I knew better. You gotta be really careful.

[rachelsyorkie]

Originally Posted by Nia_Simone

Hello,

I've been looking for a yorkie for the past 2 weeks online. I've emailed a total of 50 people on these 3 website below about purchasing a yorkie. Everyone responded and about 45 of them had the same story, they sold the puppies to a Reverand who is overseas on a missionary trip and the wheather in Africa is not suitable for the yorkie. They requested to get my full address and other information to get it shipped here. I've also had response from people in Barcelona, Ablaska and Cameroun, with the same story. Hmmm......after the 4th email response I figured it was a scam. The first website below, the people actually post the name of real cities in every state saying the same thing, but when you contact them they state that there overseas and they can ship it to you. Sorry I am a little phineky about sending money gram to people and not seeing or receiving the product.



http://www.dClassifieds.com
http://www.freeadscity.com
http://www.domesticsale.com

I got my girl on http://www.puppyfind.com Its free but some ads require you pay to see, but its 5.99 for 30 days to see all. She was a 5 hour drive but completely worth it. I went to the persons house which required me getting there address & got phone numbers. I called the lady every hour letting her know I was still on the way. She was a hobby breeder, the dogs were in the house & I thought she was going to cry when I took her. There are some nice people on there. Of coarse some wacks, millers & scammers to I'm sure.

[Nia_Simone]

Thanks for the link, I am getting a little tired of being disappointed in the responses from the sellers with the B.S. I've never had a pet growing up, and I saw one outside the grocery store with it's owner and he was 11 weeks old, adorable. So I went home begging my husband for one . So here I am seeking my first pet and it seems like everyone I email is trying to scam me. There are breeders here in Georgia but the prices are high, unfortunetly I can't afford a $1500 or $2200 yorkie.

[bbs-chewy]

Morning, just wanted to add that it was puppyfind.com that I tried like six different ads all scams, what got me the most was the admins not responding when asked.

[rachelsyorkie]

There are some really nice but pricey yorkies listed in georgia & texas. I dont feel $1500 is a bad price & they may come down. My girl was originally $2200 & I got her for $1000. Several of the ones down south almost had me on a airplane. But finally I found one in driving distance & called her & asked if I drove there that day if she would hold with out a deposit, she agreed & I called every hour to reassure her I was on my way. I am extremely happy with her. Of coarse she was a adult so no surprises & a little shy but hopefully my out going personality will rub off on her quickly . I understand asking for a deposit but the way I look at it to protect myself I will wait til I find a dog ready to go & get all my question answered w/o any fishy tales. Get a address & home number-tell you alittle secret you can take a home # & put it in anywho.com reverse lookup & get the address to match a story. Definately investigate the story- I know its border line stalking,lol. Drive or fly, do not have it shipped , its dangerous & risky. You know a scammer when you get the answers to your questions back & as I said I had a good experience on puppyfind but I know there are scammers millers etc everywhere so beware & Good Luck.

[BabyFidgette]

Too bad Ms. Garcia didn't come to YT first and read my thread. Would've saved her $600 and a lot of grief.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...t=scam+scammer

[Candini]

I've seen so many of these when I was searching. I got so disgusted, I started to bait them. My hopes would be to get them salivating at receiving my money then turn the tables on them. I heard some of them are driving new cars off their stolen money.

So nice of them to use the Christian God to lure their victums. I could say more but this is a public forum. Western union must take some heat about this fraud I would imagine.

[Morkie4]

I inquired about a maltese and got the Africa Reverend has a puppy to sell and the one on Puppyfind.com.........well, he was so weird. Live in Missouri, Dog was in Texas but he said in his ad that the dog was in Orlando, Florida. The final email was that if I gave him my name, address and phone number, he would have the AKC papers ready and the dog deliverd to my door.........once I sent the money. Yea, right!!!!

[Scooter Dale]

I also, saw this ad and had contacted this person... But, Thank God!!! my son is very good with computers and was able to tell me that this was a SCAM!!! he said, that it was not a valid account ... The little Yorkie was sooo cute... in my gut.. i just felt it was to good to be true.. I feel for the person who lost her money.. Another WARNING!!! My son said, that they can also, scam you in other ways from your giving your Name and where you live.. they can use this info for other illegal activities. BEWARE!! The guy had told me to e-mail me my NAME, ADDRESS, and PHONE NUMBER so, that he could give this info to the Airport Athorities.. so, that i could pick up the dog when it arrived in the U.S. I had was told that he was a Preist and sent to Nigeria for work there. he could not keep the pet because of the weather conditions there and wanted to find a good home. I did not send any of this info to him I wanted to check with my son first. to see if he thought it could be a SCAM..Soon after that i noticed his account had been cancelled.. Not sure but, think he was reported..as a SCAM...

[Morkie4]

Yes, those guys can be so tricky........tug at your heartstrings............then take off with your money. I have a good "nose" for scams so avoided several "deals" as that what it was made to appear like. One breeder (at least that is what she called herself) in Orlando, Florida said she had sold the puppy to the Rev. but since he was relocated to Africa, all he wanted was to find his pup a good home in the States and all I had to do was pay for the shipping. I thought, Mr. Breeder, why don't you pay to have your lovely puppy shipped back to the USA and I will pay you and even drive to pick up the little darling................well, we know why it doesn't work that way! SCAM

[widdlemama]

Hi,
I got my yorkie baby just before Christmas. I was leary as well but felt I was somewhat protected by my credit card.

I know the breeder has 1 female left. I couldn't decide on the male or female. Finally decided I had to have the little boy. I just fell in love with the ad pics. You can check out my little boy on a blog I made for him at
http://yorkie-baby.blogspot.com

The breeder I got him from is here
http://www.wycofarms.com

I wish you luck in your search for a little love

[Morkie4]

Originally Posted by rachelsyorkie

I got my girl on http://www.puppyfind.com Its free but some ads require you pay to see, but its 5.99 for 30 days to see all. She was a 5 hour drive but completely worth it. I went to the persons house which required me getting there address & got phone numbers. I called the lady every hour letting her know I was still on the way. She was a hobby breeder, the dogs were in the house & I thought she was going to cry when I took her. There are some nice people on there. Of coarse some wacks, millers & scammers to I'm sure.

Glad you got your little girl with no problems but I had a lot of problems with people on the puppfind.com web site. Several gave me huge run arounds! Gave up and went to an individual who listed their yorkie on Petfinder.com so buyer beware is something we all need to be careful about. I got both my maltese and my yorkie off of the Petfinder.com site..........and I've been thrilled with them but the next person may not! It's tuff to trust these days.