Africa Puppy Scam - Beware!
Nancy (my wife) tried to find a goldendoodle on puppyfind.com and emailed one that was apparently in MN. She got an email back from a yahoo.com account and said that they had one that went to a pastor. He needed to give the puppy back because he had to go on a mission to Africa. Gave his email (an aol.com account) and said to contact him. He responded and said he is looking for a good christian home and $400 to cover shipping. He had brought the dog with him to Africa since he couldn’t find anyone to take care of the dog.
So Nancy tells me all this, and I’m really excited because finding a good dog is tough. Except for the Africa part. I was talking to her on the way home from work and asked her to do a google search for Africa puppy scam and guess what, a ton of results of people being scammed out of lots of money. I get home and trace the emails and they both came from the same IP address in Africa. So I called the police and filed a report but that was ultimately useless. Contacted the news media to see if they are interested in the story, but I doubt it.
I’m going to assume that the email addresses are throw aways. But be careful out there.
Please spread the word so people don’t get taken by this new version of the 508 scam.
Rules for buying a Pet online:
1. Never buy online (ok that may not be a reality)
2. Ask to see the puppy in person (even though you may not be able to, test their answer, if they answer no visits, walk away)
3, Ask for photos of the puppy with your name or a pop can of your choice in the picture (so you know that the puppy actually exists)
4. Never send money via western union or money order. It is impossible to get back. Use paypal or a credit card or a check you can cancel.
5. Do research online, do google searchs, visit their website, search on their names, look for feedback
6. Ask for references of other pet owners from the breeder.
Filed under: News
African puppy scam. Now I have heard everything.
I just had someone try and pass the same thing off to me. I had the breeder who recommended me to a pastor, I wish I had more info on this person!! I want to go ring their necks!!!
Hi, if u think that is bad Iam trying to get money for my wife (kidney transplant- dialysis) and these scamers try to get me to send them money - when they send me a bogus check, and want me to keep $500 ,and western union somebody else $2500!!, of cores there check is bad,, it just ercks me that they wouild steel money from someone that needs a kidney transplant
i’ve been scammed. i’m out three hundred dollars and i’m without a puppy. can anyone tell me how to go about filing whatever report or what not.
scam !! HELP there is a man shawn willam http://shawnwillbullies.tripod.com
trying to sale english bull dogs and will not let you pick them up OR SEE THEM from his home wants you to pay for the puppy and then ship it but he wants you to pay money gram or western union only. and he frist was in layfette indianna now he is in new castal pa. help viewer beware of this. please
WOW this happen to me today I sent the lady $250 western union to africa because she was suppose to send me a puppy and today she emailed me asking me to send more cause the puppy was stuck in customs I told her no I couldn’t send her money. come to find out i was a scam I am sooo mad at myself for not being more carful. I never herd anything about this kind of stuff till today and now im out of $250 I wish i would have done better research
They need to close the puppyfind.com site down, I haven’t found one legit person on there. I certainly would not send money without physically seeing the dog. apparently this puppyfind.com also has about 60% puppymill listin and 40%backyard breeder listing.
I think the sit is ridiculous for staying live, it should be shut down since the site owner doesn’t care screen who post.
this website is a total scam. I sent a total of 650$ to someone in cameroon, Africa because someone told me they lived in winnipeg and asked that I send money to some people in africa, dumb me! I snet them money, and they tried asking for an additional 900$ to cover “flight insurance” I emailed back saying there was no such thing and that I wanted my money back-no answer now! But I got a cute puppy today-locally. shes adorable and I love her, the only mistake I made was sending money through western union-beware people, buy locally!