What Do I do About a possible Scammer?

[Swartkids]

Hi everyone,

I have a question, and I am sure that most of you who have ever researched or posted for breeders before have seen this, however it never ceased to amaze me! I posted a thread on the "For Sale/Wanted" forum because my husband and I are trying to find a yorkie needing a re-home in VA. I got a response from this one lady offering me 2 puppies, for $200. According to her, that was all she was charging me because she couldn't keep them anymore and really wanted them to go to a nice home. After I had emailed back and forth a bit and told her about our family was when she decided to tell me what the cost was. Keeping in mind now, that every time I emailed her, I asked her where she was located and what she was asking for each puppy, and pics. She finally sent me these pictures, that looked like they were copied off of some random internet site somewhere. Then, she tells me that she is shipping them from Camaroon!! I emailed back adn told her that I wasn't interested - I had posted a wanted ad for VA only and that I do not ship puppies, thanks but no thanks. She writes me back and tells me that she is not charging for shipping, the $200 is for the shipping, please get back to her ASAP so that arrangements could be made. Tell me that doesn't sound like a scam?!?!?! We have been looking off and on for a coupe of years now, and the whole reason we stop looking each time is because we start getting more responses from scammers than anything else! Is there any way or any place to report these people? Just thought I would put the question out there. Thanks so much! Everyone here is usually so great with the support and the help!

[MollysMum54]

It sounds like a definite scam to me. There are lots of breeders on this site, maybe one of them can help you with a new pup...good luck.

[Lisa and Pic]

Sorry about the scammer. You can press the red triangle to report something on YorkieTalk.

[DaisyMaeSiliven]

Ive been wondering about something like this that has been going on with me. I posted my pups for sale and have been getting several calls and emails (re-directed thru newspaper I advertised with) They ask me to email them back with the info when it was already listed, asking if my "breed" is still for sale and even one went as far as to at first say he was contacting me for a client then when I told him I was not working thru a 3rd party he said oh I decided to get one for my kids. I have even had 3 different calls thru the relay svc for hearing impaired and the caller is asking me to email him with the puppy info and a cashiers check will be sent right out. Being new at selling the puppies I emailed the first guy and got weird emails wanting my information (which luckily I refused to give, the pieces just didn't fit) (i figured this was a way for them to get my email address since is was not listed in the newspaper, they had to email the newspaper, the paper would forward the responses and leave it up to me if I wanted to give them my email info, I fell for it a few times because I didn't know any better, I still dont know what all of it is but I knew it didnt sound right. I now screen the calls and if anyone sounds even the slighest suspicious I tell them I am not interested, same with emails. Does anyone know who these "off the wall" people my be, what they want or who they work for? It sounds like a big scam set up.

[JeanieK]

Yes it definitely sounds like a scam. You can play with her little brain before you toss her to the trash, or you can call her out on it immediately.

Tell her that you have a friend there that will come and pick the puppies up.

[JenniferLeigh]

post her name / email address.

She is trying to scam multiple people at a time. If someone google's her email address or name, atleast it will bring them to this forum.

[mscat]

Ye, the Camroon one is A scam. I am glad you did not fall for it. I hope that you will find the perfect little yorkie puppy for your family. It is best to always go to the breeders house and see the parents of the puppies. Then you can see the condions of the animals and ask all the questions you need to with the breeder.
I would never buy a living creature over the internet. However, I know A lot of people that do. Finding A reputable breeder is of the upmost importance in finding A very healthy little yorkie pup. perhaps their are Breeders in your area here On YT that can help you.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Swartkids

Hi everyone,

I have a question, and I am sure that most of you who have ever researched or posted for breeders before have seen this, however it never ceased to amaze me! I posted a thread on the "For Sale/Wanted" forum because my husband and I are trying to find a yorkie needing a re-home in VA. I got a response from this one lady offering me 2 puppies, for $200. According to her, that was all she was charging me because she couldn't keep them anymore and really wanted them to go to a nice home. After I had emailed back and forth a bit and told her about our family was when she decided to tell me what the cost was. Keeping in mind now, that every time I emailed her, I asked her where she was located and what she was asking for each puppy, and pics. She finally sent me these pictures, that looked like they were copied off of some random internet site somewhere. Then, she tells me that she is shipping them from Camaroon!! I emailed back adn told her that I wasn't interested - I had posted a wanted ad for VA only and that I do not ship puppies, thanks but no thanks. She writes me back and tells me that she is not charging for shipping, the $200 is for the shipping, please get back to her ASAP so that arrangements could be made. Tell me that doesn't sound like a scam?!?!?! We have been looking off and on for a coupe of years now, and the whole reason we stop looking each time is because we start getting more responses from scammers than anything else! Is there any way or any place to report these people? Just thought I would put the question out there. Thanks so much! Everyone here is usually so great with the support and the help!

I noticed you have your email address listed on your profile page; this is probably not a good idea. If the person, who wrote you the email, is a member here, report it to admin. Otherwise, there is not a lot you can do. These scammers work, by volume, and the less contact you have with them the better.

[littlewhip]

We have these in our local paper online
where you see a pretty little babie and of course its a scam
it reads FREE yorkies, Just asking for shipping ! I turn them in every chance i get

[Britster]

Someone did that to me too... about shipping from Cameroon! I was like... what?

[francis53]

At least the Camaroon one is more obviously a scam. Watch out for anyone wanting you to wire money thru western union. I lost almost a $1000 that way several years ago after my first little yorkie passed I was so lonely for one
I never saw my puppy or my money again, I've never told anyone that happened, not even my DH, I was so embarrassed to be so scammed. This guy promised me the cutest little puppy, probably stole the pic from some one here

[tiggertats]

OMG!! I got conned in the same scam once. i sent $ and I sat at the airport for abour 3 hours waiting on a puppy that didnt exist. then the person had the nerve to call me and ask me did i recieve the puppy. I was like uuumm no and I want my $ back. she then said she was going to call me back. the the so called "airport" in Cameroon called me saying that I need to send more $ for an incubated crate. they kept saying your precious puppy is here waiting for you just send the $ so you can have her. I didnt send another dime. I was pissed.

[gg44]

I have gotten two calls and the first one I emailed them the info then I got this message back from them Quote:
Thanks for getting back to me,i will like to inform you that am purchasing the (pup) as a birthday present for my wife,i will be very much happy if you consider the (pup)* sold to me.The reason I am sending you this email is to make final reconfirmation of (pup)*which is ok by me,and also to let you know that payment will be by certified cashier's check or money order. In view of this I need you to email me any informat ion that may be required to send the payment as I do not want to send the check or money order to a wrong location lest they get into the wrong hands.Regarding the shipping, I have a company that takes care of the pickup of my consignments for me and ship to my destination in new jersey anywhere in the U.S.A, you do not worry about shipping, the company will send down a representative to arrange the sales documentation and the pick up from your end for onward transfer to my destination.I also want to alert you on the fact that you will be receiving an overdraft check, which will cover the money for the pickup (pickup and shipping to the final destination) as well as the money to be paid to the company that will take care of the pickup and the documentation with you So please, as soon as you receive the payment, go and cash it immediately, deduct the money that accrues to you, and send the balance to the Head Office of the company that handles the shipment via Western union.The check will be in your name to make it easier for you to receive payment, please reconfirm your details one more time.I will give you the details of the company that will be shipping the (pup)* as soon as we seal this deal.Once the money is received by the agent , the shipping agent will contact you immediately to arrange the documentation as well as the pick up immediately. So in view of the above, here are some of the details I will need for final issuance of the ch eck or money order to you.

(1) Full Name
(2) Mailing address, no p.o.box please
(3) your direct telephone number both home and cell.?
{4} Acceptance of my offer
(5} Final asking price
Once you get back to me with all the above, the check or money order will be issued out immediately and it will be sent to you .Hope to hear from you immediately.Looking forward to your swift response i will also be offering you extra $50 for keeping the (pup). for me till the shipper comes for the pick up..NB, I will be looking forward to your swift response
..
Regards
Joe
UNQUOTE
His e-mail address was joekerry60@yahoo.com
Then today I got another relay call and I told them I would not email them and I would not ship my puppy. Their name was Cook

[Yorkiekids]

I'm sorry, but that's definitely a scam.

[DaisyMaeSiliven]

That is similar to what happened to me on my very first what I believe was a scam call. I had advertised in on US.Buy.Sell for this area (that is where I found my baby girl and figured it would reach more people) and I received a call thru the relay system (the person calling me was hearing impaired) He explained he was looking for a puppy. He asked me thru the relay service to email him so we could talk easier and I could give him the info about the puppy. I emailed him the next day to talk with him further, I asked several questions to him because I wasn't going to sell any of the puppies to just anyone. He avoided most of the questions and right away asked for my home address, ph # etc so he could have all the info to send a cashiers check. He also said he would be paying extra to me to cover shipping costs and to send the amount he paid over the puppies cost back to western union to cover the driver. Now these pups were only a few weeks old and I wasn't letting them go until at least 10wks and I clearly told him I wasnt shipping puppies and I even offered to drive it to him if his disability limited him from driving. He only responded by asking for home address, ph# etc again. (I DONT THINK SO, but what the heck, game on)so I played interested then at the very end also asked him how could Western Union receive money and just stick it in an account for several weeks for a driver that didn't even have a schedule for pick up. It just wasnt adding up. He didnt answer of course but he then tried to tell me he was having a driver pick it up along with a farm implement in this area. and I responded with 2 words, "Not Interested", and I didn't hear anymore from him. I did receive a few generic emails (directed from USBUYSELL) asking if I had my breed for sale still and to email them with info, and 2 more calls thru relay that once I asked where they were from on the ph and I wouldn't ship, they were no longer interested and disconnected the call. I dont know who these people work for but its kinda ironic all of them had just about the same "lines" to use. Not only Buyers Beware, but Sellers Beware also.