This is definitely a scam. It is not just in the dog world either. I contacted the same person/group while looking for an African Grey parrot to adopt. They sent me the very same e-mail and wanted a $1200 adoption fee. People like this make me sick. They take advantage of hundreds of people including the elderly and the sick. I think that when these people are caught they should have a good old fashion hanging and do it right in the middle of the court house lawn. Maybe then, it would make people think twice before trying to scam someone out of what took them a lifetime to build.
Oh well, that is just my opinion on the subject. Congrats for being too smart to fall for it.
YorkieProud