So sick of scammers!!
 

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:mad: :thumbdown :thumbdown

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

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 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??

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

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.

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.

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! :thumbup:

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.

I think I must be dense, because I don't understand. :confused: 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.

Free??? OHHHH that explains it!!!!! Thanks for explaining that! :thumbup: :p 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! :mad: :thumbdown

I'll explain. :D

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! :mad:

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

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

Scammers:mad: :thumbdown

This is the e-mail I received from this scammer, pretty much the exact same thing when I was selling birds, sometimes than they would even accidently put the word dog in instead of bird, they just look for ads and hope someone is really desperate to place their puppies, I'm not:) :

I am interested in 1 female puppy,

Thanks for getting back to me,i will like to inform you that am purchasing the puppy as a birthday present for my son,i will be very much happy if you consider the puppy sold to me. The reason I am sending you this email is to make final reconfirmation of puppy 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 information 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

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 puppy 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 check 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
(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 puppy for me till the shipper comes for the pick up...., I will be looking forward to your swift response ..

Regards

i know EXACTLY what you mean.. it's soooooo ANNOYING!! it gets really OLD!!:rolleyes: this probably sounds bad.. but hopefully THERE will be alot more people aware of these scammers, and aware of bad breeders, puppymills, brokers, etc. Maybe the people who don't know any better and buy on a whim.. because there is a "teacup" dog or a VERY inexpensive "teacup" rehome..when in all actuality it is just a big fat SCAM!!!! will be able to educate their friends, family, people they know, etc. ? i dont know.. but it's really sad and very frusterating!! i totally agree with you.. i wish there was something more that could be done!!:mad: :(

oh yeah, i also wanted to say.. not only the scammers, but the CRAPPY breeders(aka puppymills) online that sell their pups for a BUNCH of money(or sometimes not!?) and alot of people who don't know better get SCAMMED with a sick pup, etc. and they stay in business making all this money, and the poor lil doggies and people who buy from them SUFFER!! it makes me SICK!!:mad: :(

Scammers:thumbdown :thumbdown :thumbdown I agree, I wish there was something more that could be done!! :mad: :mad: