Puppy Scams

[cathys]

Go with your gut. If it feels wrong it probably is wrong.

[TaylorWoods]

Originally Posted by maryeverett1

Yes it is a very sick world out there! I would still be very careful even if you do get a registration number because who's to say that isn't some friend of theirs that has the dog but is in the scam with them and has no intention of giving the dog up!! Dong give out any personal info and if they let you pay the airline directly for the flight than that is a good sign! No money should exchange their hands if the dog is free to you! Just a bad set up if you ask me and better ways to go about getting a stud dog down the road! Also be careful writing about being a hobby breeder on YT! Just a warning you are going to catch a ton of flack for that! Just FYI! Hope you have a great day!!

Thanks but I am DEFINITELY not a hobby breeder! I'm not a breeder at all! I have simply been doing some research into it

Simply put, there is no puppy in existence in this situation. I wish i could do something to prevent others falling for this scam.

thanks for the input

[joeyandtanksmom]

100% scam! It's got scam written all over it! I've read multiple times about the "free, you just pay to ship it", and people have lost thousands of dollars, because after one payment, they'll ask for another, then you'll never see a puppy. If something just doesn't feel quite right, it generally isn't a good thing. Also, if they say "all you do is pay for...", it's probably a scam.

[LuvMyPuppE]

these scams make me NUTS! i actually found yorkietalk after coming across a scam - i googled the person's email address and there was a linkie to a yorkietalk thread about scams.

if it sounds too good to be true - it IS! i can't say that NOBODY would give away a yorkie because my mother in law did just that. she got one which she paid a pretty penny for and because of her work schedule, she decided she couldn't keep it.

but MOST people aren't giving away yorkies. if they are, it will probably be someone locally and they will want to meet you.

the scammers are getting more and more sophisticated (looking less scam-like). i just emailed back and forth with someone wanting to rehome their yorkie for $195 dollars (not including shipping) and i emailed them back with my phone number. i figure if they are legit then they will have no problem talking to me over the phone! if they don't call, i'll know it was a scam. i would suggest you do the same. i know if i were looking for a home for my pup, i would call the person who seemed interested. if they have an excuse as to why they can't call - it's a SCAM!

[TaylorWoods]

Im too nervous to even give out my number! And initially they asked me if I had other pets etc and which vet i use and i told them the name of the clinic so I even plan on phoning them up and telling them in case someone phones for information. I was just saying to my boyfriend, what stops people getting your details and then stealing your dog???

I will admit I emailed them this morning and told them exactly what I think. And I said I would inform the necessary authorities which I will do to try and avoid others getting involved here.

I just think it's super important to go and see any puppy before purchasing it. They were very convincing at first but some of the information was nonsense and the address does not exist. Im glad I asked, thanks for everyone's input

[TaylorWoods]

Hi to all those who showed interest in this post J And thanks for your ideas and thoughts
So I hadn’t thought of actually Googling the email address I had for this slimy individual until I saw one of the previous posts. So I googled it and WHAT A SHOCK I GOT! Turns out he has numerous adverts for other dogs including Rottweiler puppies and Maltese. I found a “personal ad” for him too! and his adverts stretched from South Africa to BERLIN! Some were in a language I couldn’t understand – German I think. I was wondering about his grammar in his emails to me!

So thanks for the advice, and for any of you out there who come across this individual please be aware. His address is frank.lezy01@yahoo.com and he is not only operating here in South Africa. He claims to import puppies from Cameroon even! There are a few blogs about him out there too with numerous people complaining about his scams. i dont know how else to warn people about this individual.
All I can say is thank goodness I was not looking for a new puppy and did not have that spark of excitement you get when you finally find one that’s right and you will believe anything.
Please just be aware of this problem – this is not the only individual out there doing this.

[LuvMyPuppE]

Originally Posted by TaylorWoods

Hi to all those who showed interest in this post J And thanks for your ideas and thoughts
So I hadn’t thought of actually Googling the email address I had for this slimy individual until I saw one of the previous posts. So I googled it and WHAT A SHOCK I GOT! Turns out he has numerous adverts for other dogs including Rottweiler puppies and Maltese. I found a “personal ad” for him too! and his adverts stretched from South Africa to BERLIN! Some were in a language I couldn’t understand – German I think. I was wondering about his grammar in his emails to me!

So thanks for the advice, and for any of you out there who come across this individual please be aware. His address is frank.lezy01@yahoo.com and he is not only operating here in South Africa. He claims to import puppies from Cameroon even! There are a few blogs about him out there too with numerous people complaining about his scams. i dont know how else to warn people about this individual.
All I can say is thank goodness I was not looking for a new puppy and did not have that spark of excitement you get when you finally find one that’s right and you will believe anything.
Please just be aware of this problem – this is not the only individual out there doing this.

what a friend google is, huh?

i wouldn't give my phone number to someone you've corresponded with and given information to - but if you find an ad that you feel MIGHT be legit (after ruling out scams through google, etc) then you can simply respond (the first time) asking for their phone number or giving them yours.

if it's not a scam - they will call or give you a number.

the scams always want you to answer a list of questions and give some sob story about how they're on a christian mission and can't keep the pup. a scammer won't make contact through the phone.

[John Stelting]

It is a scam.......... so quit emailing them and hoping it's not.....

It is a scam............... they will give you all the info. you request to get you to send money.......... but I repeat it is a scam.................

Don't send them money..................

It is a scam...........

Have I said it enough????????

[TaylorWoods]

You are 100% right...I have cut off all communication with this individual...

And I only EVER hand over cash in person when collecting whatever i am purchasing.

I just want to prevent this happening again and i emailed the special "scam protection" address with his details and they will have his ads removed from these sites wherever possible. That's the best I can do - It is important for others around the world to know of him too though because he is not only operating in South Africa.

I hope that if others google his address that these posts will show up too