puppy scam followup

[vviccles]

omg i cant beleive the scammer loser does not know that nutrical is a supplement for hypoglycemia or honey!!!! my yt buds are the best! i was stressed out tonight, prob w my daughter( little ava is growing and much better!

[yorkiesmiles]

Originally Posted by yorkiesmiles

This is all so unbelievable on one hand. I bet these scammers are not just targeting Yorkies, its probably happening with dozens of other breeds.

Those of you who have gotten scammed for real or played along with the scammers here on YT need to contact your state attorney general's office and have them go after puppyfind. The attorney general in Iowa is very aggressive about fraudulent companies and hopefully others would be, too. Someone needs to get this puppyfind to change their procedures.

I had never even heard of puppyfind until I started reading this thread. (ok just joined YT yesterday and I haven't been hunting on the Internet for a pup) Anyway, I write for the local paper I'm going to see if I can find out anything about people being scammed over puppies in Iowa. If I can find something I will talk to an editor about letting me or someone else do a stroy.

I think some other newspapers and tv stations around where some of you gals live would also be interested. Let's get the word out to people outside of YT. Warn them about puppyfind and about these scammers.

Also, just wondering how many other sites like puppyfind might be out there where the scammers can set up accts? This is a scary world somedays!

It makes me so that scammers are stealing pix, but it even makes me more that poor innocent people are loosing their $$$

Keep up the good work here everyone!!

yorkiesmiles

Ok, I'm following up on my earlier note. I searched our newspaper archives and found the following note about what to do when being scammed. See below. (Also, I think I've found a reporter to try and see if anyone in Iowa has been scammed and do a story, I'll let you know if it comes to fruition.)

Also, yestereday I Googled puppy scam and this is one of the first website that popped up: http://www.nextdaypets.com/directory...orum/3265.aspx
seems folks there were talking about this back at the beginning of Nov. I just Googled puppy scam again - and the first thing to pop up was YT!!

also found this at http://www.terrificpets.com/scams/
Some key points for pointing out a scammer:
1. Doesn't care much about the pet, just the transaction.
2. Says they will use their own shipper.
3. 95% of the scammers are from overseas (Nigeria, Israel, South Africa)
4. Pays you more then the pet is worth, then asks for the difference in money back.

We've got to get the word out folks - CALL YOUR LOCAL MEDIA AND SEE IF THEY WILL DO A STORY!!!

OK - here's the advice that ran in our paper from a police officer on what to do about scammers:

* Call the U.S. Secret Service at (202) 406-5572 or write to: U.S. Secret Service, Financial Crimes Division, 950 H. St., Washington, D.C., 20001.
* E-mail complaints to the Secret Service at 419.fcd@usss.treas.gov.
* For more information, visit www.IowaAttorneyGeneral.org. --- YT folks - GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR ATTORNEY GENERAL - GET THEM TO GO AFTER THE SCAMMERS AND PUPPYFIND!!!

[mustangbee]

Originally Posted by yorkiesmiles

Ok, I'm following up on my earlier note. I searched our newspaper archives and found the following note about what to do when being scammed. See below. (Also, I think I've found a reporter to try and see if anyone in Iowa has been scammed and do a story, I'll let you know if it comes to fruition.)

Also, yestereday I Googled puppy scam and this is one of the first website that popped up: http://www.nextdaypets.com/directory...orum/3265.aspx
seems folks there were talking about this back at the beginning of Nov. I just Googled puppy scam again - and the first thing to pop up was YT!!

also found this at http://www.terrificpets.com/scams/
Some key points for pointing out a scammer:
1. Doesn't care much about the pet, just the transaction.
2. Says they will use their own shipper.
3. 95% of the scammers are from overseas (Nigeria, Israel, South Africa)
4. Pays you more then the pet is worth, then asks for the difference in money back.

We've got to get the word out folks - CALL YOUR LOCAL MEDIA AND SEE IF THEY WILL DO A STORY!!!

OK - here's the advice that ran in our paper from a police officer on what to do about scammers:

* Call the U.S. Secret Service at (202) 406-5572 or write to: U.S. Secret Service, Financial Crimes Division, 950 H. St., Washington, D.C., 20001.
* E-mail complaints to the Secret Service at 419.fcd@usss.treas.gov.
* For more information, visit www.IowaAttorneyGeneral.org. --- YT folks - GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR ATTORNEY GENERAL - GET THEM TO GO AFTER THE SCAMMERS AND PUPPYFIND!!!

Great, I'm going to research it out here today.

[SolnzeUSB]

Originally Posted by mustangbee

Great, I'm going to research it out here today.

It's also called Nigerian Scam and very prevalent on ebay. Try doing a search on that.

[yorkiemom1970]

Originally Posted by sylvan

it will be interesting to see if they are stupid enough to try to sell non-existent pups to someone appearing to be knowledgeable about yorks. hmm

interesting enough, they HAVE NOT written back on that. i've been checking that email off and on for 2 days. nothing!

[vainchick5]

You ladies come in handy for a sticky scam job...Hahaha you are definetely hired for investigations. Great job Kim and Stacey and everyone else who helped. You guys can really make a difference. Because of YT, and learning about scams, I've learned a lot. I've been selling a ring on craigslist and have been recognizing the scammers and weeding them out. THANKS LADIES. YOU'RE MY INSPIRATION.

[feminvstr]

Originally Posted by vainchick5

You ladies come in handy for a sticky scam job...Hahaha you are definetely hired for investigations. Great job Kim and Stacey and everyone else who helped. You guys can really make a difference. Because of YT, and learning about scams, I've learned a lot. I've been selling a ring on craigslist and have been recognizing the scammers and weeding them out. THANKS LADIES. YOU'RE MY INSPIRATION.

No Matter puppyfind chooses to closes their eyes to this kind of behavior I hope that many new buyers or potential coming to YT have the opportunity to read this thread. Its truly a lesson to be learned decyphering the scams whether out of Africa or the US that attempt this kind of scam, as we all know from that woman arrested in San Diego will be caught eventually.

[crystalsmom]

Originally Posted by feminvstr

No Matter puppyfind chooses to closes their eyes to this kind of behavior I hope that many new buyers or potential coming to YT have the opportunity to read this thread. Its truly a lesson to be learned decyphering the scams whether out of Africa or the US that attempt this kind of scam, as we all know from that woman arrested in San Diego will be caught eventually.

Admin can we do a sticky.... or are you just happy it's winding down.

[mustangbee]

Originally Posted by crystalsmom

Admin can we do a sticky.... or are you just happy it's winding down.

I looked at my Yahoo account and found lots of mail. I'm not sure who it is, and I'm not going to open it. If anyone here has questions for me, please PM me and I'll give you my real e-mail address. My computer runs great, and I'd like to keep it that way. That's why I won't open mail from that account!
Have a great day all!!!

[feminvstr]

I used my personal email accounts and didnt get any virus... I recently read the newest virus is "A Virtual Card For You" is in the subject line. SInce Valentines day is coming up that virus will have a hayday, it goes directly to the hard drive and zeros out everything, I suggest if your virus programs are not updated I would do so now.

[mustangbee]

Originally Posted by feminvstr

I used my personal email accounts and didnt get any virus... I recently read the newest virus is "A Virtual Card For You" is in the subject line. SInce Valentines day is coming up that virus will have a hayday, it goes directly to the hard drive and zeros out everything, I suggest if your virus programs are not updated I would do so now.

Yea I have all my programs updated, I just want to stay on the safe side, after
all that was sent out over the weekend, I thought it would be best. I did open your e-mail you sent to my yahoo, only because I knew it was you.
I'm going to talk to a Newscaster tonight. I want to fill her in about puppyfind, and see if there's any help she can give us. I haven't seen her in years, I was her daughters babysitter years ago. We still send out cards to eachother, so who knows it's worth a try to ask her about it.

[crystalsmom]

Norton has been running security checks on my computer all day. Mustangbee, I got another yahoo account too so I would be sure not to open
anything I should not. Even without the scam, I have never opened anything
in Bulk Mail in over 10 years...just delete.

[amyann]

Originally Posted by crystalsmom

Norton has been running security checks on my computer all day. Mustangbee, I got another yahoo account too so I would be sure not to open
anything I should not. Even without the scam, I have never opened anything
in Bulk Mail in over 10 years...just delete.

I used to open e-mail in Bulk Mail just so that I can "unsubscribe" form all the junk mail. However, I had learned recently that’s just a way for some of the sender to be sure my e-mail account is still alive. Now I just delete everything in my Buck Mail.

[mustangbee]

Originally Posted by crystalsmom

Norton has been running security checks on my computer all day. Mustangbee, I got another yahoo account too so I would be sure not to open
anything I should not. Even without the scam, I have never opened anything
in Bulk Mail in over 10 years...just delete.

Good idea! The way my account is set up, if your not in my address book, you go to the Bulk Mail first. Most of it I do delete, but I do have to look at the names, it could be someone I know, but not in my book yet. After all the things going on in this post over the weekend (boy was that fun!!!) our Son ran security checks for me too. We have McAfee no problems on my end, I hope to keep it that way. Last year a friend opened e-mail, and her computer went nuts. I told her not to open mail from strangers, Lesson learned, only it was a costly one.
Good Night All, keep warm!!! It's cold tonight!

[hunniebunnie]

evidently the scammers found their way here.
thank goodness for moderators and admins who keep track and rid us of these pests.