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Recognising a scam
Good luck finding/rehoming your pet via petsonthenet.co.nz,
we have had a lot of success
with adoptions via this free service since
2002.
However, please be aware of an international pet
scam. Sometimes these scammers reply to both pets
wanted and pets for sale ads. They may also place ads
for Pets for Sale or Adoption (if only briefly as we delete
them the second that we spot them...).They offer to
ship pets to (or from you). Shipping to, or from
OUTSIDE NEW ZEALAND
Any of these factors below will be
strong indicators of an international pet
scam...Do not reply to the ad, or email. Please
forward the ad number or email reply to us for
further investigation at
team@petsonthenet.co.nz.
- No mention of
location or ANY mention whatsoever of
Cameroon
(Cameroon = scam 100% of the time)
- Bad grammar and spelling
- Vague reply that does not make sense or
relate well to your ad or enquiry
- Non .nz email addresses. They often abuse
yahoo free mail (international, not NZ) for
their scamming attempts.
- Reference to AKC (in NZ we are NZKC).
- Reference to pounds and inches, not
metrics
- American spelling
- Shipping from overseas, or any type of
domestic shipping/flights (you should always
MEET the animal
- Religious angle (or missionary, aide or
orphanage worker or similar "sob story")
- Wants Moneygram or Western union payment
or other irreversible wire payment
- Avoids giving address/phone
number/(checkable) references in NZ so that
you could
see/meet the animal
- Expensive purebred puppy for free or
cheap, you just pay shipping
(sounds too good to be true)
- Breeds most frequently targeted by
scammers are English Bulldogs, Chihuahuas,
teacup Yorkies and parrots/eggs
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Keep
in mind the animal does not even
exist...they simply recycle pictures lifted
from the internet and give a spiel they hope
will work. And they are certainly not in NZ,
nor are they New Zealanders, they are
international criminals and fraudsters
looking to suck someone in.
As soon as we pick up a scammer in our
regular monitoring, the user ID and email
the scammer registered under is disabled
from both posting and replying to ads on
petsonthenet.co.nz. We also "name and shame"
them at www.twitter.com/petscammers, to warn
people.
What
(and what not!) to do now
Please DO NOT REPLY to
those replies to your ad from overseas
people. Their agenda may include collecting your
bank/Visa details etc and/or to collect and
harvest your email address, or to receive monies
from you - for which no pet appears.... Please
note your email address will only be known to them
if you reply, otherwise it is protected.
Unfortunately in one case a person in NZ did wire
$250 to these fraudsters, expecting a very cheap
purebreed pup in return. Then the scammers came
back for a second shot demanding a further wire of $300 before they would send the
dog...
No dog ever arrived
and the person was down $250 by the time they
realised it was a scam...
The net is a great
thing, but there are scammers out there,
please be careful, deal ONLY with people in our
own country for
pets for sale/wanted. Don't send money or bank
details/credit card details for purchase of pets or
for "shipping".
Example
scams (see
also lost
pet sample scams, you'll see a pattern
emerging...!)
These are only a tiny sample of the real life samples we
have been sent from victims worldwide. Shame on these
scammers. Note
their poor spelling and grammar...another
clue...Plus they are geographically challenged ie)
Buffalo, Eire..?!! Bamenda, New Zealand?!
The scammers either post ads on classifieds websites to catch you
(including ours, which we quickly delete) or
sometimes they will reply to YOUR Pet Wanted or Pet for
Adoption or Sale ad as well...
Example
scam replies to ads
Example scam
ads
Please note we also immediately delete any ads for
endangered and illegal animals, such as monkeys etc.
We have no wish to contribute to that shameful
business...
Scammers will often pretend to be priests, nuns,
AIDS workers, soldiers, peace workers etc. They
trade on these lies to make you feel you can trust
them.
Also realise that these pets do NOT EVEN EXIST in
the first place, they are made up stories, using
pictures they pinch from the internet and simply
recycle over and over. So when they tell you your
pup may die if you wont send more money for taxes,
insurance, bigger cage, strike action etc etc -
don't be fooled. There is no pet whatsoever.
Scammers say these
things to suck more money out of you. When you've
already paid once, they hit you again and again for
more money with more stories, until finally you
click...The worst case I have ever seen was US based
person scammed of about $2000 US dollars for a
monkey, they sent money 5x before they realised it
was suspicious....
We now get 3 - 4 pet scams sent to us from victims (or
near miss victims) from all over the world, every
single day. So our
collection is ever growing...we have published only
a tiny representative handful here.
Here is a true and sadly typical summary of what
will happen if you do send money from a US resident
who was scammed...
"I think I definitely fell for a scam from Boulua,
Cameroon. The person was supposed to be selling me a
parrot and an airport in Douala Cameroon was
supposed to be holding the parrot. I did send $200
as a down payment, then he said he needed pet
insurance, I sent $50. Then they both emailed me
saying they need $190. I did not send that. I told
him I was turning him in if I didn't get either my
money or the Macaw, he keeps emailing me with a
line, can you help me stop this guy ,thank you"
(victim has placed this in the authorities hands
now...)
Example
scam replies to ads
(Scammers names have been replaced by XXXXXXX or
"scammer", email addresses have been changed also....not
to
protect them, but ourselves, from their continuing
threats......spelling mistakes have been left
uncorrected, so you can see how they write. One day
they will learn to use a spell checker and it will
not be so obvious, so look at the content and
especially the country of origin. If it's outside
NZ, forget it.)
Scam reply to a
"Pets Wanted" ad....
It will take just 3working days to get to
you.As soon i get the payment i
will today i will friengt it soon..Please send
e your full address.when i
send it i will call u.the equivalent of the
total is 183 USD = 264 New
Zealand dolar
Use the money via western union using the
names below
Name XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
bamenda
Caeroon
Hi thank for your mail.All our puppies have
purbred papers i will send
them all to you.They are both ale and female
for the 6 and 7 so u make your
choice and tell me shipp will be done as soon
i get the
payment.Freighing is 30USD.i am about send
some puppies to some other costomers in New
zealand by week end if you will want that i
friegt with yours then it will e ok.
You can make the Payment through western
Union.
Name XXXXXXXXXXXXX
CAMEROON.
Waitin to read fro you soonest
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Scammers reply
to a Pet for Adoption ad (for a budgie..)
GOOD
DAY, I AM INTERSTED IN ADOPTING YOUR{PET}I
WILL WANT YOU TO MAIL ME
THE LATEST CONDITION AND THE FINAL ASKING
PRICE.YOU ARE WILL TO ADOPT TO
ME.GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBILE
TODAY.THANKS
johnson
johnson_david_2xxxxx6@hotmail.com
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*** I want to adopt your pet as part of my
family ***
Hello Friend.
I'm very much interested in adopting your pet
to my humble home. I'm us
citizen. I live at delray beach FL, but
presently in ontario canada to
accept a job offer with the american christain
missionary as a clerk. I'm
happily married with a kid. I want to re-home
your pet as part of my
family. I lost my most adorable pet some
couple of days ago on the way to
the Vet clinic, the tragedy was so painful for
me to bear as a pet
lover,soi need yours in replace to minimise
the lost. I assure you a 100%
loving forever home for your pet and i want
you to consider the pet sold to
a petlover. Chrismas is fast approaching and
need a pet in my house. Pls,
briefly tell me these: adoption fees,mode of
feeding, presenthealth
condition, breed, and pic if available.I have
a recommendable pet
transporter that will come for thepick-up
right from! your home. "means you
don't need to drive the pet to any where". So
i urge you to contact the pet
shipping company at(petshippers_consultant1@fastermail.com)I
wait to hear
back from you so that i can inform my TRUSTEE
in the state to issue out the
payment ! in time.As for the payment, you have
to forward your name,address
and your phone number for payment. A certified
"MO" will be issue on your
behalf which'll cover the adoption fees + $50
as reward offer for the up
bringing of the pet + the shipping fees. I
wait to hear back from you at
you earliest convinient time.
Mrs Daniela dash cares for your pet.
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I
just read about the Pet Scam and I just
realised that I could have been the victim.
Here's the ad that says I can adopt a
Chihuahua from Cameroon.
I've been exchanging emails with this person
and was exciting at beginning but started to
feel not so right about it.
Here's some of emails have been sent to
me.
(SCAM!!!) From
"Scammer"
thanks very much for your mail. my the lord
God bless you. thank you for loving to adopt
this dog.thanks a million.
the dog is a male as i areasy told you.its
name is nippy after my friend who passed
away about 20months ago. so nippy is about
19months old. its birthdayis on november
14th .
nippy likes playing alot. it love me alot so
i can say nippy love people. this is the
best dog i have every have in my life.but
i'm bound to give it for adoption because of
this new . thank God again you are there to
have. i still pray for you.
for the means of which it can get to you,
i've seen the a flight agency that can
transport the dog to you. please you can
contact the general manager through this
email address XXXXXXX@north.org so that he
will give you the flight price. that is just
all you need to do. thanks again.
thank you very much and please get back as
soon as you've met the general manager of
jetma so thati can know your final
discursion with him.
for the photes those were all i send to you.
this job does not give me time to do any
thing. while waiting for you reply thanks
again. thanks.
This email (below) is from transport company so called JETMA which doesn't
even exist
(SCAM!!!) GOOD
DAY MADAM,
I am the general manger of the JETMA
AIRLINER FOR PETS TRANSPORTATION.This is a
branch of the jetma shipping company in the
uk.this branch is newly opened just for the
international transportation of pets and
cargo internationally.our branches in africa
are in south africa,Egypt,cameroon, Libya
and congo.
Transporting a puppy from Cameroon New
zealand is $490us dollars and to Asia $675us
dollars for door to door delivery service.
We have agents and vet doctors in our crafts
that carter for the pets during the journey
and the agency carters for their feeding
during the trip. All you need to do is tell
your sender to bring the puppy to us at our
agency in the respective country, with your
full name and address with all other
contacts to facilitate delivery.
For the payment procedure,go to your nearest
western union agency,pay the money to the
following names: Mr XXX XXXXXX XXXX (our
company accountant in Cameroon.)
address:Douala,Cameroon.
ues this test question:who is your reciever?
anwser:jetma
when you pay the money,send the details to
my accountant immediately on email
XXXXXXX@yahoo.com
you can also call (237)510XXXX.your tracking
number will be emailed to you immediately.hope with the above information,
your puppies will reach you soonest.
my regards,"scammer"
Last email (below) asking me to pay the bill as I
told them I only can spend NZ200 for
adoption.
(SCAM!!!) thanks
for the mail. i understand your problem. i
had already paid the money and they can't
give back the as they said. and i can't
afford to lost that money. so please pay the
nz$200 and i will do everything to complete
it. i'm just doing this because i see you
really have love for the dog and also
because of you patients. please if ok get to
after you've paid the nz$200. thanks again
for your understanding.
I knew this person can't be real after
kept asking me to pay and Thank you for your
information on the net about this pet scam
which helped me to realise this.
I hope other people are not falling into
such scams and so these ads no longer can
exist. Thank you
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(real life)
Example scam classified ad
Pet for Adoption Scam
(you pay the
shipping, then never get the non existent pet)
Headline: English Bull Dog For Adoption
(SCAM!!!)
I have an English bull dog for
adoption. I bought this lovely and healthy
dog for my late son who died through a gasly
car accident hence each time i see this dog
it gives me memories of him i feel so sad
and troubled hence i am in search of anyone
who could adopt this dog and pay just for
its shipment cost to whatever destination
and equally an adoption which will surfice
just to put a flower rib on my late boys
grave.Just email me as soon as possible. Dog
has all its travelling papers and shall not
be quarantined at any point in time for what
so ever reason.
The dog is named after my late boy
Micky.thanks
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Adorable English Bull Dog Puppies For
Sale 800 Dollars
hello purebred english bull puppies
avialble for sale,she is call kenny
well train akc reg health gurrantee
and health certificate,have she shote
uptill date and deworwed.some along
with all her papers including the
crate sign and her cage,she is for
valentine for lover and caring people
of pets,if you are interested mail me
back for more information.or you can
call me at 237 XXX XXXX or mail
me at XXXXy@yahoo.com
thanks waiting for any one to have
her.
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There is no end to their thieving
creativity. Here is a religious
Christmas scam
just in time for the season of joy (and
scamming)....
The only present you'll get from this lot
is a very gaping hole in your wallet.
Headline: Adorable Yorkie Pops And
Enlgish Bull Pops For Xmas
the holly sisters of st anne solidat
convent offers an xmas gift to pet lovers
round the glob.as their own tocken in xmas.
english bull dog puppies and yorkie pups
are kept assied to offer to pet lovers
arround the glob.he she who is previlage
to come across this advert and loves pets
should contact immidiatly.be one of the
gods appointed persons to celebrate the
xmas 2006 with the holly sisters of st
anne solidat.
may god be with he,she,who is previlage.
stay blessed.
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Websites to avoid
In 2006 we discovered scammers copying
genuine websites and then changing a few contact
details, to trick you into trusting
them...such as these websites below...
http://www.dominicpetshome.page.tl/ 2008
http://www.terence4babieshomepets.page.tl/
2008
www.markpuppy.net is an almost exact
copy of a genuine US based website with a few
details changed, importantly the hoax site
says they are Africa based and only accepts
irreversible wire payments. markpuppy.net
claims to be the website of a Vet Centre in
West Africa.
www.universalpetsexpress.net is an
almost exact copy of a genuine US based pet
shipper's website.
No doubt there are a lot more.
The trend prior to that was the scammers
making their own "home made" websites, however
they then progressed to the copied
website style of scam which is harder to spot
(unless you read this!)
Scam websites usually meet some or all of
these criteria...
1) They are NOT based in your own country.
Often openly based in Cameroon...or Africa.
They may not mention the country but a city ie) Yaounde, Bafoussam
or Littoral. Type any unknown location
unfamiliar to you into Google or get an
atlas, you may find they are not in your own
country...
2) Often use poor spelling/grammar
3) Expect payment by irreversible wire i.e.)
Western Union or Moneygram etc
4) Things just don't add up..
Deal ONLY with people in
your OWN country. See the pet before you pay
for it, pay only by "refundable means". Wire
such as Western Union is not reversible! Your
money is gone forever. Look very
closely into the location of any person
selling an animal. Use Google to check out any
email addresses, company names, city names, (fictitious)
airline names - even a real airline name does
not mean they are for real. One scam website in
Cameroon supposedly uses Continental Airs - not a
real airline. Also often quoted is Jetma,
another non existent airline/service. Another
person in the USA who was scammed, was quoted
a genuine company, DHL, who would ship. They
were even given a supposed DHL
reference number, which turned out to be non
existent. The animal did not even exist, they
just used a credible company to help hide
their scam. That person
lost over 250$ USD to that scammer...
Updates / New online pet scam twists
April 2006: We are now aware of at
least one seemingly US based website, that is
totally bogus also. Supposedly a pet transport
company, but they also have "pets for sale" on
their website.
July 2006: New trend? Thailand based
pet scammers are pretending to run animal
welfare shelters, they are probably running
pet shipping (money laundering scams). They
also have their own web pages to fool you as
to their credibility. Please email any
correspondence which may be of interest if you
were scammed or nearly scammed.
November 2006: Now scammers appearing from
Mexico. Christmas
"themed" scams. Scammers proactively
mentioning scams to you, to throw you off
guard. Scammers pretending to be authorities,
ministries, airports, officials etc (they
pretend to help you or reassure you but in
reality they are all the same person and they
all want your money for these "favours". Most
common breeds scam ads are for are Bull Dogs, Yorkies, Chihuahua, Monkies, Parrots and eggs.
November 2006:
Scammers pretending they will give you a pet
for free AFTER you wire a sizeable donation
by (irreversible means such as Western Union)
to an "African Orphanage" (or similar
sob story). They will pretend to live nearby
you in New Zealand, but not give you their
address for pickup, UNTIL you have sent the
funds. Obviously once they have the funds
(orphanage is non existent), you never hear
from them again...BEWARE!
November 2006:
Ads in newspapers by scammers with
email contacts. When you contact you find out
they start talking about international
shipping of pets. I even saw one in my local
NZ newspaper and it took a fair amount of
convincing to get them to understand and
accept it was a scam.
December 2006:
Wholesale copying of genuine US based websites,
fake website is now in Africa though and they
only accept wire payment. See this
link for fake sites we are aware of, this
is by no means an exhaustive list...
Other
useful links about internet scams,
especially internet pet scams
fraudwatchers.org
- Report internet scams and get free forum support.
Excellent indepth resource.
CaveatEmptorus.com
Well it seems we here in new Zealand are
not alone in this, these scams are a
worldwide issue! More on internet pet scams
and examples are to be found on this very
good site which is dedicated to educate to
prevent internet fraud.
http://caveatemptorus.com/dogscams.html
http://www.scambusters.org/petscams.html
Form to report scams/fraud originating from yahoo
emails
Scam
Busters New Zealand.
Focusing on NZ internet scams, largely
online auctions, but also others plus online
forums and excellent NZ links to police,
consumer, Fair Go etc
http://www.scambusters.co.nz
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