Scam???

cascy · 09-20-2007, 10:49 PM

Ok, so my grandmother just lost her little yorkie that she's had for 14 yrs. Apparently grandpa let the dog out to potty and somehow she fell in the swimming pool... well long story short, that's where they found her.

Anyway, I found a ad in our LOCAL newspaper, advertising a tiny yorkie puppy for adoption. Ad said puppy has great personality, will be small, and can be registered.

So I email them to find out what they are asking as the "adoption price", thinking that maybe I could get my grandma another puppy and maybe ease her pain some....

Well this is the email that I got back.... Notice the less the "perfect" grammer, etc. completely different then language used in the ad.... So what's your thoughts... Is it a scam or what???

Thanks for the care and your interest on my little puppy.however baby is still very much available for adoption.My pup is Akc Registered And Vet Checked and the puppy health is 100 % OK, My puppy is current on vaccinations and wormings with A Year Health Guarantee also the puppy is potty trained and home raised and socialized for tremendous attitude,excellent temperament, super train ability and has that special people pleasing personality.I want you to know the details that then puppy have and you can go through the baby register information that the puppy have and everything will be shipping with the puppy to you and the information below. Included Items

AKC registration
Travel Crate
Current vaccinations
Birth certificate
Shot book
Health guarantee
Certificate of health
Toys and Foods

I want you to know all the items above will be shipped with the puppy to you to i will be shipping to you all the necessary document because they have been tested by a licensed vet doctor and i want you to know that the puppy is100% good and ready for shipment and she likes to play with all the family and has a good companion with children and other pets,I want to confirm if you want the information for the puppy. Information for the shipment.

Puppy Name::::::::::::::::::Jessie
Age:::::::::::::::::::8 Weeks for Jessy and she weigh 1.8 lbs
Jessy adoption price /Shipping Fee ........$250

Get Back To Me With The Informations Below If You Are Interested
Full Name:
Contact
Address:
Nearest Airport:
City:
State:
Contact Phone Number:
Nearest airport or would you prefer the baby to deliver to your door-step?
name on the Tag:

Let me know if you would like some puppy grooming and feeding guide magazines so that I can include them in the shipping.

Am located in Tennessee

Where are you located?

can you afford the price?

I really want you to promise me that you will take very good care of my baby.

Looking forward to read from you asap.

Thanks again for your love and caring for my adorable baby.
I will much await for your reply ASAP.
Thank you And God Bless You.

dixie · 09-20-2007, 10:51 PM

I have heard of scams with dogs - either never get shipped, or inferior/sick puppies shipped, never see your money. I would be leary of this. I and suspicious of the grammar - does not flow well.

AlbertaGirl · 09-20-2007, 10:56 PM

It could be a scam, but my first thought would be someone speaking English as a second language... be careful though. Best way to find out would be to speak to them on the phone, if English is their second language, you'll probably hear an accent. I certainly wouldn't want to give much personal info out in this case...

TxHorseMom · 09-20-2007, 11:31 PM

Sounds like a scam to me. Recently in our area there was a BIG scam going on with English Bulldog Pups. They wanted $650 for $1200 - $1500 puppies.
People ended up with no dogs and no money.

I wouldn't want a dog that I couldn't see ad pick out myself anyway. It may not be a scam but theres a good chance that it is.

ambrey · 09-21-2007, 12:06 AM

I vote scam. They didn't even spell Jessie the same way throughout. The wording sounds way too much like the "standard" nigerian scam to me!

You could keep up the contact and see if things change, though. Just don't send any money until you're sure!

cascy · 09-21-2007, 12:10 AM

Well the only reason I responded to this ad in the first place is because it was in our LOCAL paper.... I figured it was someone htat lived here in the area... But in the reply email it says tennesse???

TxHorseMom · 09-21-2007, 03:28 AM

Yeah, they'll do that. Makes them "seem" legit.

HoldYourHorses · 09-21-2007, 06:14 AM

Cascy-

Maybe you can see if they will call you with more information. We've had suspicious emails, too, & my sister asked if they could give us a call & they never did. So, maybe that might be something you want to try??

KitKat · 09-21-2007, 08:16 AM

Definite scam. When they advertise in one area and turn out to be in another, it's a sure sign. Usually people who are selling/giving away animals start up some sort of conversation before asking for all of your shipping information. No question this one is a scam.

Tippy · 09-21-2007, 08:50 AM

SueBee · 09-21-2007, 09:36 AM

If you're asking yourself if it is a scam, it is a scam. The warning bells in your head are working.

Where the heck does a person get a birth certificate for a dog?

pvf · 09-21-2007, 09:48 AM

Its a scam. Trust me I got scamed once by a lady in PA. GRRRRRRRRRRR!!

SueBee · 09-21-2007, 10:32 AM

Maybe you can go on petfinder and find a dog in your area that really is up for adoption? I know everyone wants a puppy, and puppies are so darn adorable, but sometimes an adult dog can be a better fit, especially if your grandma is getting up there in years. House breaking and training a puppy may be a bit much.

aking · 09-21-2007, 01:04 PM

Definately sounds like a scam to me. I only like to purchase puppies IN PERSON. Listen to your inner voice, it's telling you to RUN!

ambrey · 09-21-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HoldYourHorses

Cascy-

Maybe you can see if they will call you with more information. We've had suspicious emails, too, & my sister asked if they could give us a call & they never did. So, maybe that might be something you want to try??

I have heard that the nigerian scammers love the phone, though, so it might not mean anything. Just offer to buy using an escrow service of your choice (not a website they suggest!). They will disappear.

AlbertaGirl · 09-21-2007, 01:37 PM

I admit I missed the parts where they chacnged the spelling of the dog's name, and also the part about the dog's birth certificate

. It sure sounds pretty scammy now... yikes! Hope you can help find your grandparents a nice dog/puppy somewhere else!

farmergal · 09-22-2007, 09:33 AM

I'd keep looking if it were me.

Is your grandma in love with this particular breed of dog or does she love small dogs in general? Also if you are planning on surprising her with this gift of love are you sure she wants another dog?

Sorry your grandma lost her beloved yorkie.

How horrible it must have been to find her that way.

cascy · 09-22-2007, 11:05 PM

She loves Yorkies, and yeah, she's said that she would like another one. I would of liked to be able to suprise her with one though

Thanks guys

farmergal · 09-23-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

I would of liked to be able to surprise her with one though

Well you still can. Give her time to grieve and in the meantime keep your eyes open and your ears pealed. People like to breed for the Christmas market so there should be a rise in puppy sales.

sugarsgal · 09-23-2007, 11:19 AM

This is the same as the English Bulldog scam that I posted about, matbe 1 moth ago. Almost the exact wording of the EBD ad. I liked the 8 week old puppy is "Fully Potty Trained??" Ya, right, Can be registered, then is Registered..Humm

You send the money and don't get the puppy. My sisters customer got caught in this and lost her money.

Never buy a puppy site unseen, if you can't see where or what it's comming from..DON'T buy it.

09-20-2007, 10:49 PM
cascy Kid Safe Join Date: May 2006 Location: arkansas Posts: 6,409	Scam??? Ok, so my grandmother just lost her little yorkie that she's had for 14 yrs. Apparently grandpa let the dog out to potty and somehow she fell in the swimming pool... well long story short, that's where they found her. Anyway, I found a ad in our LOCAL newspaper, advertising a tiny yorkie puppy for adoption. Ad said puppy has great personality, will be small, and can be registered. So I email them to find out what they are asking as the "adoption price", thinking that maybe I could get my grandma another puppy and maybe ease her pain some.... Well this is the email that I got back.... Notice the less the "perfect" grammer, etc. completely different then language used in the ad.... So what's your thoughts... Is it a scam or what??? Thanks for the care and your interest on my little puppy.however baby is still very much available for adoption.My pup is Akc Registered And Vet Checked and the puppy health is 100 % OK, My puppy is current on vaccinations and wormings with A Year Health Guarantee also the puppy is potty trained and home raised and socialized for tremendous attitude,excellent temperament, super train ability and has that special people pleasing personality.I want you to know the details that then puppy have and you can go through the baby register information that the puppy have and everything will be shipping with the puppy to you and the information below. Included Items AKC registration Travel Crate Current vaccinations Birth certificate Shot book Health guarantee Certificate of health Toys and Foods I want you to know all the items above will be shipped with the puppy to you to i will be shipping to you all the necessary document because they have been tested by a licensed vet doctor and i want you to know that the puppy is100% good and ready for shipment and she likes to play with all the family and has a good companion with children and other pets,I want to confirm if you want the information for the puppy. Information for the shipment. Puppy Name::::::::::::::::::Jessie Age:::::::::::::::::::8 Weeks for Jessy and she weigh 1.8 lbs Jessy adoption price /Shipping Fee ........$250 Get Back To Me With The Informations Below If You Are Interested Full Name: Contact Address: Nearest Airport: City: State: Contact Phone Number: Nearest airport or would you prefer the baby to deliver to your door-step? name on the Tag: Let me know if you would like some puppy grooming and feeding guide magazines so that I can include them in the shipping. Am located in Tennessee Where are you located? can you afford the price? I really want you to promise me that you will take very good care of my baby. Looking forward to read from you asap. Thanks again for your love and caring for my adorable baby. I will much await for your reply ASAP. Thank you And God Bless You. __________________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

09-20-2007, 10:51 PM
dixie Long Yearling Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Southwest TN Posts: 1,447	I have heard of scams with dogs - either never get shipped, or inferior/sick puppies shipped, never see your money. I would be leary of this. I and suspicious of the grammar - does not flow well.

09-20-2007, 10:56 PM
AlbertaGirl Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 3,432	It could be a scam, but my first thought would be someone speaking English as a second language... be careful though. Best way to find out would be to speak to them on the phone, if English is their second language, you'll probably hear an accent. I certainly wouldn't want to give much personal info out in this case... __________________ Some people say horses don't have a sense of humor... they obviously haven't met mine yet ;o)

09-20-2007, 11:31 PM
TxHorseMom Greenbroke Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,034	Sounds like a scam to me. Recently in our area there was a BIG scam going on with English Bulldog Pups. They wanted $650 for $1200 - $1500 puppies. People ended up with no dogs and no money. I wouldn't want a dog that I couldn't see ad pick out myself anyway. It may not be a scam but theres a good chance that it is.

09-21-2007, 12:06 AM
ambrey Started Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 2,167	I vote scam. They didn't even spell Jessie the same way throughout. The wording sounds way too much like the "standard" nigerian scam to me! You could keep up the contact and see if things change, though. Just don't send any money until you're sure!

09-21-2007, 12:10 AM
cascy Kid Safe Join Date: May 2006 Location: arkansas Posts: 6,409	Well the only reason I responded to this ad in the first place is because it was in our LOCAL paper.... I figured it was someone htat lived here in the area... But in the reply email it says tennesse??? __________________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

09-21-2007, 03:28 AM
TxHorseMom Greenbroke Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,034	Yeah, they'll do that. Makes them "seem" legit.

09-21-2007, 06:14 AM
HoldYourHorses Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lakeland Posts: 423	Cascy- Maybe you can see if they will call you with more information. We've had suspicious emails, too, & my sister asked if they could give us a call & they never did. So, maybe that might be something you want to try?? __________________ Are the things you're living for worth Christ dying for? Think about it.

09-21-2007, 08:16 AM
KitKat Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Okotoks, AB Posts: 1,188	Definite scam. When they advertise in one area and turn out to be in another, it's a sure sign. Usually people who are selling/giving away animals start up some sort of conversation before asking for all of your shipping information. No question this one is a scam.

09-21-2007, 08:50 AM
Tippy Long Yearling Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,128	scam

09-21-2007, 09:36 AM
SueBee Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NW suburbs of Chicago Posts: 419	If you're asking yourself if it is a scam, it is a scam. The warning bells in your head are working. Where the heck does a person get a birth certificate for a dog?

09-21-2007, 09:48 AM
pvf Regional Forums Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 6,781	Its a scam. Trust me I got scamed once by a lady in PA. GRRRRRRRRRRR!! __________________ www.prairieviewfarms.net Raising Reg. Paints and Quarter horses

09-21-2007, 10:32 AM
SueBee Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NW suburbs of Chicago Posts: 419	Maybe you can go on petfinder and find a dog in your area that really is up for adoption? I know everyone wants a puppy, and puppies are so darn adorable, but sometimes an adult dog can be a better fit, especially if your grandma is getting up there in years. House breaking and training a puppy may be a bit much.

09-21-2007, 01:04 PM
aking Newborn Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Monroe, Iowa Posts: 24	Definately sounds like a scam to me. I only like to purchase puppies IN PERSON. Listen to your inner voice, it's telling you to RUN! __________________ www.puppiestogo.net

09-21-2007, 01:37 PM
AlbertaGirl Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 3,432	I admit I missed the parts where they chacnged the spelling of the dog's name, and also the part about the dog's birth certificate . It sure sounds pretty scammy now... yikes! Hope you can help find your grandparents a nice dog/puppy somewhere else! __________________ Some people say horses don't have a sense of humor... they obviously haven't met mine yet ;o)

09-22-2007, 09:33 AM
farmergal Seasoned Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 4,926	I'd keep looking if it were me. Is your grandma in love with this particular breed of dog or does she love small dogs in general? Also if you are planning on surprising her with this gift of love are you sure she wants another dog? Sorry your grandma lost her beloved yorkie. How horrible it must have been to find her that way. __________________

09-22-2007, 11:05 PM
cascy Kid Safe Join Date: May 2006 Location: arkansas Posts: 6,409	She loves Yorkies, and yeah, she's said that she would like another one. I would of liked to be able to suprise her with one though Thanks guys __________________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

09-23-2007, 11:19 AM
sugarsgal Started Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,727	This is the same as the English Bulldog scam that I posted about, matbe 1 moth ago. Almost the exact wording of the EBD ad. I liked the 8 week old puppy is "Fully Potty Trained??" Ya, right, Can be registered, then is Registered..Humm You send the money and don't get the puppy. My sisters customer got caught in this and lost her money. Never buy a puppy site unseen, if you can't see where or what it's comming from..DON'T buy it. __________________ There is no such thing as an Ignorant horse, there are only Ignorant people!