Scams selling or giving away non-existent animals, often Puppy Scams.
#191457 by nenepp Tue Feb 18, 2014 7:21 am
Found on http://www.pets4homes.co.uk

Advertising a 13 week old pug with no price, emailed to find out what he was asking, - free? Gosh, that's not remotely suspicious for a valuable puppy.

I answered his questions anyway, I haven't heard of this kind of scam before so it's just in the suspicious pile at this point - do I have kids, experience with puppies, am I a breeder, do I promise to love her and send updates, they are so sad they can't keep her because of his wife's illness and just want to find her a good home.

Now it's getting really suspicious, his English has gone downhill, and rather than being in Leeds like the advert they are actually in Dublin, Ireland so will have to send by courier, and we would pay the courier directly. Plus she has "A Great Personality. She is Very Calm And Loving. Beautiful And Charming!! looking for her forever home.She is well Socialized With People ,Children and other pets like cats, birds , ferret and other dogs"

That's one hell of a household you've got there, I like how cat's appeared appeared only after I mentioned that I have cats.

Actually it wouldn't be that hard for me to collect from Dublin, certainly cheaper than a courier, not that he's suggested at all that that's an option, or ascertained where I am based, I guess he's just assuming I'm not in Ireland so he can pick somewhere that's probably far away.

I am being sensible and ignoring it, although part of me wants to play along and point out I can easily pick it up from Dublin just to see what he says, or ask him if she's had any time socialising with lizards or something, or be all hurt and ask why he's still bumping the post on pets4homes if he's said I can have her. However this is my real email address and he has my name (which is unusual, there's only one of me) so I feel I would be best off ignoring him.

I wanted to publish his email address somewhere though, in the hope that any future potential victims might google it and find it here. I've obviously reported it to pets4homes.
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#191463 by Mike Wilson Tue Feb 18, 2014 8:49 am
Hello nenepp and welcome to Scamwarners,
Please post an email along with the scammers email address here on the forum and be sure remove your personal information before posting.

If you have any additional questions abut this scam please ask.

It is ALWAYS a scam
If the pet seller or shipper asks for money to be sent via Western Union, Money Gram, any brand of gift card. Walmart To Walmart , Zelle , PayPal friends and family option, or mentions Cameroon
#191833 by nenepp Thu Feb 20, 2014 2:01 pm
This is the last email I got.
------------------
James Kimberly <[email protected]> 18 February 2014 08:19
To: xxxxxxxxx

Thanks for keeping me posted and for rightly answering the questions.I am glad i could find such a home like yours for the little girl.I believe you will offer her the best of love.I am giving the puppy free to a loving and caring family .I am doing this in deep pains and tears but there is less i can do as my wife is currently ill and i will be leaving to Australia for work My fear is that might be i will not be able to get the best of home for the puppy. Are you sure you can provide the best for the puppy? I can arrange with a transportation agency that will come over with her to your home and you pay the expenses directly to the agency. I presently live in Dublin,Ireland and will be sending the puppy from here. Get back so that we can sort this out please .attached are pictures of the puppy
#193338 by uberunit Fri Mar 07, 2014 4:57 am
This scammer is back with a new surname, email address (although only very slightly different) and location. Similar offer; free pug puppy with all its vaccinations, pedigree etc. I could write a book on pug scams from two weeks of enquiring so I played along and instead of the Midlands location he purported in his advert he then said Dublin and the pup could be delivered. Here's the email.

From: "James McCann" <[email protected]>
Date: 4 Mar 2014 16:56
Subject: Re: KC Registered Pug puppy
To:
Cc:

Hello ,
I am sorry for the late reply. This beautiful and Adorable Little puppy is still available, With A Great Personality. She is Very Calm And Loving. Beautiful And Charming!!  looking for her  forever home.She is well Socialized With People ,Children and other pets like cats, birds , ferret and other dogs. She is 13 weeks and she is  already been potty trained, housebroken. She is a 100% pure breed puppy . She will be coming along with all vet documents. lots of toys and running which is her best game, and She is looking for a family that she will have people to play with. All I want from you is to take good care of her and you will have to send me monthly pics of her, so that i can see how She is doing with her new family. I just need some one to take good care of the puppy.Hope you wont mind if i ask you a few questions:

Do you have kids?
Do you have any experience with pups?
Are you a breeder or will you breed her in the future if i let you have her ?
Will you send us updates about her from time to time and pictures?

I am just being concerned about the type of home she will be going to ,so that is why i am curious to know. We love her so much and we want to make sure  she goes to a family that will show her the affection She deserves.
#198579 by Em n Jase Wed Apr 23, 2014 4:28 pm
I have just been nearly scammed by this same person using a different email address but word for word everything you posted thank you so much! [email protected] is the one they used for me but I'm sure it will be different next time! English very poor and wanted to give me the pug for free but pay for the courier found the advert on pets4homes where I will also report it! Hopefully everybody will check this page out before giving this scum bag their money I'm so mad!
#198614 by vonpaso xlura Wed Apr 23, 2014 11:40 pm
The writing is obviously that of an African. Cameroonian pet scammers (most are in Cameroon but at least one is in neighboring Nigeria) have the uncanny ability to jump from England to Ireland with the puppy in a single bound while staying in Africa. :D

... ni los estafadores heredarán el reino de Dios. 1 Cor. 6:10
#198625 by Deedee08 Thu Apr 24, 2014 2:20 am
Well can you believe I nearly fell for this I was meant to be paying £210 in fees today!! He's using a new email [email protected] and he's saying he's based in Dublin and he'll ship the pup over using a normal shipping service feel really silly for falling for it but glad I have a look on here before handing any money over!
#199149 by Hosam Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:06 am
II almost got caught too. Boy, was I lucky? I should have paid more attention to the signs that were in front of me all the time. They say when you get older you get more wiser but the past week I felt old and dum to even believe that I almost made a fool out of myself.
It’s good that you didn’t lose any money and really this kind of experience works like a vaccination, next time it will be harder for these germs to get into your pocket easily

Hosam

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