So recently I was scammed by someone posing as a breeder, and I figured I would share the story since it might help people out in the future.
Recently I've been looking for a Siberian Husky puppy- a notably expensive breed. I found an ad saying a local woman had 4 that she was looking to give away- I figured it sounded fishy but I contacted her anyway as all the semi local breeders wanted near $2,000+.
This was my first time ever encountering something like this. I have never tried to purchase a pet online, so I was unfamiliar with what to look out for. She stated (with pretty notably good english) that she and her husband had moved to Cameroon (note: at first I thought it was a typo of Cameron in California) to work with people fighting Malaria, notably pregnant women. The puppy would be free, but I would have to pay a $200 transport free. That seemed alright enough to me, but she wanted it via moneygram, yet another method I had never used before.
I sent her the $200, under these pretenses:
Receiver's first name: Sonde
Receiver's last names: Tchoffo Lionel
Country: Cameroon
City: Doouala
Zip Code: 00237
Address: Justine 154 Airport Road
Amount: $200
Test question: Time Limit
Answer: As soon as possible
I figured that didn't seem so bad, it was via ActiveAnimal Relocation (
[email protected]) and they sounded reliable enough. However, soon after I paid it to them I didn't hear back for hours so I went searching on the web for "Cameroon Animal transport" and was directed near instantly to this board. I became incredibly cynical (and very upset that I had been scammed) so I emailed the woman claiming to be Stephanie Hunt (
[email protected]) and Activeanimalrelocation demanding that I be paid back- bluffing a tad that I had the power to open a case against them.
Stephanie responded with the disappointment and dismay that I suddenly did not want the puppy, and Activeanimalrelocation forwarded me this:
http://i.imgur.com/aa7GHyA.png So here I was feeling guilty that perhaps it wasn't all a scam in the end after all.
I even received an email from (what I thought to be) London City Airport (
[email protected]) claiming they needed a refundable $750 life insurance on the dog. Now, I hadn't responded so a man called me to re-inform me of this. He had a terribly thick accent of what I first mistook to be French, and I assured him I would make the payment when I got home.
My plan was to then call London City Airport because the email looked awfully suspicious. If it was someone from the airport they wouldn't use a yahoo domain. I couldn't call out of the US, but I did send them an email. They have yet to respond though I am certain it is a scam regardless. What should have tipped me off from the very beginning was the fact that animals cannot be imported into the US without a license, especially from some place like Cameroon. Of course, at the time I was so excited I didn't care.
I did then receive another call from the same man, this time using this number (237 74926117) reminding me about the life insurance. I told him I was aware and that I was waiting to get confirmation that the dog was indeed in their airport at this time, and once I got an email from them I would send him the $750. He then reminded me over and over that I would use the moneygram and that the airport would not be involved. I told him, again, I was aware and would do so only after the airport contacted me back. He once again said to use the moneygram, and the call ended- he hung up.
I have not received another email from any of them, nor a call- but I am pretty assured it was a scam. While I am very angry I lost out on $200 I could have put forth towards a puppy from a local breeder (I managed to find a kennel an hour away charging $650 for sibes), I am thankful my cynicism saved me from losing any more than that.
