Beware of Pet Scams
As if we all don't have enough to "beware of" these days, watch out for internet pet scammers. According to the article Pet Scams at bankrate.com, there are three types of pet scams:
- Overpayment pet scam
How it works: This is a variation on a popular fraud scheme. An animal owner publishes an online ad offering a pet for sale. The fraudster contacts this person, negotiates a price and sends payment for the animal in the form of a cashier's check.
The trick is that the check is for an amount much larger than the agreed upon price of the pet. The scammer then asks the potential victim to return the overpayment, usually through wire transfer, back to the fraudster or a third party.
The victim eventually learns the cashier's check is counterfeit and loses the money he or she was supposed to get for the dog, plus any funds wired to the scammer. If the victim actually sent the dog, he or she won't get it back.
- Nigerian pet scam
How it works: Scammers either run online classified ads or create breeder Web sites offering purebred puppies -- typically English bulldogs or Yorkshire terriers -- either free or at a discounted price.
The scammer will then ask interested buyers to pay for the dog's shipment, down payment, inoculations and any number of other miscellaneous fees. The victims wire money for the dogs but generally only get excuses for the delay. Instead, they're repeatedly asked for more money to cover additional "fees" invented by the scammer.
Greedy scammers will concoct even more fees that the victim needs to pay after the dog has been supposedly shipped.
Unfortunately, once you wire the money, it's gone, says Preszler.
- The bait and switch
How it works: Scammers are selling purebreds, "designer dogs," mutts and even made-up breeds through online classified ads and breeder Web sites. Often what people get are different dogs than the ones requested or puppies that are sickly. Sometimes they don't get anything.
Bottom line: If you want a pet, don't buy one online. Read entire article at bankrate.com.
Read More in: Cats | Dogs | Health and Safety
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Posted by Molly & Jessie at September 8, 2007 8:26 AM
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