Pets: Online Puppy Scam
We are compassionate beings affected by the sweetness of an adorable ball of fluff known as a "puppy." Who could resist their cuteness, their frolicking manner and their trusting innocence.
Let me weave a real tale about a foiled puppy scam.
So you want a puppy. You click on the computer and search, and search, and search. - So many puppies. Lo and behold your heart is beating faster, and you have a smile on your face. You have just found one of God's creatures, that special little "girl" or that "roly-poly" little boy. - Your new family member.
Now, the children may become involved and the pressure mounts. Soon everyone important to you may be involved. You can't resist having everyone look. Excitement and feelings may heighten. ... You start emotionally identifying with a puppy that may not exist. You are now in the state of "puppy euphoria" - a prime target for the scammer of puppies.
Nothing is wrong with buying off the Internet: But, some of us are so enamored with what we see on the Internet, that blindly we allow our emotions to override our silly common sense. It seems to go right out-the-window!
So, how will you protect your impressionable children from heartache? How will you keep a scammer from putting his hand into your pocket? Not easy by any means.
The Internet puppy scammer is banking on your emotional connection to the pictures put up on the website. Banking on the fact that you will be less inclined to "wait" to purchase. That you will make a foolish and critical move - wire funds as a down payment to "hold" that little darling you are now emotionally invested in.
DON'T LEARN THE HARD WAY! Mr. "C" contacted me for help in the purchase of two puppies. Everything about the potential Internet sale seemed fine. The puppies were irresistible, and appeared to be a good fit for his family. The seller was local and seemed to be sincere.
Email negotiations started and over a period of a few hours, Mr. "C" was ready to purchase two puppies. That is when the scenario for purchasing the puppies changed sending up a "red flag" alert to me, and a warning to him to proceed with extreme caution.
SIGNS OF A POTENTIAL SCAM: If the seller appears to have a story too strange or too emotional or is overly friendly. It is more than likely you are about to be scammed. It is an attempt to lower your defenses.
If you are asked to wire a down payment to secure and "hold" a puppy, it may be the second sign you are about to be scammed. - Never send funds to someone you haven't dealt with before no matter how much you want the puppy. Step back from the situation - reevaluate.
LOCAL LISTINGS DON'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE: A listing may appear as local to your area, but wiring funds may end up just about anywhere. Once funds are wired scammers generally go onto the next victim. They are interested in getting as many down payments as they can on one pup, or on puppies that don't exist.
NO EXCUSES: If the seller gives an excuse why you cannot look at the puppies and give your down payment at that time. You're in trouble. Look for another breeder.
Equally important: Never purchase puppies unless you have seen them. People travel great distances to find that one special new member of their family. Dogs, like humans need to have the right emotional fit or it doesn't work.
A FINAL PITCH: The scam artist will make one last attempt to convince you that the puppy may not be available by the time you come to look at it. Or, if you are selecting two which so many of us do, will tell you that one is already gone.
Sometimes scammers are so caught up in reeling-you-in, they may slip and forget the time frame in which communication is being done and end up making statements like: The puppy is gone or one of the two your interested in is gone. Gone at an hour of the day that is unrealistic. Say between 10:00 p.m and the next morning. The scammer may panic out of frustration because he is not being successful and before you know it - the website pictures and sale of puppies is removed from the Internet. To show up perhaps another day or in a different way.
Mr. "C" was able to checkmate the situation. I am happy to say he didn't lose the $500 down payment he was considering to wire. Because he was so emotionally spent in his puppy quest, he was almost added to the list of the Internet scammed. He is continuing his search, but viewing that search in a whole different way.
Don't be afraid to purchase off the Internet. It is a wonderful opportunity to view a world of information and things you may never find otherwise. Just trust your gut instincts and don't rush into an emotional sale that may come back to haunt you!
Let me weave a real tale about a foiled puppy scam.
So you want a puppy. You click on the computer and search, and search, and search. - So many puppies. Lo and behold your heart is beating faster, and you have a smile on your face. You have just found one of God's creatures, that special little "girl" or that "roly-poly" little boy. - Your new family member.
Now, the children may become involved and the pressure mounts. Soon everyone important to you may be involved. You can't resist having everyone look. Excitement and feelings may heighten. ... You start emotionally identifying with a puppy that may not exist. You are now in the state of "puppy euphoria" - a prime target for the scammer of puppies.
Nothing is wrong with buying off the Internet: But, some of us are so enamored with what we see on the Internet, that blindly we allow our emotions to override our silly common sense. It seems to go right out-the-window!
So, how will you protect your impressionable children from heartache? How will you keep a scammer from putting his hand into your pocket? Not easy by any means.
The Internet puppy scammer is banking on your emotional connection to the pictures put up on the website. Banking on the fact that you will be less inclined to "wait" to purchase. That you will make a foolish and critical move - wire funds as a down payment to "hold" that little darling you are now emotionally invested in.
DON'T LEARN THE HARD WAY! Mr. "C" contacted me for help in the purchase of two puppies. Everything about the potential Internet sale seemed fine. The puppies were irresistible, and appeared to be a good fit for his family. The seller was local and seemed to be sincere.
Email negotiations started and over a period of a few hours, Mr. "C" was ready to purchase two puppies. That is when the scenario for purchasing the puppies changed sending up a "red flag" alert to me, and a warning to him to proceed with extreme caution.
SIGNS OF A POTENTIAL SCAM: If the seller appears to have a story too strange or too emotional or is overly friendly. It is more than likely you are about to be scammed. It is an attempt to lower your defenses.
If you are asked to wire a down payment to secure and "hold" a puppy, it may be the second sign you are about to be scammed. - Never send funds to someone you haven't dealt with before no matter how much you want the puppy. Step back from the situation - reevaluate.
LOCAL LISTINGS DON'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE: A listing may appear as local to your area, but wiring funds may end up just about anywhere. Once funds are wired scammers generally go onto the next victim. They are interested in getting as many down payments as they can on one pup, or on puppies that don't exist.
NO EXCUSES: If the seller gives an excuse why you cannot look at the puppies and give your down payment at that time. You're in trouble. Look for another breeder.
Equally important: Never purchase puppies unless you have seen them. People travel great distances to find that one special new member of their family. Dogs, like humans need to have the right emotional fit or it doesn't work.
A FINAL PITCH: The scam artist will make one last attempt to convince you that the puppy may not be available by the time you come to look at it. Or, if you are selecting two which so many of us do, will tell you that one is already gone.
Sometimes scammers are so caught up in reeling-you-in, they may slip and forget the time frame in which communication is being done and end up making statements like: The puppy is gone or one of the two your interested in is gone. Gone at an hour of the day that is unrealistic. Say between 10:00 p.m and the next morning. The scammer may panic out of frustration because he is not being successful and before you know it - the website pictures and sale of puppies is removed from the Internet. To show up perhaps another day or in a different way.
Mr. "C" was able to checkmate the situation. I am happy to say he didn't lose the $500 down payment he was considering to wire. Because he was so emotionally spent in his puppy quest, he was almost added to the list of the Internet scammed. He is continuing his search, but viewing that search in a whole different way.
Don't be afraid to purchase off the Internet. It is a wonderful opportunity to view a world of information and things you may never find otherwise. Just trust your gut instincts and don't rush into an emotional sale that may come back to haunt you!
Jane Doe Chronicles-CeCe Day Hill (cgh) Copyright 2005-2007 - All Rights Reserved
The Jane Doe Chronicles-CeCe Day Hill (cgh) (c) 2005-2007 All Rights Reserved
posted by The Jane Doe Chronicles | 3:07 PM
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