Puppy scam?

[JustineMarie]

Hi Everyone! I would like to get some other opinions about a situation that I am trying to weed out whether or not it's a scam. I tend to think of the best in everyone, but my DH tends to think the worst so I figured I would get some honest outside opinions. I responded to an add in the newspaper for a puppy. It said that they have a 9 week old chihuahua yorkie mix, which is the exact type of dog we are looking for. I sent them an email, saying that I was very interested, and that I was located in South Jersey, and that I would love to come and see her. Here is the reply I got:

Thanks for your interest in my pet. The little puppy is still very much available for adoption. This little girl is potty trained and friendly with children She fit in the palm of your hand. She is AKC registered puppy .Adorable and sociable with great Personalities and very good bloodlines. She vet-checked, up to date on shots and deworming,and are health guaranteed.. All the papers will accompany the puppy,But right now I am in Africa on a Christian mission with my wife and we have the puppy right here with us. we are going to ship to you via express delivery on next day delivery after shipment through a shipping
agent,so if you are interested in having the puppy, I want you to get back to me with your fullname, address including the nearest airport to you. Please if you know that you are not going to take very good care of my baby, do not reply me because I am giving her on adoption because of bad condition or anything I am only giving this puppy out because we don't have time to take care of the puppy again due to the mission work before us here. She will be going for free so I will like you to get back to me with your full name and full address including your nearest airport and your contact phone number so that I can carry out shipping.

Price: Free.
Shipping Fees:$250
Total cost:$250

Thanks
John Doe


So, what do you all think. Should we not respond? Or should I respond and see how he would like me to pay for shipping, like through paypal or something? Would I be covered with any type of protection should I pay through paypal? Thanks in advance.

 

[Todd&Copper]

I'd not respond and keep looking.

 

[Bonnie40]

It's a scam....

I recall hearing about these teacup puppies and how people get ripped off by being asked to put the $ up front.

Why in the world would they say the dog is 'free'? And when you read the reply, clearly they aren't from America. The language is stilted and grammatically wrong.

I would look into something a little more local.

 

[mjkacmom]

You are kidding, right? I mean, this one is SO popular! I've heard of this one as much as winning the Nigerian lottery! First of all, if you really want a puppy mill dog, absolutely look in the newspaper - that's what you are going to get. Second, a mix breed is a MUTT, definately not AKC registered, and if you want a MUTT (which is great - I'd take a mixed breed any day), try petfinder.com. Lots of "designer" mixed breeds.

 

[Rora]

This is pretty sketchy.. I'd keep looking for another puppy. Something about this just doesn't seem right.

Good luck with the puppy hunt!

 

[poohlover]

The warning lights should be going off as this is a scam!

The AKC does NOT register any mixed breed puppies, for one.

But this in particular has been done & has been around a while.

Do NOT fall for it.

Try a reputable breeder or your local rescue group or pound to be sure you know what you are getting.

 

[JustineMarie]

I pretty much knew that it ws a scam. I just wanted validation. I have been looking on petfinder.com but I haven't seen a dog that will fit our family yet. I will just keep looking Thanks for all your help!

 

[JimmyPicker]

Why would someone in AFRICA be advertising for puppies in a South Jersey newspaper??

I wouldn't be giving them my information.

 

[JustineMarie]

Exactly! I have no idea why they listed it in a NJ paper. They also listed it online, which I just came across. I reported the listing so hopefully the will pull it.

 

[rgf207]

Hi Everyone! I would like to get some other opinions about a situation that I am trying to weed out whether or not it's a scam. I tend to think of the best in everyone, but my DH tends to think the worst so I figured I would get some honest outside opinions. I responded to an add in the newspaper for a puppy. It said that they have a 9 week old chihuahua yorkie mix, which is the exact type of dog we are looking for. I sent them an email, saying that I was very interested, and that I was located in South Jersey, and that I would love to come and see her. Here is the reply I got:

Thanks for your interest in my pet. The little puppy is still very much available for adoption. This little girl is potty trained and friendly with children She fit in the palm of your hand. She is AKC registered puppy .Adorable and sociable with great Personalities and very good bloodlines. She vet-checked, up to date on shots and deworming,and are health guaranteed.. All the papers will accompany the puppy,But right now I am in Africa on a Christian mission with my wife and we have the puppy right here with us. we are going to ship to you via express delivery on next day delivery after shipment through a shipping
agent,so if you are interested in having the puppy, I want you to get back to me with your fullname, address including the nearest airport to you. Please if you know that you are not going to take very good care of my baby, do not reply me because I am giving her on adoption because of bad condition or anything I am only giving this puppy out because we don't have time to take care of the puppy again due to the mission work before us here. She will be going for free so I will like you to get back to me with your full name and full address including your nearest airport and your contact phone number so that I can carry out shipping.

Price: Free.
Shipping Fees:$250
Total cost:$250

Thanks
John Doe


So, what do you all think. Should we not respond? Or should I respond and see how he would like me to pay for shipping, like through paypal or something? Would I be covered with any type of protection should I pay through paypal? Thanks in advance.

no doubt in my mind it's a scam

 

[lovetoscrap]

Scam, scam, scam.

I have read about this exact same scam several times here on the DIS alone. Goggle "Africa puppy scam"

Run away!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Scam to the freaking MAX!!!!!!!

 

[java]

But right now I am in Africa on a Christian mission with my wife and we have the puppy right here with us.

SCAM!

Keep looking.

 

[JessicaR]

scam and the email is word for word identical. Seems its been around for at least a year.

http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=28601

http://www.fraudwatchers.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-8929-p-2.html

 

[IntercomGroupPage]

This can't be real, look up quarantine laws. You can't just bring an animal back and forth between countries with no quarantine time.

 

[tuckerkeys]

TOTAL SCAM!!! basically if it seems too good to be true, it probably is......

there seem to be a lot of them going on lately that involve the whole church / christian thing. we have a sign shop and one that came to us was for some Jesus banners, with a credit card! the scammer wanted us to basically verify that the card was legit by running a deposit for the banners.....

why don't you try petfinder.com for a rescue or something? Or just google the type of dog you are looking for for a breeder. These type of designer dogs are very popular now. good luck!!1

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I'm an event planner, and got a similar scam with with a wedding, not a dog. The couple was in Iraq at a oil rig, and they would be here the day of the wedding, and a few days after. They could never meet with me, or speak with me over the phone, but wanted me to do a whole $40,000 wedding for them. I did some looking into, and found that they have been doing this with houndreds of event planners all over America. Don't fall for it!!!

 

[RickinNYC]

I'm an event planner, and got a similar scam with with a wedding, not a dog. The couple was in Iraq at a oil rig, and they would be here the day of the wedding, and a few days after. They could never meet with me, or speak with me over the phone, but wanted me to do a whole $40,000 wedding for them. I did some looking into, and found that they have been doing this with houndreds of event planners all over America. Don't fall for it!!!

Yup. In fact, a good friend of mine got sucked in by a "couple in Paris" who wanted to get married in NYC. He fell for it, they sent him a check as a deposit and also said that he was to use a portion of that money to pay for a band that is located in ..... Paris.

I begged him to please tell me that he didn't send any money. He did. He's out $2,500.

 

[Dee & Greg]

I can't help you find a little dog, but we're over-run here in Indy with Great Pyrenees! I foster for the Great Pyr rescue here in Indy.
Check out petfinder.com and increase the radius of your search. Many rescue groups (including ours) have transports that will deliver the dog.
We just shipped two to Massachuetts last weekend. And I've had two fosters who went to upstate NY.
Rescues are great because the dog has usually been in someone's house
and is potty trained, etc. The foster parent can also tell you all the details on the dog such as behavior, eating ,etc

 

[Dedejf]

I received a similar proposition when I was searching for a puppy a couple years ago. The wording is almost identical. It's a scam so please look elsewhere. I found my little Gizmo (shi-poo) on Craigslist and adopted him from a local family that found three pets one too many. He's a joy and I know if you're patient, you'll find the right pup for you.