Hound hoax: Con artists target dog lovers

James Randles is a private stationed at Fort Gordon, Texas. He wanted an English bulldog puppy. Last month, an online ad for a 14-week old purebred pup named Betty caught his eye.

The seller told Randles via e-mail that Betty was healthy and current on all her shots. “She is so loving,” he wrote, “and will make a wonderful member to your family.”

“The weather in Cameroon, Africa, was too harsh for Betty,” he explained. “That’s why I intend to give her out to any pet loving home in the USA that is willing to pay just for her shipping charges of $100.”

Three days after he wired the $100 to Cameroon, Randles got an e-mail asking for another $400 to cover a customs certificate. Since he was already growing attached to Betty, looking at the pictures the con artist sent, he wired the money. But still no dog arrived.

The next e-mail said the plane transporting Betty crashed and she needed emergency medical attention. Randles agreed to pay for the vet bills.

Then an e-mail made to look like it was from Air France arrived. It asked for $650 to be sent to the U.S. Customs office in Cameroon.

That’s when Randles pulled the plug. In all, he got taken for $650.

“That was over half a month’s pay that I lost,” he told me. “It’s wrong for them to be scamming people out of that kind of money.”

Spotting the scam
How could people fall for something like this? It’s so bizarre. In hindsight the warning signs are clear. But at the time, things are happening so quickly, victims don’t realize they’re being played by a con artist.

“When you see that cute little puppy face you tend to throw caution out the window,” says Alison Preszler of the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

• Be suspicious if the price is too low. Steer clear of anyone who wants to “give away” a purebred puppy because the dog needs a new home. A purebred is worth a lot of money.
• Avoid overseas transactions. Do you really want a puppy that’s been shipped all the way from Africa? There are plenty of puppies in this country.
• Don’t pay by wire transfer. That’s a red flag that this is a risky transaction. Once the money is wired, it’s gone, and there is no way to get it back when the puppy doesn’t arrive. The smart way to pay for any Internet purchase is with a credit card or an escrow service.

All of the victims I spoke to told me they could never talked to the breeder or seller on the phone. All communication was via e-mail. That should make you nervous.

If you get burned or spot a scam, let the Web site or newspaper know. Contact the Better Business Bureau. They won’t be able to get your money back, but they can use this information to warn others.

More Information:

• AKC and Better Business Bureau warn consumers to be wary of puppy scams
• Thinking of buying a puppy? Find a responsible breeder

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