Dog Forum Message Board

This thread is a continuation of the Scams thread. Please continue discussion of puppy or dog-related scams here. If you have been scammed, or there has been an attempt to scam you, we want to hear your story! It may keep someone else from falling victim to a scammer.

This came through one of my club members. It's just awful.

FAKE SHELTER / RESCUER ALERT - Please forward to your rescue contacts!
>
> Tony & Rebecca Williams claim to have a rescue in Rocky Mount, NC and are trying to get dogs from all over the Eastern Seaboard. (She offered to take 14 dogs since Monday.)
>
> She continues to take ogs. Most are pit bulls, with some offers to adopt Presa Canarios, Rottweilers, Dobermans, and Wolf hybrids. In addition, she had previously posted that her roommate was looking for a Great Dane or Great Dane mix. She also posted that she was "desperate" for a Chihuahau and she really wanted a Min Pin and a Jack Russell. She claims her rescue is a pit bull rescue, but another pit rescuer called the local Animal Control.
>
> Animal Control's comments:
> "She's been barred from taking any dogs from the shelters in her area." He also said she has a long criminal history, has been selling Pit Bulls on street corners for $15 or $20 and has been under investigation for dog fighting. Atlantic Rescue has now banned her, after finding out this information.

> These are the breeds she has asked for:
>
> a. Pit Bulls
> b. Rottweillers
> c. Dobermans
> d. Presa Canarios
> e. Tea Cup Chihuahuas
> f. Jack Russell Terriers
> g. Sharpeis
> h. Miniature Pinscher
> i. Great Dane (Pure Breed or Mix)
>
> She uses the little dogs as bait!
> Please cross post.
> They are going out of their area looking for dogs to adopt for their inhumane purposes.

This particular email has been circulating for over 6 years now. Who knows anymore if it is really true or not :/

Serena Galloway
IGCA rescue Colorado

No Part of this msg may be forwarded without the author's permission

Sorry, I didn't check it out. Generally the alerts I get are up to date.

I recently got a call form somebody calling himself "Pouya," from the Los Angeles area. He first asked the appropriate questions about my GSD puppies (weight, color, age, etc.) but then he asked for pictures of my dogs with his name superimposed on them. This set off all kinds of alarm bells! He asked me to send them to "his sister's E-mail address," loveyalotz -at - yahoo -dot- com. This is the info for the phone number he gave me, courtesy of intelius.com:

*******(removed by mod. Please do not post names and phone numbers of individuals)**********

Hmm...nobody names "Tim" (with or without a last name) listed at the landline addresses! Be VERY, VERY careful when dealing with these people! And use Intelius.com or similar background check services; it's a tax deductible business expense. And it will show due diligence if somebody uses one of your dogs for illegal purposes, then claims you knew about it.

NEW SCAM VIA PHONE! This is a new one for me. Someone calls pretending to be the operator who is doing a relay call for a deaf person. Supposedly the deaf person is typing and the operator is reading the text to you. This happened to me once before last year and again this morning. I didn't talk to them as my husband picked up the phone, so I can't relay exactly what was said. I do know that they wanted me to email them at a Yahoo email address. I thought it was odd that I would get two relay calls, even though they were months apart. So I emailed the person. I get a reply this afternoon and it is a scam email with all of the "pay the shipper" junk. Nothing about the puppy, just about the payment. Then I get ANOTHER so-called "relay call" about 30 minutes after I'd read the scam email. I just hung up on them and I didn't answer the email. Please beware!!! If someone can read an ad and get your phone number and they are able to type to an operator, they are able to email you themselves. Scammers disgust me.

I recently received an email from a "potential" puppy buyer that saw my add on Qualitydogs. They claimed they were from NY and were sending me $2000 for a puppy. No questions from them about the pups, just sending the money and for me to get the puppy ready for shipment. After numerous emails letting them know the pups were only 3 weeks and not available to ship, I received a check in the mail made out to myself in the amount stated. It was a Wells Fargo Bank check, personal, with a persons name and address on it. Very valid looking, but when we called the bank to verify the account it was a fraud as suspected! The email address was bkyadams1@yahoo.co.uk. and the name they used was "Becky." Please watch carefully for scams such as this!

I received the same type phone call via my cell- Unknown Number-(Verizon operator said FREE internet call, she explained that she was typing and speaking for other party) on Thursday, July 10th 1:06pm. This man claiming to be "George" wanting to know IF I still had a dog for sale? I replied my animal was STOLEN! At 1:24pm cdt just 16 minutes later I received a call on my home phone from a man named "John" (on blocked wireless number) claiming to have my companion, demanding the $$$ reward amount? John continued to speak and describe my dog, as a male, seemed very weird. When I corrected John as to the sex of my dog he then turned and got very hateful (nasty) and demanded money! I refused, w/o positive i.d. John said "the b*#$h is mine NOW!" and slammed down the phone. I went to the police- (almost useless, they do not care about animals.) Then to the Humane Society. Finally calmed down, returned home and placed a call to my local phone company, instructed after I hung up dial *57 this traced the call. Company retrieved his blocked phone number. Police were chatting with John in less than 2 hours! "John told officer, he wanted to see JUST how much MONEY I was willing to give away!" I was looking a photo of her dog! I was very angry.. and worried! Grrrrr... Bitzy (Shetland Sheepdog) Sheltie is missing! help find her please.

That is truly despicable!!! what a horrid individual.


Serena Galloway
IGCA rescue Colorado

No Part of this msg may be forwarded without the author's permission

Thought I would give people a head's up that I've now received the following exact same email twice, several MONTHS apart from a person named "Dorothy Thompson" and I don't know what the catch is, but this seems fishy...

"Hi,

I am looking to place a litter of 5 adorable Bulldog puppies and also the parents, they belong to my late mother in law who I was really close to and she passed away unexpectedly, these puppies are so cute with correct conformation and excellent dispositions with shots and worming up to date. They do the funniest things. You just can't get enough of their playful antics. And they are growing so fast, contact me immediately if you are interested in them.

Have a nice day,

Dorothy."