Pennsylvanians warned of Online Dog Rescue Scams
Photo by: Yasmapaz & Ace_heart
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett is warning state residents to beware of online dog rescue scams. In a press release, the AG has said international scammers are prowling the internet terrain, hoping to tap into the online pool of sympathetic consideration for our canine friends.
The scammers are soliciting victims using classified ads, emails and websites. Here, they try to tug at readers heartstrings and arouse their sympathy employing contrived stories. The purpose behind all of them is to lure their readers into sending some money.
The money they ask is small enough to be considered insignificant by the prospective victims. Sometimes, it is just to cover the expenses involved in transporting the dogs. They claim they are representing one social organization or the other and are doing it as charitable work. They claim they only want the pups to have good, caring homes. So they merely ask of the viewers, the cost of shipping the pups to them.
Sometimes, they claim to be helping poor communities in making a living by breeding and selling of dogs. At other times, they claim to have rescued the dogs from abusive owners or kennels that shut down and now wish to give them new homes.
If readers once send in money, more requests for the same start pouring in. The fraudsters would cite expenses like cost of quarantining, other veterinary expenses or customs duty for asking more money.
The AG gives the following advice to stay away from such scams:
- Watch for dramatically lower prices for popular breeds (Offers that are too good to be true often turn out to be scams).
- Don’t fall for dramatic claims or sympathetic stories from Internet sellers.
- Be suspicious of requests to wire-transfer money.
- Be especially wary of situations where dogs are located overseas, or other locations where they cannot be seen in-person before purchase.
- Watch for sellers who only ask for a promise that the puppy is going to a “good home.” (Most legitimate breeders and dog rescue groups do detailed interviews before considering placing a dog in a new home).
To lodge a complaint against the scam, residents are advised to contact the Consumer Protection Hotline of the AG’s office at 1-800-441-2555 or submit it to them online.
Source: Official Press Release
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January 3rd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
People make me sick! How could they use animals to gain there selfish agenda. My god show mercy on the soals for they will need it.
April 2nd, 2009 at 8:10 am
[...] Pennsylvanians warned of Online Dog Rescue Scams By admin Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett is warning state residents to beware of online dog rescue scams. In a press release, the AG has said international scammers are prowling the internet terrain, hoping to tap into the online pool … Fraud and Scam News - http://www.419legal.org/blog [...]