The “Hearing Impaired” – A Fraudster’s Scam of Choice Targeting Breeders!!

We all know that hundreds of victims every year are scammed when buying a puppy online. Dog lovers are easy prey for scamsters! However, there are crooks out there trying to scam dog breeders selling as well!! It is so frustrating that they will stoop as low as faking a handicap to dig in your pockets! (Seller Beware!)

Here is one of the latest schemes to watch out for:

You post a legitimate “puppies for sale” ad with various free online classified ad sites. Scammers will opt to reply via group SMS/text or email, in an attempt to conceal their identity. Look for the origin. Instead of an area code and telephone number, the group SMS/text will originate from a series of numbers that look like “0010005494758”. And we all know that anyone can create a fraudulent email account. Spelling mistakes will be left uncorrected. One day they will learn to use a spell checker and it will not be so obvious! So look at the content and especially the country of origin, if it’s available. It goes a little something like this…

“Good Day, I am interested in purchasing your puppy for my child that is gravely ill and recently lost a beloved pet. I can not make contact by phone since I am hearing impaired. I will want you to tell me the breed, latest condition, the final asking price and send pic if available. I will send to you a check for USD$ double of your asking price by mail. I have a recommendable pet transporter that will come for the pick-up right from your home. Please get back to me as soon as possible today with your name, full address and telephone number, and if you accept my offer. Thanks.”

Or even worse, they will also stoop low enough to use a “text-to-voice” telephone service for the hearing impaired in an attempt to gain your sympathy and your cold hard cash! You can even ask them questions and the operator will fetch a response while you wait!! Don’t waste your time, people! Anyone out there in the Bully community have any scam stories (warnings) to share?? Knowledge is power!!

Let’s keep It Bully. . .

BGM_Hannah