I’ve been talking about a puppy scam email on twitter… but 140 characters just wasn’t enough.
We responded to an ad in the local online classifieds, someone saying they had English Bulldog puppies looking for a home. Here’s the response we got, with a bunch of *adorable* puppy pics attached.
Anyway if you read this, aside from the mangled English, there are other ‘tells’: cut and paste errors, referring to different numbers of dogs at different times, and the time pressure element (48 hours). Maybe I’m just a paranoid jerk and this is all legit, but I trust my instincts enough to not contact these people further.
It should be noted that shelters are asking $300-$550 as adoption fees for mixed breed dogs, so $120 for AKC bulldog puppies is way too good to believe in the first place.
I should also note that a bit of Googling reveals that classified ad puppy scams are a known problem.
Here’s the email, unedited:
==============================================
am very glad on your interest towards my lovely English bulldog puppies well these puppies are now available and ready to be a family companion or your best friend, they are called KELLY LOLO and NINA (Male pups) and CINDY LILI and SANDRA (Female pups), they are outstanding AKC male and female registered puppies from multi-championship bloodlines with an awesome pedigree.
They are all AKC registered and vet checked and they are full of natural beauty and will all make very good house companions.I am giving them out for adoption only to a good pet loving and caring home because i do not want them to suffer. They are medically well and they are very friendly with kids,adults and other house pets .
The reason i am giving them out is that i moved into a new apartment where pets are not allowed and I have been given a 48 hours notice to get rid of them ..It is really painful though and i need a new home that will provide KELLY LOLO NINA CINDY LILI and SANDRA a best of care they need and to provide them with their necessities that’s why I’ve been looking for a good pet loving and caring home for them that will provide them with all the love i want them to experience.I will like you to promise me that you will provide my little cute babies with all their needs and show them all the love they need..My babies are very sensitive and i will like to tell you a little about them:-
.
KELLY LOLO and NINA……. are absolutely adorable babies, who who are only 2.3 lbs at 11
weeks old. Estimated adult structure 7.8 lbs. baby doll face, with tiny ears. She is tiny for breeding or showing but absolutely gorgeous. She has been home raised with lots of TLC and pre-spoiled for her new home and is very friendly.there are excellent example of an extreme lovely babies.She is already willing to go to her new pets loving and caring home.
:-there are house/Potty Trained.
:-there eat 2 times daily and at afternoons she drinks Milk .
:-there are socialized with kids and other house hold pets .
:-there likes to be carried a lot and be spoiled.
:-there likes to be kissed ..
:-there are 12 Weeks old and weighs 3 lbs
CINDY LILI and SANDRA ……… there are absolutely adorable puppies, there are all female puppies and has
tiny ears, there are 7.8 lbs at 12 weeks.Estimated adult structure
9.9 lbs. baby doll face, with tiny ears,excellent silk coats and
already have personality plus and very playful!!He is cute for
breeding, but gorgeous and He has been home raised and is just so cute and is willing to go to a new home which is caring and loving.
:-He is house/potty trained
:-He eats 2 times a day and drinks milk at noon.
:-He is socialized.
:-He’s also a portable baby.
:-He feels shy when carried.
:-He also likes to be kissed.
:-He is 12 weeks old and weighs 3.5ib
I will like to have the information so that i can be clearly convinced that you will provide a good and lovely home for these babies.So Please i will like to know the following from you to see if my babies will be in good arms
1: Whats your full names and where are you located?
2: Are you Married?
3: Do you have kids.If yes, do they love puppies?
4: Do you have a yard that they can play in?
5: Are you a breeder?Or a Pet Lover?
6: How soon do you need them and will you care for them?
7: Which of them do you need?
Would it be possible for you send me monthly pictures so i can know how they are doing in their new home.Sorry for asking such questions but i am just trying to look a good and loving home for my babies.They are very dedicated to what we may ask them and they understand basic commands such as sit,stand etc.They enjoy retrieving toys, but mostly loves the attention of the family. With little training they will follow more commands since they are very willing to learn. Please if you know that you will take good care of the puppies i will be glad to read from you.All you just need to do is to take good care of them and they will be yours for ever and will make good house companions and will bring love to your family.You can contact me via email Each puppy will cost you $120 for it’s transfer of ownership documents from my names to your names so if you want both puppies, it shall cost you $240 for both.. Also that’s all you shall be spending to get the puppies. I have attached some photos so let me know what you think about them. Waiting to read from you soon and may GOD bless you.
Thanks and greetings from Mary family
=============================================
Hell, I couldn’t even get past the first “paragraph” (sarcasm_quotes).
I would be so tempted to respond with horrible lies. Like you’re married to seven sister wives in a two bedroom apartment. You work 12 hours a day and the puppy would bebe crated underneath the kitchen sink. You won’t be able to start caring for the puppy until the spring but will keep the puppy in the crate until you’re ready. Or you could say you want both pups by the boy will be cooked at a welcoming meal and get together for the female pup, which is normal in your culture.
I’m sure they’d still bend over backwards to complete the scam saying you’re just perfect for their pups.
I was thinking the same thing as Castamere. Tell them they would be perfect for your dog fighting ring.
That does sound really shady. When it comes to getting a dog, if you have any doubts it’s probably safer to stay far far far away.
Automatic fill on the names and random selection of “real-sounding” puppy habits. Male dog called NINA?
That kind of thing makes me both sad and angry, though I guess at least there are no real animals actually involved.
YSH SMASH SCAM PEOPLE!
I WAS SCAMMED I HAVE LOOKED INTO ALL THESE…i AM NOW PLAYING AROUDN WITH A FEW MORE SCAMMERS AND GETTING THEM TO BELIVE I AM A TRUELY INTERESTED COMPANY WHILST PASSING THE EMAIL ONTO AUTHORITIES AT THE SAME TIME I FOUND HERE ARE THE EMAILS OF MY SCAMMERS ONE OF THEM GOT $1700 OUT OF ME $350 FOR MY NON EXISTENT DACHSHUNDS SHIPPING THEN $1200 FOR INSURANCE THAT THEY STUNG ME WITH AFTER THEY SAID IT WAS ON ITS WAY OH AND A FEW MORE HUNDRED DOLLARS IT COST FOR MONEY WIRING FEES…
EMAILS:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
KEEP AN EYE OUT WHEN BUYING PETS ONLINE. MY ONLINE ADVICE DON’T BUY IT UNLESS YOU CAN SEE AND TOUCH IT…. I LEARNT THE HARD WAY:(
this is a total scam – I sent emails asking for a reference as i couldn’t visit the puppys cause they were interstate:
Re: Adorable Shiba Inu Puppies For Sale?
To see messages related to this one, group messages by conversation.
14/10/2010
Reply ?
Karim Ray
Add to contacts
To
WELL HERE I THINK WE DO WITH TRUST OK IF YOU CANT TRUST ME WE CANT DEAL BECAUSE YOU NEED TO TRUST ME SO THAT ALL WORKS OUT WELL THERE IS NOTHING TO BE AFRAID OF AM IN THE FARM AREAS IN DARWIN ITS HARD TO GET ME THERE BY PHONE SO IF YOU ARE NOT OK THEN I WILL LOOK FOR ANOTHER BUYER OK SO LET ME KNOW
From:
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wed, 13 October, 2010 22:41:11
Subject: RE: Adorable Shiba Inu Puppies For Sale
Hi there,
I live interstate so am unable to come an look at the pups or meet you.
Are you able to provide me with some assurance in the form of some references as I don’t send out my personal details to the unknown.
Thanks,
—-.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Adorable Shiba Inu Puppies For Sale
To:
Hello
we are so happy to read from you again, for we will first like to
let you know will first like to let we do have 2 males and 3 female
and here are album pics of the puppies attach below.i just
got a job at the Darwin Chamber Of Commerce & Industry, so
i do not have much time for now to care for the puppies, that is why
am looking for a god home for the puppies a home that will promise
love and care for the puppy,so we have already relocate to Darwin,
and we will be so happy if you could come for the pick up, if to far
then we could arrange home delivery,here is my address , if you will
like to come for the puppy, 101 South Front Street, darwin, TN800 ,
Darwin, ,and note all the papers are ready for the puppy to be living
to
his or her new home,but if you could not come for the pick up then
you could arrange for home delivery and change of papers from my
names to your names, so if you could not make it then you get back
to me with your
NAMES
HOME ADDRESS
POST CODE
CITY
PHONE NUMBERS
As soon as i have all this information i will need to to register the
puppy for home delivery all arrangement including delivery fee will
cost you $500
All i need from you is for you to promise me you
will love and take good care of this puppy,and be sending me so update
pics, i will be waiting to read from you soon.
THEY TRIED TO GET YOU MARY… LUCKY I POSTED HER ADDRESS FOR YOU TOO ASSURE YOU 🙂
I have just been scammed by these same people. At first the dog was in Melbourne and now they are in Darwin but willing to send the puppy. I found this very suss and after a google search for the address I found this posting.
ALL follow email chase
THIS IS A BIG SCAM PLEASE LOOK A THE EMAIL ADDRESS AND WHERE WE FOUND THE ADD WEB SITE
[email protected] PERSON [email protected] ADD
Sun, 17 October, 2010 8:04:08 PM
Re: EXCELLENT Weimaraner Puppies for Sale
From: hakaan serrika
Add to Contacts
To: Diane
the transportation and the puppy will cost you $600 so the vaccination
papers will be send to you after approval upon delivery when i got
your details the ministry will now give me an approval transportation
form to proceed with the registration delivery so the agency vet after
the puppy has been administered health wise the papers will be send to
you as the puppy will depart from the agency after when the papers had
been checked adequately ok so all i will need from you is your full
delivery details in these regards
NAMES
HOME ADDRESS
POST CODE
CITY
PHONE NUMBERS
On 10/17/10, Diane wrote:
> Hi,
> Our fax number is ********** could you please fax the papers for us to
> check them for bloodline links.
>
> Thanks Diane
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: hakaan serrika
> To: Diane
> Sent: Sun, 17 October, 2010 4:18:03 PM
> Subject: EXCELLENT Weimaraner Puppies for Sale
>
> Hello
> we are so happy to read from you again, for we will first like to
> let you know will first like to let we do have 2 males and 3 female
> and here are album pics of the puppies attach below.i just
> got a job at the Darwin Chamber Of Commerce & Industry, so
> i do not have much time for now to care for the puppies, that is why
> am looking for a god home for the puppies a home that will promise
> love and care for the puppy,so we have already relocate to Darwin,
> and we will be so happy if you could come for the pick up, if to far
> then we could arrange home delivery,here is my address , if you will
> like to come for the puppy, 101 South Front Street, Darwin, TN800 ,
> Darwin, ,and note all the papers are ready for the puppy to be living
> to
> his or her new home,but if you could not come for the pick up then
> you could arrange for home delivery and change of papers from my
> names to your names, so if you could not make it then you get back
> to me with your
>
> NAMES
>
> HOME ADDRESS
>
> POST CODE
>
> CITY
>
> PHONE NUMBERS
>
> As soon as i have all this information i will need to to register the
> puppy for home delivery all arrangement including delivery fee will
> cost you $600
> All i need from you is for you to promise me you
> will love and take good care of this puppy,and be sending me so update
> pics, i will be waiting to read from you soon
>
> On 10/16/10, Diane
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>>
>> From: hakaan serrika
>>
>> Sent: Sun, 17 October, 2010 6:29:59 AM
>> Subject: Re: Response to your ad (EXCELLENT Weimaraner Puppies for Sale)
>>
>> Have answered your questions. As we are looking to breed, we need some
>> information relating to your puppies bloodline. Also, could you please
>> let
>> us
>> know the price of the puppies.
>>
>> Thanks Diane
>>
>> Are you a breeder? We are hoping to breed
>> Are you use to this breed? Yes, as we already have a 2 year old male.
>> Are you married? Yes
>> Do you have kids? Grown up children
>> What is your occupation? Teacher
>> Give me a Brief Description about your Environment ? We are a household
>> of
>> dog
>> lovers. Good back yard for the dogs to run around. Walk dog daily
>> Are you sure that you are going to take care of our puppies? Certain
>> Were exactly are you located PERTH WA
>> what sex do you need male or female? Female as we already have a male
>> With this information I will be sure that you are going to take good
>> care of the puppies,And I will be Very Happy if you can get back to us
>> with all the Answers to the Questions
>>
>> Any of the puppies will come with all Registered document,Puppies
>> formula, traveling Kennel, A couple of weeks food, 1year health
>> Guarantee and a Nutrition hand manual regard to their feeding also
>> with a Pet degree sanction.Thanks and Waiting.
>>
>> On 10/16/10, [email protected] wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Would love more information regarding your gorgeous puppies. We are
>>> presently looking for a female. Love to hear from you.
>>>
>>>
>>> Diane
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Hello
lisaaa downerma;
sent me this email today for Rhodesian ridgebacks
Hello ,
Thanks for the mail and your interest toward our puppies. Their are 2
males and 3 Females ,11weeks old, They are champion bloodline,
registered,vet check , updated in all shots.well tamed and potty
trained, good associate of kids and other house hold pets also very
eager and energetic to lean. To begin I will start by asking you some
questions, sorry for all the Questions just to be sure my puppies are
going to a good home.
Are you a breeder?
Are you use to this breed?
Are you married?
Do you have kids?
What is your occupation?
Give me a Brief Description about your Environment ?
Are you sure that you are going to take care of our puppies?
Were exactly are you located?
what sex do you need male or female?
With this information I will be sure that you are going to take good
care of the puppies,And I will be Very Happy if you can get back to us
with all the Answers to the Questions
Any of the puppies will come with all Registered document,Puppies
formula, traveling Kennel, A couple of weeks food, 1year health
Guarantee and a Nutrition hand manual regard to their feeding also
with a Pet degree sanction.Thanks and Waiting.
From: lisaaa downerma
Date: 10/24/10 11:40:40
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: (cute Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppies for Sale)
Hello
we are so happy to read from you again, for we will first like to
let you know will first like to let we do have 2 males and 3 female
and here are album pics of the puppies attach below.i just
got a job at the Darwin Chamber Of Commerce & Industry, so
i do not have much time for now to care for the puppies, that is why
am looking for a god home for the puppies a home that will promise
love and care for the puppy,so we have already relocate to Darwin,
and we will be so happy if you could come for the pick up, if to far
then we could arrange home delivery,here is my address , if you will
like to come for the puppy, 101 South Front Street, Darwin, TN800 ,
Darwin, ,and note all the papers are ready for the puppy to be living
to
his or her new home,but if you could not come for the pick up then
you could arrange for home delivery and change of papers from my
names to your names, so if you could not make it then you get back
to me with your
NAMES
HOME ADDRESS
POST CODE
CITY
PHONE NUMBERS
As soon as i have all this information i will need to to register the
puppy for home delivery all arrangement including delivery fee will
cost you $600
All i need from you is for you to promise me you
will love and take good care of this puppy,and be sending me so update
pics, i will be waiting to read from you soon.
From: lisaaa downerma
Date: 10/24/10 11:40:40
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: (cute Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppies for Sale)
Hello
we are so happy to read from you again, for we will first like to
let you know will first like to let we do have 2 males and 3 female
and here are album pics of the puppies attach below.i just
got a job at the Darwin Chamber Of Commerce & Industry, so
i do not have much time for now to care for the puppies, that is why
am looking for a god home for the puppies a home that will promise
love and care for the puppy,so we have already relocate to Darwin,
and we will be so happy if you could come for the pick up, if to far
then we could arrange home delivery,here is my address , if you will
like to come for the puppy, 101 South Front Street, Darwin, TN800 ,
Darwin, ,and note all the papers are ready for the puppy to be living
to
his or her new home,but if you could not come for the pick up then
you could arrange for home delivery and change of papers from my
names to your names, so if you could not make it then you get back
to me with your
NAMES
HOME ADDRESS
POST CODE
CITY
PHONE NUMBERS
As soon as i have all this information i will need to to register the
puppy for home delivery all arrangement including delivery fee will
cost you $600
All i need from you is for you to promise me you
will love and take good care of this puppy,and be sending me so update
pics, i will be waiting to read from you soon.
We nearly got scammed thanks for this site and my non trusting instinct!!!!!
Have just found this information about a “kennel” in Darwin. When I read the e-mail address, it is only the scammers – what next?!!!
Annlee Kennel is a small Weimaraner dog show
family located in DARWIN.We have been breeding
our AKC, IKC, CKC, UKC Weimaraners for 8 years
now.We strive to draw the line between average and
future Weimaraner champions bred for
show, field, and family.Our Weimaraners have a very
sweet temperment and our family raised in our
home.They are up for new adventures eachday.As we
continue our journey we have some wonderful future
champions in this litter and we are very proud.We
are also a member of the Weimaraner Club
of America/rescue out of Chicago.And a member of
the Purina Platnium Club.All of our puppies have a
kit for you to take home contents
contain:AKC Registration form, litter
certificate, health and shot record, pedigree of
the sire and dame, bill of sale, breeders contact
information, pictures, AKC information, and we
guarantee our puppies for a year.They will leave
with a blanket to help them adjust to their
forever home, a staterbag of puppy food.They will
be vet checked and have their first set of shots
and wormings.The parents are on sight to view.You
wont be disappointed in our puppies, we breed
quality not quanity.
Hakaanserrika (Adelaide, Australia)
I am absolutely disgusted… I’ve been looking for a particular pup and I’ve emailed a couple of people who are advertising what I’m after and they’ve all been scams by the looks of what people have posted on here, specially the one that lives in darwin on 101 front street.. lucky I did my research before I went along with it. Someone people are just fricken greedy and cruel, how could people be so low into scamming people of there money.
The person from Darwin is also using this email now so beware, its:
[email protected] <—- asshole!!
Is there anyone out there at all that sells samoyed puppies in australia, Western Australia.
I am not willing to buy interstate anymore because everyone I speak to just seems to be pulling
a scam and its really starting to fustrate me. Its not fair..