The Nigerian puppy scam
By Gina Spadafori
May 29, 2007
Everyone with an e-mail address has received the Nigerian scam e-mail. The scam, sending money to someone who’ll reward your kindness with much, much more money, has been around forever, but the Internet really spread it around.
The L.A. Times reports there’s a twist on this, playing on the desire both for a bargain and to help a puppy in trouble:
The Council of Better Business Bureaus Inc. and the American Kennel Club today will issue a warning about fraudulent websites, MySpace postings and print ads asking people to help save puppies who are in desperate straits.
The sites and ads usually show adorable puppies that somehow have become stuck in Nigeria or other countries, and are offered free to new owners. A variation is to offer the puppies, such as purebred, English bulldogs — a particularly expensive breed — at vastly discounted prices.
But free or not, people who had responded to the ads eventually were asked to send hundreds of dollars to cover such costs as shipping, customs, taxes and inoculations on an ever-escalating scale.
Some reported paying fees totaling more than $1,500.
“It’s like the Nigerian advance-fee scams we’ve been seeing for years, except with the face of a puppy,” said Steve Cox, a council vice president.
No matter how much was paid, no puppies arrived. Even the pictures — showing sad-eyed puppies with folds of skin so loose it looked as if they were wearing bunched-up sweaters — probably were fraudulent, mostly lifted from legitimate websites of unwitting owners.
Here’s the rest. Consider yourself warned.
May 29
“Continued, strong confidence in pet food products is a testament to the fact that Americans’ cats and dogs are living longer, healthier lives
due in large part to the carefully formulated, safe and nutritious pet foods on the market,” said Duane Ekedahl, president of the Pet Food
Institute.
http://tinyurl.com/394pqv
Comment by Steve — May 29, 2007 @ 5:27 am
Need to ship these scam artists to China, and any other folks who place their jobs and personal agendas above God’s children (mankind and animals) and his planet, Earth.
Comment by Bee — May 29, 2007 @ 5:33 am
Comment by Steve:
All I can say to Duane Ekedahl is LIAR, LIAR, Pants of Fire!
Comment by Elaine — May 29, 2007 @ 7:47 am
This is interesting information. I also think these people do this with kittens and that they may be on Petfinder. This is what happened to me.
I had been looking to adopt a new kitten. In my area there are many rescues listed on Petfinder. One such rescue just has a general location (no address or phone number) that shows adorable kittens all listed as URGENT because they are on death row at some unknown shelter and are going to be put to sleep unless they are rescued. They beg for someone to please adopt the kittens before they are killed which they say is going to be very soon.
I emailed (the only way to contact) and said I would take two of the kittens. They emailed back from a different email address and said each kitten was $200. They said for me to proceed with the adoption I had to click on a button to leave a $75 non-refundable deposit per kitten because it is being pulled from some unnamed shelter far away and needs transport, vet care etc. First off $200 a kitten is a bit unusual for a rescue. Secondly, I had no idea where my deposit money was going. So I emailed back and said where are the kittens, who are you, what is your name, address and phone number and I would like to see the kittens first. They emailed back and said the kitten is in NY. I wrote back and said Ok.. WHERE and who are you and who is receiving my money. They wanted me to send money to this unknown unnamed account without any contact information at all. This had to be a scam such as that you are referring to. I wrote back again and said give me your phone number or call me (I gave my number) so we can discus this and I never heard from them again. Here I was willing to take two kittens that they say need urgent adoption to spare their lives and they would not speak to me other than to have me send money to some unknown account.
Comment by Garyn — May 29, 2007 @ 8:22 am
Gary, please let PetFinder know what happened. I know they will want to do something about this.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 29, 2007 @ 8:32 am
Gina, yes I will do that. Even if this is not part of the Nigerian scam I think it may be a kitten mill posing as a rescue which would explain a lot and the price of $200. Most rescues have a $75 adoption fee or even less. They claimed to be in my location which is why I contacted them and yet would not identify themselves by name, address, phone number or in any other respect. Who would send money without even having someone to call or knowing anything at all about the kittens. Even when I aksed how old they were they didn’t answer that question. Every other rescue I contacted asked me so many questions and these people didn’t ask me one single thing. They just wanted me to wire money. Very strange.
Comment by Garyn — May 29, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
If you or someone you know have been the victim or potential victim of an internet puppy scam, and are willing to share your story, please contact the American Kennel Club at communications@akc.org.
This latest internet fraud scheme involves answering a classified ad (internet or print) for a purebred puppy. These ads are usually accompanied by a stolen picture of a cute puppy, along with a false and manipulative tale of how the dogs need to re-homed, or are available for a reduced price. Victims usually end up wiring money to the scam artists to pay for “expenses” such as customs clearance, shipping or travel vaccines. The reality is that the puppy doesn’t exist, and consumers who are expecting to receive a puppy end up losing money they may have already wired to the scam artists under these false pretenses.
Comment by The American Kennel Club — June 1, 2007 @ 8:22 am
I responded to a local newspaper. When I did, they said to send money order in the amount of $350.00 for shipping fees only, that the yorkie was free. I negotiated and they agreed for me to send 1/2. They emailed me back and confirmed they cashed the money order. Next day they said customs was asking for additional $520 because of a change in the nigerian government. I said no. They keep emailing me asking for a partial payment of only $200.00 and promise to ship the Yorkie. I have all the names to beware of as of this date I have not received my money back. They have my $175.00 plus and no refund as of this writing or a Yorkie either. The names are: David Amoo w/Airportshiperdesk, Lucas Adeyemo w/Airportshiperdesk is who cashed my money order. They continually e-mail me for more money. If you can help, it would most appreciated. Thank you. Dianne King, the Sucker….dianneking050@msn.com
Comment by dianneking050@msn.com — August 13, 2007 @ 8:52 am
Dianne … I’m afraid you’ll never see that money again. They’re scammers, and they’re long gone.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — August 13, 2007 @ 9:20 am
On March 7th I was looking for a Teacup Yorkie to get for a 4 year
anniversary present for my boyfriend to buy me to keep at his house.
I looked everywhere and not herd of the Nigeria puppy scam at the time.
I saw a post on a classified site, can’t remember where stating that someone
was selling teacup yorkies that were akc registered.
I emailed them and the next day March 8th I was contacted by
them.
This is what they wrote:
————————————————————————-
Hello
I am so happy hearing from, my address in United
States of America is: 4114 DAVIS PLACE , WASHINGTON.
but i am presently in Nigeria for a vet commission for
3 years in: 1st avenue 111 Apapa vet road center Lagos
Nigeria .
We are register Vet Company and have so many customer,
check out our customer Testimonials about our puppy’s
at :( http://www.lovemarkpuppy.com ) and they have no regret.
Attached is the pictures of the Yorkie pups and they
are AKC register and they have there current
vaccinations and vet Exams updated.
They are 3lb.
The cost for each puppy is $300 including shipment,
when shipping they will come with there certified
health papers, it will be ship through Virgin airline
immediately.
Send to me your Full name / telephone number and home
address for the shipment.
i will be waiting to hear from you and i hope you will
take good care of the puppy’s, we care a lot for them
so we advice you also do the same.
Please ensure you call me on: 0112348033761656
Please get back to me immediately.
Thank you and God bless.
Regards,
Rev: Chris Fisher
Note; I will be sending you my puppy’s AKC register
document for your safe keeping.
————————————————————————-
My boyfriend that day March 8th decided to get me one of the puppies, I
talked to the guy on the phone and he seemed friendly
and kept saying god bless and was nice and we told him we wanted the puppy to be shipped to my boyfriends house.
The guy said the reason why it was so cheap was
because he had to go to china the next week for an
urgent vet commission and to ship the money to his agent Maxwell Stanley.
The next day March the 9th I talked to him about how I shipped the Money Transfer to Maxwell Stanley
I gave the money to him through Western union to his
agent Maxwell Stanley.
He said his agent had received the money and he to change the vet ownership documents in my name that day and he told me what kind of food to buy her. and that he would keep in contact with me the next day.
March 10th at 3 in the morning he said the agent brought her to
the airport the night before and he gave me a website to track her
shipping.
It was:
http://www.intercontineentalii......com/track
everything looked like t was legit.
The last place she was tracked at The London International Airport.
After that he gave me a shipment airway bill from Intercontinental Airline.
Later that day about 12 p.m.
the guy told me that they would not fly her overseas
from the London international airport with an
insurance certificate of $400.
He mailed me a fake email, which at the time I thought
was real from the London airport form a customer
service director Mr. Kelly.
The email sent to me that he said he received from the agent said :
—————————————————————————————————————-
NAME: ELIZABETH DINSMORE
ADDRESS: 1706 PIERCE STREET KINGSPORT, TN 37664
Your information with us which include your shipping information of your puppy have no insurance certificate to.this insurance is to certify your full ownership and control of The puppy.
Shipment is stop here in London International Airport.
We have the following informations for the shipment of your puppy but no insurance certificate.
What’s Included : AKC Registration
Current Vaccinations
Veterinarian Examination
Health Guarantee
Certificate Of Health
Shot record
Travel Crate.
pls get back to Maxwell and finalize arrangements with him so as to commence the puppies shipment. Pls note that the price for the insurance fee is $400 for the puppies. as i said earlier get back to Maxwell in other to finalise arrangements ASAP. Thanks
Intercontinental Airline®
THANKS FOR USING INTERCONTINENTAL AIRLINE®………..flying animals without stress.
Thanks For Understanding.
.
Yours Sincerely,
MR. KELLY
CUSTOMER SUPPORT MANAGER
Swift Group, Swift House, Courier Service
19 MARK PLACE,BERNARD CASTLE COUNTY DURHAM DL12 8NE LONDON
Tel:+447031956889
.
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error, please let us know by replying to the sender, and immediately delete this email from your system. Please note that in these circumstances, the use, disclosure distribution or copying of this information is strictly prohibited. We apologise for any inconvenience that may have been caused to you. Swift Group accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of this message as it has been transmitted over a public network. If you suspect that the message may have been intercepted or amended
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD OF SHIPPING
—————————————————————————————————————-
I told him I didn’t expect to spend that much on the
puppy after he said in the first place it would only
be $300.
But he said how awful it was for her to be there at the airport and made me feel guilty.
I had to try my hardest to get $400 that day, and I
got $350 and the man said he would pay the $50 since
it was his fault somewhat.
After The payment of $350 was sent by Western Union, he said that they will keep me informed on her flight arrival.
March 11th
He said she would be arriving between 6
and 7 pm.
She was a no show.
I called him and asked for the flight number and he
told me he would email it to me.
He emailed me an unreal flight number saying it was
GB5KJN.
He did not say which airline the dog was being shipped through either.
After that I called him, and he has picked up and hung
up each time.
I have emailed him, he wont respond.
I called my airport to see if the puppy was there and
she wasn’t.
I called the London airport and for some reason the
number is not working, so I emailed them, they never
replied.
I made a false email up under a different name (my boyfriends), and i emailed him with that account and told him I was referred to him by a friend.
On March 12th
He mailed my made up account back saying the same stuff he did to me in the first original email he sent me to my actual real email address, but instead of stating his name to be Rev. Chris Fisher, this time it was Lord Stanley.
He still has not contacted me at all on my actual real email account since he told me the flight number.
I put his address in Google to only find out he was a
scammer.
Sorry I wrote so much, but I wanted to be able to give you as much information as possible for others to know how something that can seem so real, can just be plain out fraud.
Comment by Elizabeth Dinsmore — March 12, 2008 @ 10:12 pm
Another reason to buy a puppy from a Responsible Breeder.
Comment by The OTHER Pat — March 13, 2008 @ 6:57 am
I sympathize with you Elizabeth. I fell into the same scam with the same exact story and communication. Instead he said his name was Mark Chichi and asked me to wire the money to Lord Stanley.
The only difference is my brother is the Director of Protective Services in the Justice Department. He has colleagues in Nigeria who insists on intervening in my behalf and trust me…this will not go uninvestigated.
I should have listened to my brother but I thought I knew what I was doing. He has reassured me that through the numbers and email addresses provided by this thief…they have enough information to track him down.
I hope we all get justice, but as a christian I believe that nothing good comes from those who steal from people with good intentions.
We may not get justice through the law, but I am sure he has a space being held for him in hell for all eternity.
Also…I learned he has other scams going such as claiming he is dying from cancer and his wife recently dying and having money he wants someone to claim and contribute to a charitable organization…he has preyed on people and have taken thousands of dollars from them. He has claimed he is some official from Australia or some executive for HSBC bank. My heart aches for you. I was hoping to get the puppy as a gift for my neice and I lost my money and no puppy for my neice.
Comment by Sarah Davis — April 29, 2008 @ 4:33 pm
dear petconnection this isabout the nigerian puppy scam. i have been scammedrecently out of 350.00$ us money. for 2 teacup yorkie puppies.
please help. if they were real they are supposed to bein london. but they are supposed to cost another 500.00$ to getthem to the unitedstates. i don’t havethe 500.00$ us money.
please help.
thanks, amy
Comment by amymdixonburton — November 10, 2008 @ 4:18 pm
Amy, I’m sorry but … you’re screwed.
Don’t send any more money, whatever you do. There are no puppies.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — November 10, 2008 @ 5:06 pm
thanks for theadvice.
i am filing afraud report.
i know the money is gone.
but this needs to stop.
sincerely, amy
Comment by amymdixonburton — November 13, 2008 @ 9:22 pm
I Just this moment recieved an email from Mark Chichi. He said the puppies are stuck in London and need an extra fee. After reading this, I will not be sending him that money. And I cannot believe that he is still able to scam people. Everything he emailed me was exactly word for word in the examples shown above. Please do not fall for the lovemarkpuppy website. I just spoke with him last night and I am still in utter shock that this has happened to me. Its good to know that other people have mae an attempt to prevent any others from giving in to his scam. Thanks guys, you are the reason I did not send the additional fee he needed.
Comment by Ashley — November 23, 2008 @ 2:14 pm
I just wanted you to know that it is your website and information that saved me from being scammed. I had already sent the western union when my best friend saw your information on Nigeria teacup yorkie scams and called me. I instantly got on the phone with Western Union to stop the wire transfer. It was all in the timing that I was able to get my 380.00 back. The names that the people were using are Mary and Adam Wood and the puppies names were Katty and Rolly.
Thank you so much for continuing this blog. This is real and it is happening!
Comment by Karen Brotherton — March 8, 2010 @ 6:05 pm