NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
Scammers are posting ads on Internet sites such as Craigslist or eBay, promising a free, rare animal, according to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs.
All the consumer needs to do is pay for shipping to receive the pet. However, once someone pays the shipping price, that person is then asked to pay for a special crate for their new pet.
Afterwards, that person is told to pay for taxes, airline shipping fees and for a health department checkup. At this point, if that person is still sending the seller money, they will ask them for vet fees, stating that the animal became sick en route and the vet will not release the animal without payment.
In the end, the consumer does not receive the promised rare pet and is out hundreds, even thousands, of dollars.
In some cases, the scammers pose as breeders, hosting phony websites and using pictures they have stolen from legitimate breeder sites. In other instances, the scammer claims to be a missionary and that they have a wonderful purebred puppy or exotic animal that they cannot care for anymore. The owner, the scam goes, is willing to give the animal away for free if they can find a good home for it in the United States.
Gary Cordell, director of Commerce and Insurance's Division of Consumer Affairs, advises consumers to use caution when considering online or international pet offers.
"These fraudsters play on the consumer's emotions and know the right thing to say when trying to scam them," said Cordell in a news release. "The offers are usually followed by an urgent plea to wire money immediately. Once money is wired, your chances of ever recovering it is very slim. When purchasing an animal from a breeder, broker or other parties, research to ensure that you are dealing with a legitimate company."
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