A Tuscarora woman is out $200 and a puppy after falling for the latest internet scam of a free puppy.
According to Sheriff Jim Pitts over the last several weeks, ads have been posted on the Ruby Want Ads on-line site for the adoption or purchase of English bulldog puppies. The puppies are listed as free a great deal considering a pure bred registered bulldog pup can fetch a price of $2,000 depending on pedigree.
But the word ‘free’ only serves as bait explained Sheriff’s Detective Dennis Journigan and also makes finding the scammers that much more difficult.
“Because its in the free section they aren’t asked for any verification by the website manager,” Journigan said Wednesday. “No one knows who they are or where they are located.”
The interested party is told to contact by either e-mail or phone and then the scam begins, Journigan said.
The seller requests $200.00 be sent via Western Union and the dog will supposedly be shipped to the purchaser at the Elko airport. The seller makes arrangements to have the dog picked up and numerous documents are sent to the buyer, indicating a legitimate transaction.
One local resident went to the airport to pick up the puppy only to find out no flight was scheduled and no dog was awaiting anyone’s arrival. When the buyer contacted the seller they were told an additional $2000.00 was needed plus a $600.00 fee for the shipping crate. When the victim declined, the seller was never heard from again and unfortunately the agent receiving the $200.00 payment was in the African nation of Cameroon.
This information is being disseminated to let local area residents be aware that ads for extremely cheap items are usually not what they seem.” Explained a press release from the Sheriff’s office. “There are legitimate dog breeders who advertise on line and most prices for pedigree dogs are a lot more than $200.00. “
If anyone has a concern about a suspected scam or receive unsolicited information about free puppies, dream vacations, inheritance from unknown relatives or persons or any other things that seem too good to be true, please contact the Elko County Sheriff’s Office for help and information.
If you have been the victim of what you believe may be a scam, you can file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at HYPERLINK “http://www.IC3.gov” www.IC3.gov.
