[NOVEMBER 17, 2008 EDIT BY FRACAS:
This post, though several months old, continues to bring readers, some looking for information about whether they are being scammed, some wanting to share their experiences. I make no claims that each individual comment or story is accurate, I am only providing the forum for readers to help each other. Please read the comments, add yours... and if you're in doubt of anything or anyone.... never send money until you've done all you can to verify a person's authenticity! Thank you to those willing to share their stories in hopes of helping save someone else from being scammed.]
Offering puppies is the newest twist in Nigeria scams
By David Colker, Los Angeles Times
- “And now for the latest scam from Nigeria: puppies.The Council of Better Business Bureaus and American Kennel Club were to issue a warning today about fraudulent Web sites, MySpace postings and print ads asking people to help save puppies that are in desperate straits.The sites and ads usually show adorable bulldog puppies that have become stuck somehow in Nigeria or other countries and are offered free to new owners. A variation offers purebred English bulldogs — a particularly expensive breed — at vastly discounted prices.People who responded to the ads eventually were asked to send hundreds of dollars to cover expenses such as shipping, customs, taxes and inoculations on an ever-escalating scale.
Some reported paying fees totaling more $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 sites of unwitting dog owners.
Which leads to the only good news about the situation.
“When people hear about these scams involving pups they get so upset for the poor dogs,” said Alison Preszler, spokeswoman for the council. “But at least I can say to them, ‘There are no real puppies involved. It’s all a fake.’ “
The problem is growing. In the past couple of months, local bureaus across the country increasingly have been getting complaints, Cox said.
In April, a Manhattan woman was charged with grand larceny for collecting fees for English bulldog puppies online and then not delivering them. She allegedly told local investigators she shared the proceeds with a Nigerian accomplice.”Read the rest (yes, there’s more) here, and for another example…
Nigerian puppy scam hits the internet.
Don’t be taken in by a Nigerian scam, visit this site and see what you can do about it, or visit this site and see how one guy became a Nigerian Scam baiter. I warn you, his site will offend some people, though his real aim is only to offend the scammers. If you know you’re a sensitive person, you might want to read his “about me” page before you decide to read the rest of his site. Now don’t say I didn’t warn you, and don’t leave me silly comments either.
Do you think you’ve received the one genuine letter from a Nigerian trying to do “business” with you? You can check the Nigerian Fraud Email Gallery to see if your letter is there. With 542 different examples there, if you don’t find your letter there, the site will still save you from getting scammed because by the time you’ve read all the examples, the Nigerian who sent you yours will probably have died of natural causes. If not, and you need more to convince you, why not have a look see over at swapmeetdave’s list of images of phony Nigerian documents?
And if you still aren’t convinced that ignoring the potentially lucrative business deal with that really nice person in Nigeria is the best choice of action… I hear there’s a really nice guy in Florence who can get you a really good deal on the Ponte Vecchio I bet you’ll rival Donald Trump someday. Email me… we’ll do lunch.
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[...] Nigerian Puppy Scam By fracas “And now for the latest scam from Nigeria: puppies.The Council of Better Business Bureaus and American Kennel Club were to issue a warning today about fraudulent Web sites, MySpace postings and print ads asking people to help save … [...]
Pingback by Scam Related News (05/31/2007) : Scam Alerts June 1, 2007 @ 6:19 PMAnother Nigerian Email Scam
On the topic of my last blog entry I thought I’d warn readers about this nasty little gem. The latest installment of Nigerian scams is the puppy email scam. With this scam they’re targeting animal lovers by telling them that they want to give a puppy…
Trackback by D's Blog October 11, 2007 @ 5:39 PMi love nigerians but i hate them now
Comment by kennedy November 9, 2007 @ 1:31 PMI sent 800.00 over to Nigeria for two puppies and didn’t get them, I didn’t know about the scam . If it sounds to good to be true it is . This man is on Live Deal he go’s by the name Jerry 1101 he sells puppies for 300.00 he is a fraud .
Comment by Anita Broaddus December 5, 2007 @ 9:31 AMI appreciate the two links…
kennedy – I doubt there’s a country in the world that can boast having no jerks or criminals among their population. I don’t see how it makes sense to hate nigerians as a whole, because of the actions of a few.
Anita – I’m sorry about what happened to you. Perhaps if you have a blog you should write about it and include links to his ads at Live Deal? That way, people searching will find your post and read about what happened to you. If you don’t have a blog, WordPress.com offers blogs free, that are easy to use and a wonderful help section for when you have a problem.
It’s just a thought. Might make you feel better about being a victim.
Comment by fracas December 5, 2007 @ 10:46 AMI contacted a local woman who advertized a bulldog puppy for sale. She said she had sold the puppy but knew of a lady who was doing missionary work in Nigeria. This lady supposively had taken her last two puppies with her to Nigeria only to find it was no place for them. She says she only wants $500.00 for shipping. Is this the scam your talking about? I felt something felt wrong about this?
Comment by Joan April 27, 2008 @ 11:33 AMyes my wife was taken from it and now i hate bulldog puppys and anybody who comes from that part of the world!!!! his name was JAMES PHILIP THE NUMBER HE CALLED FROM WAS 2348057352888
Comment by eric kostron October 19, 2009 @ 7:23 PMHello,
I was wondering does this sound like a scam?:Hello ,Thanks for the concern you have for my little Tess.She is 13weeks of age,weighs 2.1 and presumed to weigh 4.2lbs when fully grown. My puppy is home raised, bred for soundness, beauty and temperament.She is raised as a family pet. She is given lots of love and special attention and will expect even more love and attention with her new family.She will be very loving with her new family. Tess is spoiled rotten and will want to be with you all the time.She will come with AKC registration papers, vet certificate, a one year health guarantee against puppy disease,started on potty training,a pedigree, up-to-date shots, crate, puppy care package (this includes food, training treats,a toy,and puppy pads)well socialized and spoiled rotten.All shots and worming are up to date.
She is VERY social and is raised around children of all ages.I begin using puppy pads when she was about 4 weeks old. She is very used to it and use it about 80% of the time when she was 8 weeks old.Tess is, also, crate trained. She is weaned off naturally and there is no separation anxiety. I love Tess and i’m trying to place her in the best home possible.
Presently,i am re-located to Cameroon where i work like a full time volunteer with the American peace corp organization and will be shipping Tess from here.That is why i really need a home for this puppy due to the nature of my job and the poor climatic conditions that is disturbing her alot.
Just a quick little note about Tess’s life.She has a very gentle nature,she is potty trained.She never goes in the front yard unless i am going somewhere.I have a nice backyard so she can go sun bath when its nice out.All you will pay is the shipping.I have enclose
some recent pic’s,hope you will like them.
Hope to read from you
Comment by Lindsey May 13, 2008 @ 5:45 PMAmanda
9jerians ar the most friendly people in the world …………… infact the best and the most relaible black nation in the world.
Comment by bigboy August 9, 2008 @ 4:43 AMJoan and Lindsey – I missed these, sorry. I think anytime someone is asking for your money, you should consider it a scam. If you’re contemplating responding, you could always check their story out with your local police department… they’ll usually be able to advise you on anything happening in your area. If not, they may investigate.
bogboy – Whether that is true or not doesn’t change the fact that many scams go on and this is one of them.
Comment by fracas August 9, 2008 @ 4:13 PMI was scammed for 1600 dollars just last month as well. Had never heard of the scam before. I feel very stupid about the whole deal.
Comment by Cherie Robinson August 13, 2008 @ 5:09 PMI found an adoption ad in the Washington Post for two Yorkie puppies which said to write to an email for more info. I thought for a couple of days and then decided to find out more about them. I was lulled into sob story as all the other posts. I sent $200.00 of the $950.00 shipping charges. Then the emails started James Wallington (owner of puppies) wife had been in a car accident and used his money for the hospital bills. I finally replied that I would not be forwarding any additional funds and he would have to work the shipping out on his end or it was not meant to be.
Comment by John DiGeronimo October 19, 2008 @ 12:18 PMThank you all for your stories. Every additional story told here and read by another, is someone saved from what you went through.
Comment by fracas October 19, 2008 @ 12:42 PMI just received an email from my puppy scammer that he is going to return my money and wants my address info. Has anyone else been offered their money back? I don’t know if I should send my info to client davidjames@yahoo.com
Comment by Helen G October 20, 2008 @ 8:44 AMDon’t send anyone your address!!!! I can’t stress that enough. Go to your local police department and tell them your story. They will have a department that handles things like this, and will advise you if there is any point in trying to get your money back… or… they may decide to assist in offering an alternate address so that if this is yet another scam being attempted upon you, they can catch the person.
Whatever you do, do not ever give your home address (or phone number for that matter) to someone who has already harmed you once.
Please come back and let us know how this turns out, ok?
Comment by fracas October 20, 2008 @ 9:27 AMI contacted a “local” woman in Edison NJ who had puppies for sale for $350.00 when I requested info on a American Bulldog she had listed fot sale this was her reply:
Regarding Ame Bulldog
Details From: Beth AnnHodgskiss <bethannhodgskiss@ymail.com
You’re lucky to have mailed at this time because the puppy has just been placed on adoption by one of my customers, who went on a Missionary transfer with the West African Missionaries to Nigeria, West Africa. He is giving the pup up for adoption for $350 because he can’t take good care of the pup due to his busy and tight schedule at church and at his missionary work. All he wants is someone that’s homely and with a good home to adopt this young and lovely “human best friend.” he will adopt the Puppy to you if you promise to take good care of the puppy. He needs a good and caring home for his puppy because he really wants the puppy to go to a good home. If you are willing to take the puppy contact Reverend ( Rev Samuel Ejike) at
his present email now.
( revsamejike@operamail.com )
Thanks
When I contacted this Rev Samuel Ejike this is what he said:
Thanks for your interest towards my puppy.May the peace of the Lord be with
you.I quite appreciate your great interest towards my puppy. Peggy is AKC
registered 12wks presently,well trained and up till date with all her shots,also
vet checked and medically certified.Good with kids and other pets.I am
presently not in states.I was recently transfered to Nigeria on a missionary
trip.Due to that its my first time of coming to Nigeria,i needed someone to keep
me company.I came along with peggy to keep me company.Presently my busy
schedules and travels all over Nigeria is not given me the chance to take care of
her.I am really not happy about adopting peggy out and she is not happy but
really have no choice.I have prayed to God about this and i am still waiting for
the right person to take perfect care of peggy for me..I will be giving peggy out
for free but $350usd will be paid for the shipping ,handling and other charges
for shipment to commence. You will have to email me your full shipping
information which includes your full name and address,city, state,
zipcode,telephone number and the nearest international airport to you if
interested in giving peggy a good home so that i can forward it down to my
shipping agent for shipping arrangements to commence. i want you to promise
me that you will take very good care of my puppy for me because that is all
that really matters to me. Also give me a possibility and prove that peggy will
be cared for.
You can also give me a call on +234-702-567-7904
i will be waiting to hear from you soonest
May God Bless You
Remain blessed
Rev. Sam Ejike
So I told him I wanted payment info. This is what he said:
Hello Melissa P.,
I quite appreciate your interests towards my puppy peggy. I have gotten your full shipping information and have fowarded it to my shipping agent for shipping arrangements to commence immediately pending when payment is been made for the shipment.I will like you to know that is not the money that really matters to me but the care of Peggy and i will like you to promise me that you will take very good care of her when you get her.Meanwhile payments will not be made to me but my shipping agent who will taking care of the shipping, the only two payment methods he has the access to is either through westernunion or moneygram( walmart outlet ) any one close to you. Immediately the payment is been confirmed,shipping will commence immediately and by tomorrow 5:30pm in the evening , peggy will be at (my address I erased) to be recieved by you. Meanwhile you will have to go ahead immediately to make payments for shipment to commence. So below is the informations of my shipping agent needed to make payments either through westssernunion or money gram.
NAME: BRENT HOOD
ADDRESS: 142, CRESCENT RD
ZIP CODE: 23401
STATE: LAGOS
COUNTRY: NIGERIA
TEST QUESTION: IN GOD WE
ANSWER: TRUST
ALSO GET BACK TO ME WHEN PAYMENT IS BEEN MADE WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIONS
SENDERS NAME…………….?
SENDERS ADDRESS……………?
AMOUNT SENT……………….. should be $350
MTCN#/ REF#…………………..?
TEST QUESTION…………..AS INSTRUSTED ABOVE
ANSWER………………..AS INSTRUCTED ABOVE
Immediately the payment is been confirmed,shipping will commence immediately.pls ensure to be at the home early to recieve peggy. Also i will be waiting to hear from you.You can also call me at +234-702-567-7904
Thanks
Remain blessed
Rev Samuel
I e-mailed him back telling him to go F*** himself…and that I hope he gets caught!!! Hope this helps others!!!
Comment by melissa November 16, 2008 @ 12:30 PMFirst, you would think that the Puppy Finder website would be more careful about who advertises with them. I thought they were a respectable website. My first mistake.
I emailed Alex Garcia. Received a reply back almost exactly like yours. My missionary’s name was Rev Jarret. The 12 week old puppy, Jessy, was trained, etc. He had just gotten reassigned, etc. You know the deal. Brent Hood was the cash agent.
I sent the $350.00. Received a NOTICE!!!! from Express Shippers stating they had one invalid document. The needed $550.00 refundable flight insurance. Once I got to the airport, received the puppy, signed some papers, I would be refunded my $550.00 right there. I emailed “Rev Jarret” outraged, accusing them of scamming me. Everyone emailed me back so hurt that I would think they were scammers. “Rev Jarret” even told me he would borrow $200.00 from two of his parishoners and trust me to send him back the money, if I would come up with the other $350.00. I told them no. Too late for me, my $350.00 is gone.
The names I have given were Alex Garcia (puppyfinder.com), Rev Jarret (missionary), Express Shippers, and of course the one common name for several of us is Brent Hood (cashier agent).
Comment by Kathy July 10, 2009 @ 8:57 AMhow can we catch them i am talking to a scamer that gose by rev.pete
Comment by daddy July 20, 2009 @ 10:53 AMThis was Oct 4th! He even called to talk from the phone number he gave me! His number is there! Give him a call. hahaha
Hello
> My name is Rev Gabriel.Yes the puppy is still up for adotpion.I am in the climax of my missionary training which I am very happy about.I was posted to Nigeria(West Africa) for a missionary assignment which will round up my missionary school.My love for God has changed so many lifes and brought hope to the lost.My puppy is Akc reg and ready for a good home.She is potty trained and loves kids and other domestic pets.Adopting her out is not something I am happy doing but I have no choice.My puppy’s name is Jessy and she is 12wks.I am in search for a good and caring person for Jessy.I am presently in west africa Nigeria with the puppy.I am giving the puppy for $350 including shipping and handling charges.If interested in giving Jessy a good home get back to me with your full shipping information which includes your
> Full Name…………..?
> Address…………………….?
> City…………………………………?
> State………………………………..?
> Zip code……………………….?
> Telephone number……………?
> Closest Inernational Airport………….?
> Thanks And God bless
> Rev Gabriel
Hello,
I quite appreciate your interests towards my puppy jessy and i really love your family and i know God made this to be. I have gotten your full shipping information and have fowarded it to my shippingagent for shipping arrangements to commence immediately pending when payment is been made for the shipment.I will like you to know that is not the money that really matters to me but the care of Jessy and i will like you to promise me that you will take very good care of her when you get her.Meanwhile payments will not be made to me but my shipping agent who will taking care of the shipping, Payments will be made through any moneygram( walmart outlet ) any one close to you. Immediately the payment is been confirmed, shipping will commence immediately and by tuesday 5:30pm in the evening , Jessy will be at your International Airport to be recieved by you. Meanwhile you will have to go ahead to make payments for shipment to commence. So this is the informations of my shipping agent needed to make payments through money gram store
NAME: BRENT HOOD
ADDRESS: 142, CRESCENT RD
ZIP CODE: 23401
STATE: LAGOS
COUNTRY: NIGERIA
TEST QUESTION: IN GOD WE
ANSWER: TRUST
ALSO GET BACK TO ME WHEN PAYMENT IS BEEN MADE WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIONS
SENDERS NAME……………..?
SENDERS ADDRESS…………….?
AMOUNT SENT………………… should be $350
MTCN#/ REF#…………………….?
TEST QUESTION…………….AS INSTRUSTED ABOVE
ANSWER…………………AS INSTRUCTED ABOVE
Immediately the payment is been confirmed,shipping will commence immediately.pls ensure to be at the airport early to recieve Jessy. Also i will be waiting to hear from you. Give me a call me at +234-706-195-8672 or 011-234-706-195-8672,
Thanks
Comment by Heidi October 7, 2009 @ 9:14 PMRemain blessed
Rev Gabriel
Thanks for adding your experiences to the list Melissa. This post has actually kept bringing in readers, so I’m sure your input here will help someone else.
I’m glad to have been able to offer this venue for all of you to help each other out!
Comment by fracas November 17, 2008 @ 11:19 AMI’m a new scammed victim. I can’t believe I fell for it. Nigerian’s are so damn evil. I can’t believe what kind of freaks exist there. bomb them already. the guy who scammed me went by the name Aaron Quest, and Beryl More of Douala, Littoral, Cameroon. What a bunch of a*^holes.
Comment by zip December 7, 2008 @ 3:47 AMOH-I CAN’T BELIEVE I FELL FOR THIS SCAM. IF I HADN’T FELT LOVE FOR THIS PUPPY ALREADY, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT OUTCOME.
AD AT PUPPYFIND READ : MY TINY TEACUP AKC REGISTERED POTTY TRAINED YORKIE. SHE IS AKC CERTIFIED. SHE IS 2LBS AND SHE IS 8 WEEKS OLD. SHE IS POTTY TRAINED. SHE HAD BEEN DEWORMED, SHE HAS BEEN VACCINATED SHE COMES ALONG WITH ALL HER DOCUMENTS, SHE ALSO WOULD BE COMING WITH A 1 YEAR HEALTH GUARANTEE FROM A VET DOCTOR. I WOULD ONLY GIVE THIS LIL TREASURE TO A HOME WHERE SHE WOULD GET LOVE AND GET SPOILT.
I COULDN’T RESIST AND EVENTUALYY SENT A TOTAL OF $1150.00
THE E MAIL ADDRESS IS dBRANDT1982@YAHOO.COM.
Comment by JO-ANNE GRANDE December 30, 2008 @ 5:01 PMTHE NAMES OF RECIPIENTS AND THE AMOUNT SENT STEVEN JOHNSON–500.00 LOS ANGELES, CA.
NICKSON ANDERSON-.650.00 147 ISOLO ROAD, ISOLO, LAGOS NIGERIA. IF IT WASN’T FOR MONEY-GRAM INFORMING ME OF THE SCAM, I WOULD HAVE SENT ANOTHER 150.00. WHAT A LOSS-ON AN EMOTIONAL AND
FINACIAL LEVEL. I FEEL SO VIOLATED AND FOOLISH.
BEWARE—–IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD–DONT’T FALL FOR IT. JO-ANNE
Puppy Scam still in full operation as of January 2009. James Wallingford, our tireless missionary, has again been called off to save Africa for Christianity, and had to leave the US with two teacup terriers, according to our local newspaper classified ads, and an e-mail that he sent to me. Of course the two “babies” are free, and are fully trained, healthy, and up to date with all shots. I will be advising local police and newspaper today. Well meaning buyer BEWARE!!!!
Comment by allenfein January 27, 2009 @ 6:51 AMEveryone who got scammed must to agree that they let their greed control their action. Who in the world would give up a $2000 British Bulldog puppy for FREE?
I just played along with these scammers (jhn.kgn03@gmail.com, johnen.singer@gmail.com or googlemail.com and now ablegod101@gmail.com).
Comment by WJChase888 February 8, 2009 @ 6:09 PMI cannot believe that I actually fell for this shit either. I found the ad in the Queen Central Newspaper displaying 2 puppies for free. An english bulldog and a teacup yorkie puppy. They came AKC registered, potty trained, 6 and 7 weeks old. The whole nine yards. The lady got missioned to Nigeria and needed a good home for the pups due to the bad weather. I was so excited. I sent her $200 splitting the shipping cost like she said. I went right along with it all. Then all of a sudden I get sent an e-mail stating that I owe another $500 due to government costs. I was livid. I started getting suspicious but couldnt find any proof of the scam. I almost sent more money until the lady at the store where I was going to western union the money asked me if I knew the person and told me all about the scams from Nigeria. I went back home and did more research. I then found this site thank god. I even contacted the courier despatch service that she said had the pups. That was a big joke. The guy was dumber than a box of rocks wanting me to send him money right then and there. I am now going to go to my local police department to see what I can do about it. I am also nervous because they have my phone number, home address, e-mail address, and name. I cannot believe it, I feel like such a dumb ass to even think this could be true. Bulldogs and yorkies for free. Come on…. I cannot believe I fell for this. I had myself and daughter convinced that we were gonna get two free puppies. I could just die. I scraped the money together as it was. Is there anything they can do with my information as long as they do not have my social secrity number? I am going to ignore all other messages and calls from them. I am so nervous now and do not know what to do. This is crazy shit.
Comment by ME February 11, 2009 @ 9:12 PMBEWARE OF A “VIENNE KELVIN” SELLING YORKIES AND BULLDOGS IT IS A SCAM. SHE ACTS AS IF SHE IS ON A MISSION TRIP.
Comment by BRANDIE March 27, 2009 @ 7:52 AMAgain… thanks to all who take the time to leave their stories, and words of warning or advice to help someone else avoid being a victim.
Comment by fracas March 27, 2009 @ 9:09 AMI was just about to get scamed but something told me too look into this so i did and i found this website the guy’s name is James Wallington he even put a ad in my local paper so these guy’s are getting good so watch out.
Comment by Jeremy April 9, 2009 @ 2:59 PMBeware of Stephen Craig @yahoo.com and walter james. as i beleive they are scammers as well. advertising 2 yorkie puppies.
Comment by Betsy April 10, 2009 @ 7:15 PMDID ANY OF YOU REPORT THIS TO THE POLICE???
Comment by EDUARDO April 29, 2009 @ 11:45 PMIF YES, WHAT HAPPENED???
I THINK I MAY BE IN THE SAME SITUATION..BUT WITH AN IPHONE!!!
Does anyone have an email address for the police department? I tried looking for it online and came up empty. Our situation was that Fon Denis had two yorkie puppies Kelly and Kitty for sale. They were $100 each but when the guy took them to the airport there was also $300 for puppy insurance and eletronic crate for $280. This money was also to be sent western union. When the puppy were to arrive in Lansing Michigan we would get a refund for that amount.
Comment by Carol Baltierra May 3, 2009 @ 7:55 AMHi again;
Being in Canada, I won’t have any better access (the internet) to addresses and numbers for local police than any of you. Please feel free to share information in order to help each other with your run-ins with these awful swindler/scum-type people, but remember not to post your own personal information here… that will just lead to more trouble and rotten people targeting you.
I’m glad my blog can bring you folks together to help each other!
Comment by fracas May 3, 2009 @ 9:53 AMi almost fell for this scam they sent pics and said they were missionarys want me to send 500.00 western union to to a jerry robert in lagos inkeja nigeria even came up with a church here in arizona that checks out but they are not known also they have came up with 2 differant emails very close to the same plus they cant tell me how long dods would be in querinteen they say deliverd to door step what is this world comming to
Comment by gary May 8, 2009 @ 2:08 PMThey’re still working their scams. I am currently “working” a deal with a Tracy Aiden from Littoral
Comment by Eva July 13, 2009 @ 12:29 AMI am also working out a deal with Tracy Aiden from Littoral. Please get in touch with me and I would love to compare notes.
Comment by Darla July 15, 2009 @ 2:38 PMI almost fell for this and then found this lovely site which talks about
Comment by Darla July 15, 2009 @ 2:42 PMTracy Aiden from Cameroon who claims to be with the Peace Corps. Watch out!
WOW,
Comment by Stephanie July 26, 2009 @ 6:59 PMI am so glad that I googled Nigeria puppy scams before I sent any more money to a Christopher Stevens Rev. to Nigeria. I had a bad feeling it was a scam when i sent the first 150 dollars and then requested 200 dollars more the next day. I saw an ad from a lady in my hometown selling english bulldogs for $500 and i emailed her. She replied saying that she had sold the last two to a man but he needed to resale them because he was going to west africa and the weather was too much for both of his babies. I got intouch with him and i told him how much i wanted the puppy for my birthday but all i could afford was 150dollars he accepted and said that i could pay that and send him the rest once i received the puppy. This led me to believe that this could possibly not be a scam, plus he kept emailing me back and fourth i just could not imagine someone to take the time to keep emailing. we sent like 50 emails back and fourth. And maybe this was or wasnt a scam but as soon as i read these and how similiar they were to each other i cancelled the 200 dollars i had just sent via western union. I could not believe that they would use religion to try and manipulate people. my regards to anyone who has lost more than i have.
I almost got scammed but I found a website while I was on the phone with western union getting ready to make the transaction. I will say western union is onto the scam because I was in the process of stoping the wire while reading all these stories on the internet when the western union rep said i would have to go into the office but they couldnt tell me why and i’m assuming to talk to me about the scams they heard about. I didnt lose any money however my orignal email was local that came from Denver post by biansv@yahoo.com and she referred me to Rev marcus helmer who i have to say was very plesant but what a scammer.Same story he was looking to move his dogs back to the USA due to missionary trip in west africa.
Comment by Raquel July 27, 2009 @ 8:03 AMI feel like such a fool. I am sitting here after just e-mailing Rev. Marcus Helmer back…trying to figure out what is going on and why he needs us to send another $500 for customs. He gave me another phone number that was supposed to be the airport but come to find out is a cell phone. So I googled his name and found this site. I answered the same ad but from a cincinnati paper that was placed by biansv@yahoo.com She told me her last puppy was adopted but referred me to Rev. Marcus. I must say that he has been very pleasent and nice through out this whole thing…we have even talked on the phone a couple times. Luckily we are only out $600, the rest was supposed to be paid upon receipt of the dogs, but my family is heartbroken.
Comment by Courtney August 1, 2009 @ 3:56 PMThank god for this forum!!! I, like most of you almost got scammed. same as above. i seen a post on denver post.com and got excited. but after reading the forum… Rev Marcus Helmer is no god loving man. vivian bians also. please do not fall for this scam. i didnt send ny money but thank god for this site.
Comment by Thomas Hutchins August 1, 2009 @ 7:19 PMI am so sorry to read your stories and feel awful for any of you who’ve been taken by these people. I’m pleased to know that this post is coming up in searches and may have helped some of you either lessen the severity or prevent your being a victim altogether. Please do share this link in your travels online… I promise not to remove this post no matter how much time goes by.
Do also continue to communicate with each other and share your stories to help each other and those who haven’t been here yet. Your input also offers valuable keywords to help others find you and your stories when they search for help!
Blessings to you all. May something good happen to you, to counteract whatever has happened to you as a result of these despicable people.
- Fracas
Comment by fracas August 1, 2009 @ 11:30 PMoh yeah i was scammed by them 3 months ago. At first time, i have no doubt on them but after a week, my friend told me that it was lie and scam.
what do you think they know people mail addresses from ?
Comment by hokya August 4, 2009 @ 5:19 PMGot scammed by Robert Kinoshita yesterday for a chocolate lab named Cutty. I found the ad on freepuppyads.com and saw that he posted about 10 dogs on the same day. The other dogs names were Cutty as well. He explained how he was a man of God and a missionary in Nigeria..I found out I was being scammed just in time and thankfully got my money back. He then emailed me today with very obscene words. What kind of man is this?!
Comment by Brianna August 17, 2009 @ 9:37 AMI’ve been looking for houses in tampa florida. I found one at a great price and started emailing the “owner”. He told me he moved to south africa bc of work and his and his family wanted to start renting the house out. He wasn’t pushy for money and seemed legit. I’ve been renting for years but something about this didn’t sound right. So he sent me the information for a moneygram to send him the deposit (500$) and he would send me the keys and lease via his lawyer…BRENT HOOD. I started googling the name BRENT HOOD and LAGROS. This site was the first to come up. I am so so grateful I didn’t sent him any money and also very appreciative of the person who posted his name bc it led me right here to confirm, it is a scam. Thank you and make sure to double tripple check everything when there’s no guarantee.
Comment by melissa September 3, 2009 @ 2:42 PMI’m glad this post is proving to be useful/helpful to so many people. Please continue to share your stories!
-Fracas
Comment by fracas September 3, 2009 @ 4:45 PMHi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.
Comment by sandrar September 10, 2009 @ 2:40 PMI recently realized that the Nigerian scam can touch anyone. I received a call from a supposed woman using a hearing impaired relay. Wanting to buy a puppy from me. She was to send a check for the puppy and I was to western union the balance to her shipping company. The puppy which I was selling for a few hundred dollars and the puppy was to be shipped to Illinois. I finally received the shipping company’s info. A Mr. John Walker out of London and the check I received was in the amount of $2,600 give or take a few hundred. I called authorities and was told they were not opening up individual cases at this time they had just too many. I have IP address, email, check and don’t know if this information is or can be used to try to start putting a stop to all this.
Comment by Lori September 17, 2009 @ 11:23 PMi have nearly just been scammed by a nigerian lad claiming to giving away his two 11 weeks old brittany spaniel puppys, as his wife was killed a few weeks ago by a drunk driver. he advised that as he lived in dumfries and i am in newcastle he would arrange delivery via a ‘puppy delivery agency’ which would cost 250quid. as i drive and its only 90mins away from my house, i said delivery wasnt necessary. he refused over and over again until eventually he agreed we could pick them up this morning at 8am, so we told him we were leaving newcastle at 6am to get there in time. we arrived and nobody was home, we rang him and he said he was called into work so couldnt get puppies. i was only after this that i wondered if anybody else had had his happen to them, and am so surprised that id never heard of anything like this before. please be aware of these people, i have reported them to trading standards, not that they can do anything.
Comment by steph anderson September 30, 2009 @ 4:28 AMBEWARE of James Philip regarding English Bulldogs. He said he had two bulldogs and we sent the 900.00 to him. Now the following day he says they’re in customs and he can’t get them out till we send another 700.00 to him. So then we thought we had gotten scamed. So we’ve made calls to the FBI and to the police. They gave us this website and how I wish we new this first before we sent the money. Now our kids are getting no Christmas thanks to this creap.
Comment by eric kostron October 19, 2009 @ 7:30 PM