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Beware of Nigerian Dog Scam - Not a joke
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by comoms | March 3, 2008 at 10:35 am
1553 views | 0 Recommendations | 5 comments
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English bulldogs, especially those from "champion bloodlines" and recognized by the American Kennel Club, are worth a pretty penny: upwards of $3,000 for some puppies.
So when 29-year-old Justin Gariott saw a classified ad in the Feb. 23 edition of the Review-Journal purporting to offer them free for adoption, he jumped at the chance.
"I thought, maybe I would get a good dog out of this and give a good home to that dog," the telecommunications technician said.
He sent an e-mail to the "Pastor Simpson Peter" in the ad. But what he received in response gave him cause for alarm.
"Yes i (sic) have some puppies
left for free adoption," the "pastor" replied. "But sorry, i'm
prensently (sic) in Africa on a Missionary (sic) program with my wife
at ( CAC) (sic) Christ Apostles Church here in west-Africa (sic)."The "pastor" then went on to ask, in English riddled with errant
punctuation and flagrant misspellings, for some of Gariott's personal
information in order to have the dogs shipped from Africa to Las Vegas.What Gariott had stumbled upon was one of the latest schemes out of
Nigeria to defraud Americans. The "puppy scam," as it's known, has
become so notorious it prompted a joint press release by the AKC and
the Better Business Bureau last year to warn consumers about it."I don't want anybody else to get suckered by it," Gariott said.
Several newspapers across the country, including the Review-Journal
recently, have fallen for the pitch. The ad, which started running on
Feb. 22, was scheduled to run for 14 days, at a price of $363.80. It
was stopped on Tuesday.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (5)
at 13:08 on March 3rd, 2008
I guess this is a variation on the traditional "419" scam. Scary. But hopefully most, like Justin Gariott, will realise there's something dubious going on when people ask for personal info and bank details up front.
at 09:56 on March 5th, 2008
I agree. It's funny because I saw this ad in one of our papers in San Diego. It's amazing how many people fall for the email ones.
at 09:53 on February 20th, 2009
I got this email the other day see below. The person also send me there so called phone number.
Hello
Thanks for your interest in my pet. The York Shire Terrier (puppy) is still very much available adoption. Katti is a tiny registered Yorkshire terrier puppy.She is as beautiful as you can get,she has a cute little teddy bear face and a soft non shedding hair coat.If you are looking for a little buddy to take with you everywhere you go,then here she is.She has a wonderful personality and loves to cuddle AKC registered ADORABLE and SOCIABLE with GREAT Personalities and very good bloodlines.She is also very healthy and current on her puppy vaccinations. a nice crate and health certificate. more so ever i want you to know that i am in Western African now on my Christian mission along with my Wife and the puppy .after a while i notice that the Western African weather is not good for the puppy and i have not been able to take good care of her the way i always do because of my job.i need someone to adopt her and take care of her in the right way as i have always done for her.
AKC FEMALE YORKIE PUP1/2 LBS.)
CHAMPIONS SHE WILL WEIGH APPROX. 3 1/2 TO 5 LBS
AKC FEMALE YORKIE PUP REGISTER.
CHAMPION BLOODLINES STUD: Yes
YORKIE DOODLES PISTOL PETE 3 1/2 LBS 7
ALL SHOT COMPLETED :yes
SHE IS 15 WEEKS OLD SHE WILL GO HOME WITH ALL HER CURRENT VACC. AND WORMING SHE CAN BE SHIPPED AT EXPENSE FOR APPROX. $280 back to usa
if you can afford that. please kindly Get Back To Me With The Informations Below If You Are Interested her so that arrangement can be made when i am not in church for the delivery to the information that you will provide for me :
Full Name:
Contact Address:
Nearest Airport:
Contact Phone Number:
nearest airport or would you prefer the baby to deliver to your door-step?
name on the Tag:katti
Let me know if you would like some puppy grooming and feeding guide magazines so that I can include them in the shipping. await to read from you if interested in the yorkie May God Be With You
Rev dave Oakley
at 09:54 on February 20th, 2009
+234 8034943481
this is the so called phone number he said for me to call and talk to him about the dog.
at 04:31 on June 14th, 2009
Nigerians,
I hope you can see the shame you bring on we Nigerian, I read articles like this and I feel real bad being a Nigerian But nevertheless fellas, not all Nigerians are scammers
As regards the fake pastor with the above mentioned ad, may you rot in hell