Avoiding Scam
You can avoid would-be scammers by following
these common-sense rules:
· DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON—follow this one rule and avoid 99% of scam attempts.
· NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is likely a scammer.
· FAKE CASHIER CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON—BANKS WILL HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE when the fake is discovered weeks later.
· PUPPYFINDER.COM IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TRANSACTION, and does not handle payments, provide escrow, "buyer protection".
· NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION (bank account number, social security number, PayPal info, etc.).
· AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL "GUARANTEE" YOUR TRANSACTION
Who should I notify about fraud or scam attempts?
U.S. Federal
· Internet Fraud Complaint Center· FTC Video: How to report scams to the FTC
· FTC online complaint form
· FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
· Consumer Sentinel/Military (for reports from services members or their families)
· SIIA Software and Content Piracy reporting
Resources for Ohio residents
· Ohio Attorney General Consumer Complaints
Canada
· Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or 888-495-8501 (toll-free)
· RCMP
If you are defrauded by someone you met in person, contact your local police department.
If you suspect that a PUPPYFINDER.COM post may be part of a scam, please send us the details.
Recognizing scams
Most scams involve one or more of the following:
· Inquiry from someone far away, often in another country.
· Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a "guarantee."
· Inability or refusal to meet face-to-face before consummating transaction.
Examples of Scams
1. Someone claims puppyfinder.com will guarantee a transaction, certify a buyer/seller, OR will handle or provide protection for a payment:
· These claims are fraudulent, as puppyfinder.com does not have any role in any transaction.· The scammer will often send an official looking (but fake) email that appears to come from puppyfinfer.com, offering a guarantee, certifying a seller, handle payments.
2. Distant person offers a genuine-looking (but fake) cashier's check:
· You receive an email (examples below) offering to buy your puppy.· A cashier's check is offered for your puppy for sale as a deposit.
· Value of cashier's check often far exceeds your asking price—scammer offers to "trust" you, and asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service.
· Banks will often cash fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR, sometimes including criminal prosecution.
· These scams often involve a 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc.).
3. Someone requests wire service payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:
· Scam "bait" include high value items.· These scams often claim that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money—this is FALSE, once you've wired money, it is GONE.
· Common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Spain, Italy, and Netherlands—but could be anywhere.
· Puppy listing may be local, but landlord/owner is "travelling" or "relocating" and needs you to wire money to them abroad.
· Deal often seems too good to be true, price is too low, etc.
4. Distant person offers to send you a money order and then have you wire money:
· This is ALWAYS a scam in our experience—the cashier's check is FAKE.· Scammer often asks for your name, address, etc. for printing on the fake check.
· Deal often seems too good to be true.
5. Distant seller suggests use of an online escrow service:
· Most online escrow sites are FRAUDULENT and operated by scammers.· For more info, do a google search on "fake escrow" or "escrow fraud."
6. Distant seller asks for a partial payment upfront, after which he will ship:
· He says he trusts you with the partial payment.· He may say he has already shipped it.
· Deal often sounds too good to be true.