I got scammed....?

Question

I am looking for a puppy....I just lost my 5y/o shih tzu and want a new puppy. A friend showed me a local site to search. I found a yorkie puppy that all was needed was $69 for paperwork....I knew it was too good to be true but was stupid and sent the money.......My husband found that this person has numerous ads for the same puppy in many states. the individual had a yahoo email and I would like to report them and the shady activities they are doing thru this account. I am sure I wont get my money back but I guess I will chalk it up to a learning experience and to know to go with the gut at all times.....So how do I report this person so they dont scam anyone else?
Chris

Thanks for all the great info...for those suggesting shelters.....I have tried that route and they dont have small dogs and I dont have room for a big dog :( plus I do not agree with these shelters charging $100's to rescue an abandon animal.....

Answer 1

Take the emails that you got from that person, showing all the headers intact, and forward it to the local police and all the scam places online.

Answer 2

You know what? I just did a search on Petfinders.com and came up with at least 575 hits for rescued yorkies in the US. I don't think you have been looking very hard, or your expectations are too great. You got scammed probably because you are one of those people who just has to have a puppy, even though there are at least 575 homeless yorkies in this country who may be a little older than a puppy. (And some of them were puppies).
You tipped your hand when you mentioned that you didn't want to donate an adoption fee for a rescued dog. There is NO SUCH THING as a "cheap" dog, so give it up. If you don't have the money to help a NON-PROFIT organization, you shouldn't be looking for a dog in the first place.
Maybe you should ask the rescue groups where all that money goes.

Answer 3

I've heard of people reporting this kind of stuff to the news media. It could work and get the news to travel quicker. You can also report it to the police they handle scams. Research scams online and how to report them. Also if it happened on Yahoo you should also report the scam to Yahoo, by writing them a letter. You should be able to get your money back. But then you should know not to purchase a live animal off the internet without seeing if firsthand. I've always adopted dogs from shelters, there have been yorkies I've seen in the shelters and they go for pretty reasonable prices. Nothing ridiculous or anything. They also have all there shots and anything else necessary before you adopt. It's an easy process. I would go that route if I were you, and you'd be saving a dog's life.

Good luck!

Answer 4

You can report them through yahoo ~ fraud! Go to Yahoo, then terms of service and select at the bottom Customer? See site: http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/mail/original/abuse/abuse-34.html

You can also contact your local law enforcement agency and file a forger/fraud report depending on what the laws are in your state. And your probably right, you will never get your money back but at least you can do something about people who defraud others by reporting them. I am really sorry about your situation but remember, if something sounds too good to be true ~ it usually is...

Also, if you looking for a Yorkie ~ try a rescue group; here is a wonderful site, they are a great bunch of people who care nothing more about placing unwanted dogs into a loving, new home.

http://www.yorkiehavenrescue.com
http://petfinder.com

Answer 5

try petfinder.com- maybe a bigger shelter a little further away or a local rescue has small dogs. The dogs are $100 because they often come with shots or neutered.

You would have paid $70 for the yorkie pup- then at least $50 ($200 in my town) to get her spayed and like $100 for shots.

Answer 6

It may or may not help, but you could try filing a complaint with the Secretary of State, or perhaps Commerce, in the state in which you live. A little looking on your state's official website should direct you to the right office. You might also consider filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission, since this person seems to be operating across state lines. Finally, I would file a complaint with Yahoo - they investigate these sorts of things and take them seriously.

Answer 7

Shelters charge money to adopt pets b/c it helps defray some of their expenses when they are housed in that shelter. Food, bathing, housing, shots and fixing if needed are all expenses they incur when an idiot abandons their pet. Some animals could be in shelters for months, so a measley $100 is nothing compared to the money they actually spent to take care of that animal. Consider it a wise investment, better than going to a pet store!

Answer 8

I would report, bring it to the local authorities, I am sure they can find this person, by using IP address, When you sent the money was it a check ? Credit Card? Money order? That could be traceable as well. I would pursue it.

Answer 9

i suppose the only thing you can do is to report the person to Yahoo?

meanwhile, if you are still looking for a dog, there are thousands of homeless dogs in shelters all across the united states.. perhaps take in one who needs you?

hugs

Answer 10

There are resources that can track people like this. Gather all the info you have. They had to pay for the ad through the newspaper. Talk to the DA's office or even your state's attorney general.