Protect Yourself and Report the Latest Frauds, Scams, Spams, Fakes, Identify Theft Hacks and Hoaxes
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Were you looking to buy a free puppy? And that's when you contacted "Kelly Kesten" at Care2 virtual pet adoption website ? Just when you think scammers can't sink any lower, you hear about pet scams. That's right, scammers are now putting advertisements with photos of cute, usually purebred, a free puppy on online selling websites, like Care2, Ebay, CraigsList and in classified ads in newspapers; and/or calling people who are selling a free puppy.
Once the scammer talks to his victim, the victim finds out that the scammer wants to send a check that is in excess of the amount, and the scammer wants the victim to wire (via Western Union or Money Gram) the excess to others, using a variety of excuses such as other fees, customs duties, shots, adoption fees, insurance and vaccinations to be paid.
As soon as the money is wired, it is gone, and usually so is the scammer... unless he thinks he can milk the victim for more.
There are a few typical signs of the scam, such as the scammers frequent use of the word "baby" in referring to the puppies. "Just send me the fees and I can send you your babies! Don't you want to see your babies", one scammer wrote to a victim.
But regardless of how it is phrased, we recommend you never buy a pet over the internet, unless the transaction of pet for money occurs in person, at the same moment. Or at least conduct the exchange in person, in a very public place.
Visit your local dog shelter or check the legitimate animal rescue websites for a local puppy!
The original free puppy ad came from Care2 virtual pet adoption site. I have also contacted Annie the owner of Care2 site and made her aware of this scam. I still haven't heard back from her though. I was ready to send the money by western union until just before I was leaving I checked my email and had received the email from air afrique, WOW! It just sounded really threatening. So I didn't, that was a close one, never again.I'll stick to my local animal shelters. Instead I emailed Kelly Keston herself and told her what I now know is her scam. She even had the nerve to email me back saying that she'd pray for my untrusting spirit and that she had never scammed anyone in her life. I still that email response saved.Her email address is kellykesten@yahoo.com if you need to check it out. Hope to hear back from you regarding this disgraceful heart saddening scam.
my name is kelly Kesten and i work with an N.G.O at :Edmonton-Canada, an N.G.O with missionary and humanitarian inclinations and vision.I've just been recently posted to work in Cameroon -west Africa.I was actually and desperately looking for someone to adopt my babies before i leave the country because the climatic conditions this way are too harsh for their bearing,so rite now im presently in Cameroon.S op if you are interested you have to get back to me via my email add.with the following information;your full names,street address and contact number,city and the nearest airport from where u live.so i can get them registered as soon as possible to you.as for vital info related to their nature n names;they are9 weeks old.they are vet.checks akc registered and potty trained and their names are lilly n lolly. In her original ad at Care2 their names are Kit and Kate.
very importantly is the fact that i hope you are indeed a very caring and committed to the welfare of your pets parent cus it wouldst be good for them to be abused for i really love n care for them so much tho im giving them out for adoption. waiting for your response asap.so get tome asap so we can start with the necessary arrangement related to shipment etc.
Note: The scammer in this next fraud is using the name of a real person, who is completely unaffiliated with the scam. There is a real and innocent "Jean Claude Toh" who has nothing to do with this scam. As is often the case, the scammer has is using Jean Claude's name without his permission.
And will the real Jean Claude Toh, please write back to let us know if this helps?
--- On Sat, 3/22/08, air afrique <air_afrique@africamail.com> wrote:
From: air afrique
Subject: PUPPY AWAITING SHIPMENT AT THE AIRPORT
Date: Saturday, March 22, 2008, 7:58 PM
PET SERVICE.
DEAR CLIENT,
WE WRITE TO INFORM YOU THAT THE IS A PUPPYY YORKSHIRE TERRIE AWAITING SHIPMENT AT THE AIRPORT, WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER YOUR NAME TO BE DELIVERED TO YOU THROUGH THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS. ONTARIO CANADA. ALSO, WE WISH TO INFORM YOU THEAT THE PUPPY WILL BE TAKING OFF TOMORROW, AND WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOU AT YOUR HOME BY OUR SHIPPING AGENTS. YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED BY PHONE AS SOON AS IT REACHES THE AIRPORT, AND EVEN BEFORE IT WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOUR HOME. SHE IS COMING IN AN ELECTRICAL CRATE, AND HAS SOME KENNELS WHICH SHE HAS TO COME ALONG WITH. ALSO, ALL THE MEDICAL PAPERS ARE HERE AT THE AIRPORT, AND THEY WILL BE HAND OVER TO YOU UPOND DELIVERY OF THE PUPPY. WE ALSO WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT MISS KELLY HAS DEPORSITED $200, AND THE REST OF THE SHIPPING HAS NOT YET BEEN PAID. SHE ASKED US TO CONTACT YOU TO PAY IN THE REST OF THE SHIPMENT FEE WHICH IS $200. WE WISH TO INFORM YOU TO TRY TO PAY IN THIS MONEY IN 8 HOURS, SO SHE CAN BE TAKING OFF AS PLANED. YOU ARE TO PAY IN THIS MONEY THROUGH WESTERN UNION TO THE MANAGERS ADDRESS BELLOW. YOU CAN ALSO CALL THE MANAGER FOR VERIFICATION ON THE NUMBERS BELLOW. YOU ALSO HAVE TO BE FAST, SO SHE CAN TAKE OFF IN TIME. HER VERIFICATION NUMBER IS 452-5/14200102/457/7 -MCTU-CAM/00237>0012<01
AIR AFRIQUE 0023774549067 OR 0023779687961 OR 0023779686570.
AMOUNT; $200
RECIPIENTS NAME: LOH JEAN CLAUDE TOH
ZIP CODE: 00237
COUNTRY: CAMEROON
BRANCH: BAMENDA
TEST QUESTION: WHO
ANSWER: MANAGER
REMEMBER TO SEND US THE FULL INFORMATION YOU USED AND YOUR FULL CONTACT INFORMATION SO WE CAN VERIFY FROM WHAT SHE HAS GIVEN US. ALSO, WE HAVE TO CONFIRM AT OUR PAYMENT COUNTER, BEFORE THE PUPPY CAN TAKE OFF.
THE MANAGER
LOH JEAN CLAUDE TOH
To: "air afrique"
Subject: Re: PUPPY AWAITING SHIPMENT AT THE AIRPORT
Date: Sun, 23 Mar 2008 08:54:21 -0700 (PDT)
Will my puppy be coming to London airport. I can only get a ride to London airport so need to know this for sure. I will be picking her up there instead of you delivering her to my home. This way Kelly can save some money by not having her delivered. Are there any fees to be paid at the airport when I pick her up. As I've already explained to Kelly Kerston that I can't afford any more than twenty dollars. What other information do I need from you for picking her up. And who do I pay the twenty dollars to at London airport? Will be waiting for your reply.
WHAT IS GOING ON MADAMME? YOU WHERE SURPOSED TO HAVE PAID IN THE MONEY BY NOW, TRY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO PAY IN THE MONEY YOU PROPOSED YESTERDAY WITHINE 5 HOURS SO THEY CAN TAKE OFF IN THE 2ND PLANE.
THE MANAGER
LOH JEAN CLAUDE TOH..