HELP! BUYING DOG ONLINE~!

Okay Komireds, now I need a "head slapping in disbelief" icon lol!

I know.  It is just so totally unfathomable. 

i saw her post in a newspaper ad

By the way, what newspaper was this?  I can't imagine a paper unknowingly running a Nigerian scam add in their newspaper......you should let the paper know. 

what should i do?

 
Do not send this person money.  This is a scam.  These kinds of things are popping up everywhere.  They refer to the dog as "my puppy".  For other things, it is referred to as "my item", nothing is ever specific. 
 
Do not fall for it. You will waste your money AND be heartbroken. 
 
I know that you really want a puppy (I do too, and have searched high and low in the past, crossing my fingers for a great opp.) and that it fits in your budget, but keep your eyes out, and the right, legitimate opportunity will come along.  It did for us!
 
 

I read this EXACT same situation on another forum a while back and when asking for pictures and pic of the paperwork, it never came.  I think its a total scam.  I would also ask for another method of paying and if she wont let you pay any other way thats another good way to know.  Western Union is used by scammers really easily.  Please do not send them money. 
 
You can easily find info on these scams by typing it into the search engines.  You can see other peoples horror stories of the same exact thing.
 
I am so sorry you lost your baby.  I recently lost my Kayla.  I think you should go to the shelter, I have always gotten mine from there, they are angels. 

Why would you want to get a pup you have never met and played with, or even met with the breeder. I am shocked at how these things can even get pulled off. I mean, you're not buying a  toy truck. You're buying an ANIMAL

ORIGINAL: rwbeagles

 
BTW this is legit right? You're not just fishing her to get a rise out of us? 

ETA: Don't be too offended I asked this last....I have trouble believing at times, that there are eople still out there so naive that they think WU is a safe way to send money. My apologies.

 
honestly, ive come here on this forum cause i know u guys are animal lovers and know alot about dogs, and i needed help. So this is where i turn to for help cause i dont have anyone else to ask. I'm 18 years old, honestly i dont know alot. i have no idea what WU is, and that is the reason why i asked for the people that know  if WU is a safe way to transfer money. so i guess not.

ORIGINAL: komireds

Here's a story about a couple who fell for this scam.  Yorkie pup from Nigeria.  Sound familiar?

[linkhttp://kutv.com/seenon/local_story_032122159.html]http://kutv.com/seenon/local_story_032122159.html[/link]

 
OMG! i SWEAR this is the craziestst thing ever. the name on the article is the same guy name william, the same church missionary bullshit. HOW DID U FIND THAT? WOW you saved me ALOT of time and thinking. THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH. they asked me to take good care of the puppy and all that stuff too.
 
what is the world coming to these days, how can u scam people like that.i know how bad i want a puppy but im not so stupid that i cant see this is a scam after all u guys said. ugh. im so dissapointed.  i mean some people arent just so nice to GIVE AWAY DOGS, so ofcourse u have to buy it. i dont want to adopt a puppy because theyre usually too old. i want a puppy to grow up in my care. ive been to the shelter a few times, but most of them are 2 or 3 years old. and there are pits puppies but they are way tooo big for me, i live in a mobile home. i mean youre saying im buying a animal like a toy, thats a ignorant thing to say. I've known a friend that bought her puppy online and everything turns out great, her puppy is in GREAT CARE. everything turn out fine. it just hard to find the right person to  buy it from. but i mean i am naive and i dont know anything about this so thats why i need everyones opinion on this subject. . THANKS everyone who helped me, its greatly appreciated

ORIGINAL: mimichauchau

ORIGINAL: rwbeagles

 honestly, ive come here on this forum cause i know u guys are animal lovers and know alot about dogs, and i needed help. So this is where i turn to for help cause i dont have anyone else to ask. I'm 18 years old, honestly i dont know alot. i have no idea what WU is, and that is the reason why i asked for the people that know  if WU is a safe way to transfer money. so i guess not.

It's not the western union that's a problem. I've wired money through Western Union with a legitimate breeder and also had money sent through Western Union when my husband and I got into a sticky situation once. Here's their website:

[linkhttp://www.westernunion.com/info/selectCountry.asp]http://www.westernunion.com/info/selectCountry.asp[/link]

Anyway, the part that is a dead giveaway that it's a scam is that the person referred to the puppy as both he and she. Also, there is a HUGE number of scams from Nigeria, Africa. I've received several different kinds of scam e-mails from there. Anytime you see that location it's a red flag.

Other advice I'd give you is to avoid the sites that list puppies for sale, like puppyfind and hoobly. If you're set on buying a puppy online, AT LEAST make sure that person has their own website. When people list puppies for sale at the sites like hoobly, many times they have simply stolen a picture of a puppy from a legitimate breeder and listed it. Another thing to watch out for is a kennel that has more than 2 breeds. A lot of the time it's a backyard breeding operation where they're just trying to make a buck.

I did purchase a puppy online before, a beautiful Cocker Spaniel from a good breeder. She had a website, references, etc. He was shipped to me and was healthy and a good dog, BUT totally incompatible with my personality and lifestyle. It was heartbreaking, but after a year of trying to make it work, I gave him back to the breeder. My current dog, I met in person and I couldn't ask for a better dog for me. So honestly, I think actually going and seeing the puppies and breeder in person is the best way to go. It's totally possible to find the perfect puppy from a breeder online, but it's definitely more of a gamble. Good luck!
 
Meant to add, I also bought a Persian cat from a breeder I found online. He was the best cat I ever had!
 
 

What was the title of the ad or the title of the email she sent? 
 
There is a really good website you can go to for spam email.  Since this was generated with a newspaper ad it might not be on this site but it still sounds fishy to me.  First of all, has anyone ever heard of Delta Pet Airlines?  Second of all, the mention of Nigeria catches my attention b/c all of the spam emails we get about the prince of nigeria needs to deposit his money into your account blah blah blah.  I would keep looking locally and be able to visit a dog before you get it.  There are plenty of good dogs needing homes.  Even if you look up a rescue for this type of dog you will probably have better luck.     
 
[linkhttp://www.snopes.com]www.snopes.com[/link] is the website. 

My Cocker Spaniel puppy was shipped to me through Delta. I think what makes this scam almost believable is that Western Union and Delta airlines are both legitimate.
 
[linkhttp://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/special_travel_needs/pet_travel_information/index.jsp]http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/special_travel_needs/pet_travel_information/index.jsp[/link]

I can get my puppy ship to you through
Delta First Pet Airline on next day delivery

 
I agree, I know Delta will ship a dog and maybe this is why it seems so legit b/c it is Delta....but if you look closer, I have never heard of Delta First Pet Airline.  Maybe I am reading too far into th ename of the airline though.  The whole thing sounds fishy to me....I am glad someone found a story that was identical....I couldn't find anything about it on snopes.

I would NEVER buy an animal online.. well unless it's a snake or lizard or something, but never a dog!  First of all there are just way too many factors included in choosing the right dog.  Do you know what the puppy's personality is like? Is he/she healthy? Do his parents have good temperments?

Even dogs who are AKC registered might not have the best temperments.  Plus I wouldn't want my new puppy to go through the stressful experience of being shipping all by himself in a tiny little crate for who knows how long. 

I think it's perfectly fine if you heard about the pups online, but you have to at least meet them in person.  Let me ask you this, would you ever marry someone who you've never met and just saw the name in a local personals?  No!  You would find out what he/she is like first, not commit yourself straight away based on a few words on paper.

I really hope you reconsider this purchase.  There are PLENTY of dogs in dog shelters and there are always dog breeders within a reasonable distance from your house.

OMG GUESS WHAT?! they sent me pictures of the dog and it was soooooo small! and i asked for more pictures and for them to scan all the paperwork. ANYWHO. i was browsing around on puppyfind and i saw the EXACT pictures ! all three of the pictures. MY GOOD NESS. i GIVE UP. no more buying puppy online. thanks for all the opinions, u guys are right =) ugh i wish polo would still be here, he was the perfect boy. i wouldnt trade my baby for anyone in the whole world... i miss him =[

Please check out [linkhttp://petfinder.com]http://petfinder.com[/link]
 
There are tons of yorkie and yorkie mixes that need a home on there.

THIS IS A SCAM!!!!!!!!  Do not send money!!!!!!  You could be out a whole lot more than $400 if you do.
Never buy online from an unknown breeder.  Find reputable breeders by contacting the AKC or UKC breed referral services, or by contacting local trainers or vets in your own area.  Or, find a small dog or Yorkie rescue group.