elizabethann
01-17-2007, 12:42 PM
don't fall for this....
News Release
Released By: Kelly A. Ayotte, Attorney General
Senior Assistant Attorney General Lauren Noether, 271-3643
Subject: Puppy Scam
Date: January 17, 2007
Release Time: Immediate
Attorney General Kelly Ayotte announced today that consumers should be aware of the newest in classified advertising scams targeting dog lovers, the Puppy Scam.
The scam involves the promise of a puppy when all the necessary fees such as purchase price, vaccination and shipping fees are paid. Some scam artists use fake or stolen photos in their ads, claiming they are pictures of puppies for sale. Actually, the seller does not have the puppy. The advertisement instructs victims to wire money in advance and refers them to a money wiring service such as Western Union or Money Gram. The buyer waits a few days and when they do not receive the puppy attempts to contact the seller but receives no answer.
In order to avoid these types of scams, remember the following general words of advice:
- Know whom you are dealing with - independently confirm your seller's name,
street, address, and telephone number.
- Resist pressure to "act now." If an offer sounds too good to be true it usually is.
- If the buyer wants to use a service you have not heard of, be sure to check it out to be sure it is reliable - check its Web site, call its customer service hotline, and read its terms of agreement and privacy policy. If you do not feel comfortable with the service, do not use it.
- Call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre toll free at 1-888-495-8501.
The Attorney General said “Simply because an advertisement is in a legitimate media outlet - like the local newspaper or radio station - does not guarantee that the company placing it is trustworthy.”
Attorney General Ayotte reminds you that “Con artists are cunning and know how to make their fraudulent offers seem legitimate.”
If you responded to a fraudulent puppy ad via email, forward the email to the Federal Trade Commission at [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> and notify the Internet Fraud Complaint Center at www.ifccfbi.gov <http://www.ifccfbi.gov>.
If you have doubts as to whether an advertisement is legitimate, call the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau at 603-271-3641 or 1-888-468-4454. For more information on consumer fraud you can also visit the Bureau’s website at www.state.nh.us/nhdoj/consumer/index/html <http://www.state.nh.us/nhdoj/consumer/index/html>.
News Release
Released By: Kelly A. Ayotte, Attorney General
Senior Assistant Attorney General Lauren Noether, 271-3643
Subject: Puppy Scam
Date: January 17, 2007
Release Time: Immediate
Attorney General Kelly Ayotte announced today that consumers should be aware of the newest in classified advertising scams targeting dog lovers, the Puppy Scam.
The scam involves the promise of a puppy when all the necessary fees such as purchase price, vaccination and shipping fees are paid. Some scam artists use fake or stolen photos in their ads, claiming they are pictures of puppies for sale. Actually, the seller does not have the puppy. The advertisement instructs victims to wire money in advance and refers them to a money wiring service such as Western Union or Money Gram. The buyer waits a few days and when they do not receive the puppy attempts to contact the seller but receives no answer.
In order to avoid these types of scams, remember the following general words of advice:
- Know whom you are dealing with - independently confirm your seller's name,
street, address, and telephone number.
- Resist pressure to "act now." If an offer sounds too good to be true it usually is.
- If the buyer wants to use a service you have not heard of, be sure to check it out to be sure it is reliable - check its Web site, call its customer service hotline, and read its terms of agreement and privacy policy. If you do not feel comfortable with the service, do not use it.
- Call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre toll free at 1-888-495-8501.
The Attorney General said “Simply because an advertisement is in a legitimate media outlet - like the local newspaper or radio station - does not guarantee that the company placing it is trustworthy.”
Attorney General Ayotte reminds you that “Con artists are cunning and know how to make their fraudulent offers seem legitimate.”
If you responded to a fraudulent puppy ad via email, forward the email to the Federal Trade Commission at [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> and notify the Internet Fraud Complaint Center at www.ifccfbi.gov <http://www.ifccfbi.gov>.
If you have doubts as to whether an advertisement is legitimate, call the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau at 603-271-3641 or 1-888-468-4454. For more information on consumer fraud you can also visit the Bureau’s website at www.state.nh.us/nhdoj/consumer/index/html <http://www.state.nh.us/nhdoj/consumer/index/html>.