One version of an actual pet sitting/pet professional "Cashier's Check" scam.
This one involves a scammer looking for Pet Sitting services, but could be changed to fit any business.
Some basic rules of thumb to keep yourself and your business from falling for a scam:
* Never accept a form of payment that requires you to send money on to another person.
* Never deposit a cashier's check sent from out of the country by a stranger.
* Be aware of scam red flags such as poor grammar, overly praising you for your help, or a sob story (my pet needs to get out of the country for it's safety").
* If you feel you are being targeted by a scammer, replying to them does no good. Just ignore, delete, and move on. Often scammers send out hundreds of e-mails hoping just one person will reply.
If you receive a different version of this
or any other scam please forward it to
uspetpros so your fellow pet
professionals can be aware of any new
developments.
Pet Sitting Services
Needed
In July 2005 professional
pet sitters started receiving e-mail
inquiries about pet sitting services from
a woman named "Anita Bekley". She claims
to be living in the UK and is looking for
pet sitting services for her son who will
be moving to the the pet sitter's area.
She also expresses interest in getting
help purchasing a puppy for her son. Once
the sitter replies with their rates
"Anita" then mentions that she will get a
client who owes her money to forward a
cashiers check for more than the amount of
sitting services and the extra should be
sent to her "son" to help with the move.
Sounds easy enough right?
WRONG! This is a common scam designed to
steal your hard earned money! The sitter
deposits the check, mails the extra to the
son and possibly purchases a puppy. Then
that's the last they hear from the
scammer. Nobody ever arrives for pet
sitting services, or picks up the puppy.
Eventually the sitter is informed that the
check they deposited is a fake.
Below is a series of
e-mails recently received by Professional
Pet Sitters, but it could be modified to
apply to any pet care provider. If you
receive a similar e-mail ignore it &
delete it. If you have received a
different version of this Pet Care Inquiry
Scam, please forward it to US
Pet Pros to be
included on this page.
I am Anita Bekley from
oxford Uk.I will like to know if you offer
Pet
Sitters/Pet supplies ? My son will be
coming to the state and I will
like if someone looked after his pets when
his in the state.He has a
Female Puppy,cat and a turtle.so pls do
let me know if you are cabable
of handling this and how much I need to
pay upfront until I am able to
come join him in the States.you will need
to inform me as soon as
possible.I will also like to know if you
can get him a male puppy ?
As for the payment I
will like to know if you do accept
certified
check or international money order for
payment for the purchase.
Please make sure you
email me at my personal email address
which is
anitabek34@...
Hope to hear from you
soon.
Thanks,
Anita
Once the sitter replies,
usually with questions...
Second Contact: Hello,
Thanks for your reply.I
will like you to give me an estimate of
how
much it will cost for Pet Sitting service
for my son for 2 months
beginning from 22nd july 2005 in your
area.it would be atleast one
visit a day.I await your soonest
reply.
Rgds
Anita
Third Contact: Hello,
Thanks alot for the email,This will be for
2
months.well as okay with the price and as
for the payment I will be
instructing my client who is yet to
balance me to issue you a
certified check or money order in the
amount to balance me to you for
the payment of pet sitting for my son and
I will like you to have the
payment cashed then you can deduct your
amount for my purchase and
have the remainder of my funds sent to my
son so he can begin the
arrangement to come over to the states.I
will be making reservation
for him in your location so that will be
easy for you to go and see
him.so pls do let me know if this
arrangements is okay by you then you
can get back to me with your Name ,address
and phone # to reach you
then i can instruct my client to mail you
the payment for the purchase.
