In Jan. 2006 professional pet sitters started receiving e-mail inquiries about pet sitting services from a woman named "Mary/Edith Cole". She claims to be living in Spain and is looking for help receiving a dog from her which is to be trained and held until the owner moves into the area. This version did not progress farther than the first couple contacts due to sitters realizing it as a scam. Further evidence is different sitters in different cities/states receiving this same word for word, typo for typo e-mail with slight variations (different name & breed of dog) The pet professional would eventually receive instructions that a cashiers check or money order would be sent in excess of the fees to cover the care/training of the dogs. The extra is to be sent to a 3rd party.

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 3rd party. Then that's the last they hear from the scammer. Nobody ever sends a dog. 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.

More information on this type of scam can be found at Snopes.com- Cashier Check Scam

First Contact:

Good day, I am Dr Mary Cole from Louisiana,I am presently in spain and here is my lovely Ryt (spanish bred Doberman)i got here with me,i need you to keep and train him for me till i get back back finally to the states after which i will want to settle down with him in my new home ill be living somewhere around Texas,so i need to know the cost for his sitting with you for the next two months that i will come for him at your place,remember this will include feeding and health cost. I will really be glad if you can do this for my lovely Ryt.
Regards,
Dr. Cole

First Contact (Cole variation #2):

Hello, My name is Edith Cole i am from united states, worked in a private consultant company now on a project here in murcia ,Spain. i need a petsitter for my pet pending the time i will be back to the states, if u are interested mail me back so that i can explain more better to you.
Best Reagrds
Dr Edith.

Once the sitter replies, usually with questions...
Second Contact:
Thanks for your response, I appreciate your prompt response,I am presently in spain and here is my lovely Milli (spanish breed Alsatian)i got here with me,i need you to keep and train him for me till i get back back finally to the states after which i will want to settle down with him in my new home ill be living somewhere around Denver,so i need to know the cost for his sitting with you for the next two months that i will come for him at your place,remember this will include feeding and health cost. I will really be glad if you can do this for my lovely Milli.
Regards,
Dr Edith.