We've recently been on the receiving end of a pet courier scam using our website' s name to dupe people into paying for something that doesn't exist. Please note that we do not provide any services or products - just the great advice you see on this website. Here are some more details about the scam and other pet courier scams to be aware of.
How could you not be moved by the plight of the puppy that just happens to be the exact same breed that you’re looking for? You make contact with the person concerned and after they’ve asked you some questions about how you intend to look after their valuable pet, they decide that yes, you’re the perfect choice of owner, and all that remains to be arranged is the transporting of the pet to where you live.
But wait – it seems they are a fair distance away from you. So they’ll have to sort out pet transportation, and that’s not going to be cheap. Some cheeky fraudsters have been cashing in on the good name of www.petsanddtravel.co.uk to try and scam honest people out of their money, in an elaborate hoax that tries to part potential pet owners with cash for the costs of transporting the animals from one side of the country to the other. Concerned members of the public have been in contact with petsandtravel.co.uk, to find out whether requests for large sums of money are genuine.
It goes without saying that they are not. Petsandtravel.co.uk has never sold products to the public, and has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the scammers who are purporting to sell or trade pets.
Pet Scam Case Studies
Unbelievably, one potential pet owner was told that the reason he could only pay for his German Shepherd dog, (which was originally in Liverpool but had conveniently just been relocated to Northern Ireland), to be transported was...
“due to the high rate of fraud going on in the UK all their UK based account are under auditing and reconstruction so all their payment are been forwarded to their head quarter Cameroon.”(original grammatical errors included for reference here.)
Naturally, when asked to forward money to a Western union account, most people will be highly suspicious, but the fraudster continued, “you just have to trust me and make a payment of hundred pounds tomorrow.”
Thankfully, this astute consumer saw through the scam, but the side-effect of getting into correspondence with scammers in the first place is that he now gets bombarded with spam emails telling him that he’s won prizes and just has to send cash to be awarded them.
Another excited pet owner was pleased to find that someone had socialised beagles available to be adopted, allegedly because her mother (who lived in the Isle of Man) had recently died and the scammer was unable to take them in. The lady in question chatted over email with the pet scammer and was asked several questions about her own suitability as a pet owner, before being asked to send £200 “to include delivery”. In a later email the £200 was described as simply being the courier fee. The intended victim of the scam smelled a rat when the emails started asking for money for a courier firm called Pets and Travel, and gave the www.petsandtravel.co.uk website. She says,
“ I believe now the whole name, everything was made up. I got suspicious as I felt she went a little too far with her story, plus her grammar sounded foreign. I then went onto the website for Pets and Travel, as I am a natural cynic, to check if it was correct and obviously found it wasn't.”
What to look Out For with Pet Scammers
Consumer Direct advise that there are no pending investigations into this type of activity going on at the moment, and in fact it would be difficult to investigate anyway as the perpetrators of this type of pet scam are clearly based abroad and using fake email addresses. The adverts appear in several websites and have also been reported in USA, Australia and New Zealand and elsewhere.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
Our Advice
Be wary of:
- Sob stories about why the animals are being given away
- Locations that involve a long journey for the pet – especially if they’ve conveniently ‘just moved’.
- Requests to send money for transporting the pet using Western Union (especially to an account in Cameroon)
Sample email:
Here is an example of the email you might receive following an initial enquiry:
"We are very happy to read from you so soon,And i have just attached some of the pics and we are sure you are going to loves and spoil her with love ,cuddle , attention and provide her with all her needs . We need Her to go into a lovely and caring and a forever home. Firstly let me tell you about her .She is called Louisa . She is veterinary checked and vaccinated and have all health records till date and all papers . So we are giving her to a good home and for ever home...
Since you guys are not so close to us, we shall use the Pet Delivery Carrier and they will get the puppy delivered at your home address that you will provide to us. As soon as we have the details, we shall prepare the change of ownership papers before we do the delivery registration with the Carrier . Do get back to us with the details so we can prepare the change of ownership papers and do the delivery registration with the Courier. You will have to pay just £200 and that is directly to the Courier company before delivery as the agency will need the money to process all the delivery documents before transportation of the puppy okay and also send all the relevant papers work via the Courier service."
Seems they all use a similar address...
thanks for writing back and rightly answering my questions. I have
> reattached the pic's, hope you will like them. I forgot to inform you
> in my previous email I am currently relocated 52 Castle Park Rd
> Sandycove, Dublin, A96 DN28, Ireland. I just found out that my
> location may be too far but I can arrange for him to be transported
> and deliver you. To have Dougal transported and delivered over to you
> will cost £760 Including home delivery and is the only fee you will be
> paying. Just wanted to let you know that the more reason why I am
> giving Dougal away is because he is own and taken care of by my sister
> as she has become really ill so he is in my care until we can find a
> suitable home for him. I absolutely love him though but I do however
> work a lot so there's no time to give him the attention he deserves,
> but I am more than willing to keep him if the right home ???? doesn't
> come along.
Good morning Cynthia,
Thank you very much for answering my questions.
She’s a joy of a puppy who likes playing, walks, cuddles, puppy kisses and anything else you would like to do. She is being raised with children who play with her daily.
I am actually rehoming Princess because she was being looked after by my sister Alison who is very ill right now as we speak and she cannot take care of her anymore. I am also very committed to work and I can't take her to work because it is not allowed. I cannot give her the love and attention she deserves, so I thought it wiser to look for a loving home rather than keeping her lonely.
We are actually located in Dalkey Sound, Green Rd,Dalkey, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and I will have to deliver her over to you through a professional pet delivery company. The total for her and delivery will be £700 and she will be delivered directly to your home address so you will not have to go to the airport. So, I am going to do all the shipping and delivery arrangements with the airfreight company and hand over Princess to them to be shipped and delivered to you.
We have a very good pet delivery company here known as Real Time Courier Logistics. We have known them for many years. Real Time Courier Logistics is a very reliable and professional pet delivery company with many years of experience in pet delivery. They have a very good reputation and also professional workers that handle puppy delivery with care and we trust them. Princess will be delivered sound and healthy.
The total cost will be £700 which you will pay to me or to the transport company to arrange delivery with. How soon will you want her to come over?
Waiting to read from you.
Kind regards,
Dean & Cheryl.
I was so tempted until I googled their names.
thanks for writing back and rightly answering my questions. I have
reattached the pic's, hope you will like them. I forgot to inform you
in my previous email I am currently relocated 21 Castle Park Rd,
Sandycove, Dublin, A96 P028, Ireland. I just found out that my
location may be too far but I can arrange for him to be transported
and deliver you. To have Riley transported and delivered over to you
will cost £650 Including home delivery and is the only fee you will be
paying. Just wanted to let you know that the more reason why I am
giving Riley away is because he is own and taken care of by my sister
as she has become really ill so he is in my care until we can find a
suitable home for him. I absolutely love him though but I do however
work a lot so there's no time to give him the attention he deserves,
but I am more than willing to keep him if the right home doesn't come
along.
Kind regards,
Davies & Suzanne
Please be aware of 'sellers' called Lianne Wilson and Dean Cooper. Saw a Maltipoo puppy advertised on Pets4Homes for only £600. We emailed the person on the advertisement (Lianne) to enquire and also ask why the puppy was significantly less than others. I looked at Pets4Homes later that evening and saw that the advert had been removed. The next morning, I got an email from Dean. This was not a reply to my email, and instead looked like an email that is copy and pasted to several people. The email was full of poor English and grammatical errors. Alarm bells did start ring, but I continued, making sure not to provide too much information. Exactly the same as to what I have read on here, they ask you a few questions and then state that we would be perfect. In the second email from Dean Cooper, he then provides more information: his sister is extremely ill and can't look after the dog, he works and doesn't have time and that the puppy is now in Ireland (ADDRESS PROVIDED: Dalkey Sound, Green Rd, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, Ireland). Because of this, they would have to use a courier service to get the puppy to us. They said the one they use is Real Time Courier Logistics. Looked this up and a lot of websites relating to scams appeared in the top search results. To try and get more information to provide to others, I messaged back stating that we were a bit sceptical and that we would not part with any money until the puppy was with us and we knew he was ok. I also stated that searching their courier service brought up lots of websites advising scam. My message was read and I never received a response.
Please be careful - IF SOMETHING IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS.
Same story as other people received - thanks for writing back and rightly answering my questions. I have
reattached the pic's, hope you will like them. I forgot to inform you
in my previous email I am currently relocated 21 Castle Park Rd,
Sandycove, Dublin, A96 P028, Ireland. I just found out that my
location may be too far but I can arrange for him to be transported
and deliver you. To have Hugo transported and delivered over to you
will cost £700 Including home delivery and is the only fee you will be
paying. Just wanted to let you know that the more reason why I am
giving Hugo away is because he is own and taken care of by my sister
as she has become really ill so he is in my care until we can find a
suitable home for him. I absolutely love him though but I do however
work a lot so there's no time to give him the attention he deserves,
but I am more than willing to keep him if the right home doesn't come
along.
Kind regards,
Colin & Linda
How people can do this is beyond me. STAY CLEAR OF THESE PEOPLE
They pulled on our heartstrings about a family pet
So glad I came on here to check as it felt uneasy
We have been conned by Pam and Billy of £600 today.
They asked for £1225 for travel costs due to corona and said it would be refundable.
Any clue how to get the money back??
Thank you
I’ve just had contact from her regarding Rottweiler puppy’s. Saying how they will send the pup via courier as it’s far to travel.
I am really starting to think it is a scam especially after seeing someone else post saying they’re being offered golden retriever pups.. what are the chances that they have two different breeds of pups ready at the same time for two complete strangers that are looking for pups.
I’ve also searched for Pam and billy and have had lots of scam alerts come through on the pair and have allegedly scammed a lot of money from a lot of people.
I have responded to her emails and currently waiting on a response back. We shall see what they have to say regarding all the questions I have asked them about the “courier services” and how payment will work...
They will appear diligent - asking them correct questions that responsible owners will ask, and saying they will be happy to let you see Mum and Dad and meet them.
All of a sudden their accessible location will become Orkney, Isle of Man, etc, places where you are unlikely to be able to get to. They will offer a courier service to get the dog to you, you pay, end of story, if you fall for it you’ll never see your money again - sorry folks.
Easy way to avoid these scams is to always say you’re happy to travel to them, and all of a sudden they will stop replying as they know they’ve not got you on the hook.
Theworst thing is we don't usually do this kinda of stuff and we tell everyone else to be careful, guess we will have to practise what we preach.
PLEASE BECAREFUL PEOPLE
It seems a different man's name is being used but the story ties in.
I'm glad I researched and found this page. Derrick Scot / Scot Derrick will not be getting my hard earned money, thankfully.
£260 for dog courier from Plymouth to Glasgow area.
Smelled a rat immediately.
Be on the look out!
Two ladies emailed me saying they had dogs in Belfast and would ship them over to the UK for £100. Luckily I will not give money until I have viewed a dog and know it fits into my family as I have a little one.
I phone then and said you told me i had nothing else to pay after i payed the 269.00 and the openly agreed and said yes but still demand 195.00 .
I told them no and refund my money as up to now have not recived so im going to involve the police
He said he was arranging delivery of a dog through global pet sitters (couldn’t find them on the internet)
I called him to ask questions and he cut me off.
I am furious and concerned now that I am going to get a call from a courier company demanding money. I haven’t been asked for any money and not given any over thank goodness. Any advice would be grateful. Thanks
They were asking for transport courier fee and registration fee. Thank god I realised it was a scam.
I have the same situation, they advertise themselves as they are in London, then asking me to send email, the person is Norbert Barrow! Apparently they are in Kirkwall and asking for £200 deposit
They sent me an email to send the money through money gram to Cameroon to Donald Wills.
In fact the Dogs and Puppies website advises: "NEVER buy from anyone willing to deliver a dog by courier & report it to our team. Report it to the team".
I was sent photos in the first few emails and all looked lovely. Post has now been removed off sale sight. Should I do anything they have my delivery details address and mob phone?
The page privately Inboxed me and said they need some details from me. I gave them what I could why I would like the pup etc. They take ages to reply and tend to be early ours in the morning for some reason. But they sent me a video of a puppy with a little baby claiming it was the pup and their daughter. Well that sent my curiosity flying when I knew I had seen the video before, which I had and it turned out to be an American family with their daughter playing with a puppy which was uploaded to YouTube in 2013. They claimed the puppy was only 12 weeks old and they are based in London which I am from Merseyside so they suggested a pet delivery service for me to use. They also used a sob story how their father passed away and they couldn't keep the animals so they was putting them up for adoption. They have my telephone numbers mobile and home but not my address can they get anything from having these? Hope someone can help.
Also got a sob stor that her husband is ill and moving to smaller house
Have a bad feeling coz it seemed to gud to be ture
I asked her who would be the pet courier and she blocked me and removed all comments lucky escape
I've just seen the comment below and this is happening to me now! She is selling a French bull dog and said she wants 300 pounds just for him to to a good home said she is is Dublin and name is Amanda she sent me 19 pictures Whitch did look real! But now I've just read this in worried!
She said the puppy would be put on a plane and delivered to my door and I have to pay a transportation fee of 300 pounds and that's all I'll pay! She has said what food he eats etc And she won't give me a phone number.
I'm concerned this is a scam as really wanted that puppy for my daughter for Xmas!
I did worry it was a scam but got drawn into the story of how lovely the puppy was and Amanda wanting to know all about my home to make sure the puppy would be safe
the transport was arranged very quickly with vet checks supposedly being done which is what further concerned me but when I tried to research the courier there was no such company and they were asking the money to be sent to a woman again the company headquarters was Cameroon
luckily I didn't send the money but please be careful they make it sound so plausible
If anyone does read this do not fall for it as I'm not the first...
Thankfully will have read this prior to parting with any cash.
We are currently waiting for a reply. I have already given her my address, but not my money
Isle of man , Norwiegen forest cats.
Lucky I was suspicious & looked deeper.
Thank you for being out there .
and looks like somebody was trying to scam me !
Both send me locations from Scotland , both ask for travel money in front for puppy travel to my address , etc !
The names are Michael Faulder and Cody Brian ! Personaly I don't think that those names are real , maybe they can use other names for other scams !
So , just very carefully when try to buy pets on line !
Merry Christmas to all good people !
Feel really stupid for falling for it but live and learn
She advertised on FB
** and conveniently site is down
Im totally embarressed but so glad i went with my gut instinct to look into this and found this page
Hello Dear,
We are very happy to read again from you so soon. we are sure you are going to loves and spoil him with love ,cuddle , attention and provide him with all his needs. We need this kitten to go into a lovely and caring and a forever home. firstly let me tell you about him, He is veterinary checked and vaccinated and have all health records till date and all papers. So we are giving him to a good home and for ever home. he is very sensitive and possesses the following qualities:
-he eat 2 times daily .
-he is socialized with kids and other house hold pets
-he is a portable baby.
-he is to be carried a lot and be spoiled.
-he loves to be kissed .
-he gets angry when you shout at him, so don't do that.
he will be coming with all details of vaccination , de-wormed and microchip. Since we have made up our mine to let this baby into your home, since you have promise us that the kitten will be well look after and you guys will keep us up dated with monthly pictures so we can know how the kitten is doing with you .Since you guys are not so close to us , we shall use the Pet Delivery Carrier and they will get the kitten delivered at your home address that you will provide to us. Also we shall require all your details to do the change of ownership papers and arrange for the delivery as well, and the details are as follow
Your Names...........................
Home Address........................
Zip code...............................
City/state......................
Land Line............................
Mobile Line...........................
As soon as we have the details, we shall prepare the change of ownership papers before we do the delivery registration with the Carrier. Do get back to us with the details so we can prepare the change of ownership papers and do the delivery registration with the Carrier. please get back to us with that and also note that it will cost you a total of $500 for the kitten including the delivery and re homing fee and you will be making the payment directly and upfront to the delivery agency,After which the will get back to with the tracking number for you to check the every status of the kitten while on transit to your home So please if that is okay with you just get back to me so that first tomorrow morning,I will go get the kitten register for your home delivery before i go for work.
Best Regard.
I am so sorry for everything you went through, the disillusions and the money you lost. I understand it all happened a while ago now and I am sorry to bring it back but I am working for a TV productions company which is currently making a documentary on cyber crime, one of the topics being pet scams. We would love to share your story as awareness needs to be raised. Please let me know in responding to this comment, thank you!
What started my suspicions were they were advertising Bournemouth, as my partner has family there, we were going to visit and pick up a pup. However the pets are now in Isle of Man.
I cancelled order etc, to my disbelief still had emails this this morning saying registration done and courier email telling me where in my area I can go to make payment to Western in Cameroon. Instantly I realised SCAM. So glad I didn't part with bank details or money. Thankyou for this site to make me aware.
Appart from us going through all this scams, does any one still have an idea where we can get these pets, or is it just an illusion?
Spent this week with 2 different scamers , both offering African Grey Parrots,one guy had Parkinson's and had to move to Darwin $600 only for transport .One woman's husband had a accident so they moved and had to get a home for the parrots $600 for pet transport , thank god for these reports . Here I am ready to pay and soooo exited to be getting a parrot ,lucky me I decided to find info on pet transport and found this disappointed but they didn't get a cent !!!
I've just heard back from one 'a lady' from the Isle of Man who says I can have both of her kittens for the price of a courier £350.
Is this a scam?? She doesn't want anything for the kittens, that raised alarm bells.
I was told the pups were in Kirkwall Scotland (you couldnt get much further away) and would cost me £200 and the pup would be sent by courier included in the cost.
This struck me as odd and I questioned if the pup would be ok on such a long distance journey I was assured it would be.
They wanted my details to arrange tranfer of papers and to arrange delivery I did not give these luckily.
This type of thing shouldnt be allowed I am just glad I sussed it before setting my heart on a puppy that probablydoesnt exist.
My daughter was very upset and disappointed
I found an advert for French Bulldogs in my area, I emailed the seller and he said that they wanted a forever home for there babies. They are in the Isle of Man as his wife is waiting for a kidney transplant. They asked all sorts of questions and sent me photos of 2 pups and a pic of themselves.
He wanted me to phone him so that he could explain all that would happen, I declined the offer of a phone call. Then I had a sob story that his wife had been given the pups by her parents and they couldn't look after them. Being a French Bulldog owner already I couldn't believe how anyone could give them away for nothing.
Also found the same photos of pups and the advert said that they had both the parents with them, so yet again I emailed on a different account and he returned with Rogue de Bordeaux photos but the same people.
This scam thing has gone way out of control, if you are seriously looking for a pet, it is bloody hard work.
I used to be an advice worker, and there is a saying 'If it seems to good to be true, it's because it is'. Now I had fun emailing them this morning as I was bored.
Please Never Ever buy a puppy without seeing it, playing with it, cuddling it etc. Or from people like this or Puppy Farmers. if they breed various types of dogs constantly, run for the hills!!!! And use your head and not your heart
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