This past Friday, a friend of mine was excited as she found an ad online offering two adorable Yorkies. The individual Jessica Ryan (ryan.jessica02@gmail.com), claimed the dogs were in Wyoming with her, however, they originally belonged to her cousin who had recently passed, and she could not take care of them long-term. Jessica emailed three photos, one of which a girl was posing with the dogs, so it seemed to be legitimate. Because she was leaving for Maine on Sunday to attend the funeral and spend two weeks there, she had to find a new owner for the 12-week old puppies asap. Jessica did not ask for money only reassurance that my friend would be loving towards Tina (f) and Kesy (m), the pups. According to Jessica, the puppies would come with all of the puppy necessities, e.g. crates, vet records, and so forth. After multiple emails, my friend was determined to have the puppies shipped. Jessica forwarded her to Relocation Pet Courier (http://relocationalpetcourier.yolasite.com/), reassuring my friend that she had used them beforehand. Per Jessica, the cost would be about $300. The courier forwarded my friend the information on where the pickup would take place and the final cost of $440. They then requested she send the total amount via Western Union.
Informing me of the transaction, I obviously became suspicious and had my friend forward me the emails before sending any money. The website, http://relocationalpetcourier.yolasite.com/, which is of course no longer active, was actually under investigation, noted in the area where the Terms & Conditions would have been. Yolasite, also informed potential customers that if they are entering into a transaction with said company, it was probably "fraudulent". As for "Miss Ryan", upon doing further research, the ad in which she posted was taken down. Furthermore, I wasn't able to find anything else linked to her Gmail account, however, I did find a story quite similar to my friend's experience. Typically the website informed people that the scammers would provide a sad story of their "loved one dying" and they could not care for the pets, needing someone to take ownership as soon as possible. Of course, there's no payment, just for you to pay the shipping cost.
Anyhow, here's additional information found within the email:
INTERNATIONAL PET AND ANIMAL DELIVERY AGENCY
8500 AIRPORT PKWY CASPER,WY,82604 - UNITED STATES
Phone numbers: (307)392-4219, (+237)97913939
"These dogs are registered here with the number 48541M, They came with all their necessary papers needed including the microchip Identification with the microchip number ISO 10586 recorded on the Immunization certificates."
Email: relocation_pets.courier@live.com
Informing my friend she wasn't too happy as she was excited to have these dogs. Still thinking Miss Ryan was legit, I instructed my friend to email Jessica directly copying the link regarding the fraudulent activity notice, as well as a suggestion of a legit courier, AND to speak with her on the phone. My friend has informed me that Jessica provided a plethora of excuses that her phone was inactive and the website was taken down for upgrading. After several emails that she was not lying, my friend told Jessica to no longer contact her. "Miss Ryan" has not contacted my friend since.
Informing me of the transaction, I obviously became suspicious and had my friend forward me the emails before sending any money. The website, http://relocationalpetcourier.yolasite.com/, which is of course no longer active, was actually under investigation, noted in the area where the Terms & Conditions would have been. Yolasite, also informed potential customers that if they are entering into a transaction with said company, it was probably "fraudulent". As for "Miss Ryan", upon doing further research, the ad in which she posted was taken down. Furthermore, I wasn't able to find anything else linked to her Gmail account, however, I did find a story quite similar to my friend's experience. Typically the website informed people that the scammers would provide a sad story of their "loved one dying" and they could not care for the pets, needing someone to take ownership as soon as possible. Of course, there's no payment, just for you to pay the shipping cost.
Anyhow, here's additional information found within the email:
INTERNATIONAL PET AND ANIMAL DELIVERY AGENCY
8500 AIRPORT PKWY CASPER,WY,82604 - UNITED STATES
Phone numbers: (307)392-4219, (+237)97913939
"These dogs are registered here with the number 48541M, They came with all their necessary papers needed including the microchip Identification with the microchip number ISO 10586 recorded on the Immunization certificates."
Email: relocation_pets.courier@live.com
Informing my friend she wasn't too happy as she was excited to have these dogs. Still thinking Miss Ryan was legit, I instructed my friend to email Jessica directly copying the link regarding the fraudulent activity notice, as well as a suggestion of a legit courier, AND to speak with her on the phone. My friend has informed me that Jessica provided a plethora of excuses that her phone was inactive and the website was taken down for upgrading. After several emails that she was not lying, my friend told Jessica to no longer contact her. "Miss Ryan" has not contacted my friend since.