Nigerian Puppy Scam

In 2006 online thieves scammed approximately $199 mln out of the pockets of unsuspecting web surfers worldwide, according to a report from the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

In 2006 online thieves scammed approximately $199 mln out of the pockets of unsuspecting web surfers worldwide, according to a report from the Internet Crime Complaint Center. The center, which is a joint venture between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center, provides victims with the ability to report and give information on scams. The center tracks information provided by victims and, when possible, passes the relevant information on to state, federal and international law enforcement agencies.

In 2006 the owners of Puppyfind.com, a popular online marketplace for dogs of all breeds, came under fire because scammers were posting ads on the site. The site was forced to block users with overseas e-mail addresses and partnered with an escrow service to try and eliminate illegitimate ads.

A lot of Web sites, like TerrificPets.com, are tracking and identifying puppy scammers who have advertised on their site. The forum has 24 pages listing scammers who have been caught on the site. The forum offers three ways to identify a scammer.

- The scammer doesn't care about the pet, just the transaction

- Ninety-five percent of scammers are from overseas countries such as Nigeria, South Africa and Cameroon

- The scammer states he will find a shipper

Source: Nairobi News