"where are my puppies?" .. knowledge is power

yesterday's calls regarding "where are my puppies?" were numerous. "I wired the money as instructed (yes, to a total stranger in another country) and we are waiting for our puppies (two Chihuahua's) .. and .. they want me to wire more money for "insurance", the puppies are in Ireland, and we're in Alabama"

yes... the Alabama family were another victim of imposters who copy and paste various parts of Air Animal's website (and, other companies as well) to make it look "real" to you as the unsuspecting buyer of "two puppies".

For the record, Air Animal, Inc. (Air Animal Pet Movers) is the Tampa, Florida based pet moving service for relocating families. We do not move pets where there is a buyer or a seller; and we have only one office.

Anyone posing as a representative of Air Animal with a web site similar to ours is an imposter, and .. If you would share the website of your original contact with us, we will shut down the false website, so that others will not be mislead.

Wiring money to a total stranger in another country on the false promise of you receing puppies, kittens, monkeys, etc is risk many have chosen to take; and heartaches are the only thing you will obtain.

Capuchin Monkeys - the latest pet scam

... we thought we had pretty well covered the Cameroon scammers; yet they are creative and adaptive as well. An Indiana family wanting to purchase a Capuchin monkey took the bait from the scammers in Cameroon, and were asked to wire "additional funds" so that the four month old Capuchin monkey could be released from a "hold" in Seattle, Washington. The scam victim was told they would have to wire the money from Wal-Mart .. using a Wal-Mart Moneygram. So... if you go to Wal-Mart to use their MoneyGram method of payment, be sure to ask the clerk at Wal-Mart the following question ... "Where is this money being wired to" .. and .. "once I wire the money; and should I change my mind; can I get a refund from Wal-Mart if the deal doesn't go through?"

... the other scenario to look at is the following one ... contact both your local and state wildlife organizations to determine if it is legal to keep a monkey as a pet in your home. You will find there are permits to be obtained; both for import purposes and for keeping the monkey as a pet in your residence.

..... we post these Cameroon scams to better inform potential pet owners of the hazards of buying sight unseen live animals; especially from those overseas who want to take your money, and then disappear with the funds. Do not rely upon photographs to warrant your purchase. And, always ask for at minimum three (3) references from satisfied customers before you start sending money to alleged overseas "offices".

Scammers use "insurance" as additional "hook" -- you are about to be stung

a scammed and angry pet owner to be in the UK shared with us the e mail from the alleged "Air Animal office in Laounde, Cameroon" ... a hoax of course ... that if the buyer in the UK did not immediately wire USD$1200.00 to Cameroon, then the two puppies ordered would be destroyed immediately by the French authorities, who had held up the shipment in Paris, pending proof of insurance. The demand for payment was based upon an alleged requirement of the Council of Europe "requiring all pets to be insured whilst in transit" .. another of the many hoaxes used by the Cameroon scammers to promise you two beautiful puppies based upon web site photos; and by the way, nothing else ... in separting you from your hard earned money.

... the moral of the story .. "if it sounds too good to be true; then it is too good to be true"

... caveat emptor ... buyer beware.