We get emails all the time of people that have been unfortunately taken advantage of by a scam. Yes I do feel sorry for them, but I also don't. It is their job also to do their homework, in order to know if something is right, before they put out money.
After our first bulldog, Molly died, we were on a search for a new baby. We made many calls and emails. One of the first emails I did, was an email to a lady in TX, so I thought. This lady was a liason for a person in Africa. That was my first indication. There WAS NO PHONE NUMBER. (EDITED: They are recently able to find ways to use local numbers within the USA!!! So beware)
He gave me this sob story of how he was there, was a vet, owned these bulldogs that he couldn't take care of. I was suspicious from the beginning. Then I heard a story on our local television about people that were at the airport waiting for bulldog puppies, that never came, AND THEY GAVE THE SAME STORY THAT I WAS TOLD IN THE EMAIL.
It makes me sick everytime I look online at different websites and even our local AJC when I see SO MANY scams, and they are. They are flooded with them. Here are some ways that you and your family are not taken advantage of:
1. There is NO SUCH THING AS A $500 (or $800) English Bulldog. When you see an ad that advertises $500 for a pup and then it says "for adoption", 99.99% if not 100% of the time it is a scam!
**note here** Bulldogs are not only VERY difficult to breed but difficult to raise. The out of pocket for breeders can be very expensive, in the THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS and that is before we sell one puppy. They can also have a high mortality rate, so there is no such thing as a "cheap bulldog". Also, if you are looking for a "free" or "cheap" English bulldog, I need to mention something. They are an expensive breed to raise. If you don't have the money to put up front for the breed, then you don't have the money nor do you have any business raising and owning an English Bulldog!
2. 100% of the time they will either use no phone number or a fake one. If you cannot physically talk to someone, then there is a problem!!!
3. Alot of the times the scammers will use yahoo or gmail for their email accounts.
4. If you see multiple ads for the same puppy with different emails, then it is a scam
5. If they mention Western Union or AFRICA or NIGERIA in their emails, 150% of the time IT IS A SCAM!
6. Alot of the times you look at the picture, and there is only one picture, usually a very blurry and pixled picture of this so called $500 (or even $800) for adoption puppy, it is because THEY STOLE IT FROM SOMEONE ELSE!
7. If they advertise an English Bulldog FOR FREE or For Adoption, It is a SCAM!
8. When you call someone, or ask someone regarding a pup, ask them to take a RECENT (within 24 hours) picture of the pup, with a piece of paper in the picture with YOUR NAME ON IT or something specific like a crushed can!
9. Ask for a vets name and phone number! A reputable breeder won't have any problems giving that out!
10. If they text, call or email you at odd times of night, beware. I was recently contacted by a Nigerian scammer that used a SC number and was texting me at 4 am!
11. Ask for multiple photos of the puppy FROM BIRTH, including photos of the PARENTS!
Please be careful during these difficult and hard times, not to be taken a apart of this scam!
