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CANADA MILITARY NEWS: Catching f**king scammers - b4 u call back a strange number or answer the call- GET THE FACTS FIRST.... pls... aged and disabled deserve better - as do we all, especially our kids /GOVERNMENT OF CANADA LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF SCAMS... just for ya all/plus a bitohelp from New Zealand/







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The Little Black Book of Scams

Advertisement Material
November 1, 2013
(PDF; 1.73 MB; 30 Pages)









The Canadian Edition
The Little Black Book of Scams
Your guide to protection against fraud
First published by the Competition Bureau Canada 2012
Reproduced with permission from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
Illustrations by Pat Campbell
For information on the Competition Bureau’s activities or to obtain alternate formats, such as regular print, Braille or another appropriate format please contact:
Information Centre — Competition Bureau
50 Victoria Street, Gatineau, QC K1A 0C9
Tel.819-997-4282
Toll free: 1-800-348-5358
TTY (for hearing impaired): 1-800-642-3844
Fax: 819-997-0324
Website: www.competitionbureau.gc.ca

Permission to reproduce

Except as otherwise specifically noted, the information in this publication may be reproduced, in part or in whole and by any means, without charge or further permission from the Competition Bureau provided due diligence is exercised in ensuring the accuracy of the information reproduced; that the Competition Bureau is identified as the source institution; and that the reproduction is not represented as an official version of the information reproduced, nor as having been made in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Competition Bureau. For permission to reproduce the information in this publication for commercial purposes, please contact the:
Web Services Centre

Industry Canada
C.D. Howe Building
235 Queen Street
Ottawa, ON Canada
K1A 0H5
Email: info@ic.gc.ca
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Industry.
This publication is available online at www.competitionbureau.gc.ca.
Aussi offert en français sous le titre Le petit livre noir de la fraude.

Foreword

Minister of Industry

James Moore - Minister of IndustryEach year too many Canadians feel the devastating impacts of fraud. Criminals target and exploit Canadians of all ages and from all walks life through false or misleading advertising, lottery scams, pyramid schemes and countless other illegal activities. That is why it is essential to be vigilant in recognizing the signs of a scam and report it to authorities immediately. Canadians can help fight fraud and protect themselves by learning about what scams and fraudulent activities look like.
The Canadian edition of The Little Black Book of Scams is a reference guide with information Canadians can use to personally protect themselves. It offers information on how a variety of common scams work and how to recognize them, as well as practical tips on how consumers and businesses can protect themselves.
The Government of Canada through the Competition Bureau and other agencies is taking action to vigorously enforce the laws that fight fraud. I encourage you to read this booklet and to share it with your family and friends.
James Moore
Minister of Industry

Commissioner of Competition

John Pecman - Commissioner of CompetitionThe Competition Bureau, under the provisions of the Competition Act and other laws, pursues businesses and individuals who carry out deceptive marketing practices, such as false representations via telemarketing, fake lotteries, or Internet or mobile phone scams.
The Canadian edition of The Little Black Book of Scams aims to increase your awareness of the many types of fraud that target Canadians and offers some easy steps you can take to protect yourself and avoid falling victim to fraud.
Since it was first published in March 2012, the booklet has been very popular from the start, being offered in print and online. As of July 2013, the Bureau had distributed over 14,000 printed copies and the document had been downloaded over 30,000 times. The online version now has better accessibility and had been visited over 80,000 times.
This booklet debunks common myths about scams, provides helpful tips, questions to ask yourself, and many contact information for reporting a scam to the correct authority,
I am grateful to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, who originally developed The Little Black Book of Scams and granted the Bureau permission to produce a Canadian edition.
John Pecman
Commissioner of Competition









Myth Busters

Busting these common myths will minimize your chances of being scammed.
  • All companies, businesses and organizations are legitimate because they are licensed and monitored by the government: This is not always true. While there are rules about setting up and running a business or a company in Canada, scammers can easily pretend to have approval when they don't. Even businesses that are licensed could still try to scam you by acting dishonestly.
  • All Internet websites are legitimate: This is not always true. Websites are quite easy and cheap to set up. The scammers can easily copy a genuine website and trick you into believing it is legitimate.
  • There are short cuts to wealth that only a few people know: This is not always true. Ask yourself the question: if someone knew a secret to instant wealth, why would they be telling their secret to others?
  • Scams involve large amounts of money: This is not always true. Sometimes scammers target a large number of people and try to get a small amount of money from each person.
  • Scams are always about money: This is not always true. Some scams are aimed at stealing personal information from you.

Golden Rules

Remember these golden rules to help you beat the scammers.
  • Always get independent advice if an offer involves money, personal information, time or commitment.
  • There are no guaranteed get-rich-quick schemes—sometimes the only people who make money are the scammers.
  • Do not agree to offers or deals right away. If you think you have spotted a great opportunity, insist on time to get independent advice before making a decision.
  • Do not hand over money or personal information, or sign anything until you have done your homework and checked the credentials of the company that you are dealing with.
  • Do not rely on glowing testimonials: find solid evidence of a company's success.
  • Log directly on to a website that you are interested in rather than clicking on links provided in an email.
  • Never send money, or give credit card or online account details to anyone you do not know and trust.
  • If you spot a scam or have been scammed, get help. Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, the Competition Bureau or your local police for assistance.
Scammers are imaginative and manipulative. They know how to push your buttons to produce the response they want.

Introduction


Every year, Canadians lose millions of dollars to the activities of scammers who bombard us with online, mail, door-to-door and telephone scams.
We are pleased to bring you the first Canadian edition of The Little Black Book of Scams. We hope this book will increase your awareness of the vast array of scams that target Canadians and share with you some easy steps you can take to protect yourself.

Scammers do Not Discriminate

Scammers target people of all backgrounds, ages and income levels. Fake lotteries, Internet frauds, get-rich-quick schemes and miracle health cures are some of the favoured means of separating the unwary from their money. New varieties of these scams appear all the time.
The Competition Bureau has seen the devastating effects scams can have on people and their families. One of the best ways to combat this kind of fraud is to take measures to prevent yourself from being caught in the first place.

Protect Yourself

If you want to stay on top of scams, inform yourself on how to recognize the various types of scams and protect your personal information by visiting law enforcement organizations' websites, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or other reputable organizations.

Lotteries, Sweepstakes and Contests


Many Canadians are lured by the excitement of a surprise win and find themselves sending huge amounts of money to claim fake prizes.

What to Look For

You cannot win money or a prize in a lottery unless you have entered it yourself, or someone else has entered it on your behalf. You cannot be chosen as a random winner if you don't have an entry.
Many lottery scams try to trick you into providing your banking and personal details to claim your prize. You should not have to pay any fee or tax to claim a legitimate prize.
Don't be fooled by claims that the offer is legal or has government approval—many scammers will tell you this. Instead of receiving a grand prize or fortune, you will lose every cent that you send to a scammer. And if you have provided other personal details, your identity could be misused too.
A fake prize scam will tell you that you have won a prize or a contest. You may receive a phone call, an email, a text message or see a pop-up screen on your computer. There are often costs involved with claiming your prize, and even if you do receive a prize, it may not be what was promised to you.
The scammers make their money by making you pay fees or taxes, call their premium rate phone numbers or send premium text messages to claim your prize. These premium rate calls can be very expensive, and the scammers will try to keep you on the line for a long time or ask you to call a different premium rate number.
!
Protect Yourself
Remember
Legitimate lotteries do not require you to pay a fee or tax to collect winnings.
Caution
Never send money to anybody you don't know and trust.
Think
Don't provide personal banking details to anyone that you do not know and trust.
Investigate
Examine all of the terms and conditions of any offer very carefully—claims of free or very cheap offers often have hidden costs. Calls to premium rate phone numbers or premium text messages can be very expensive.
Ask Yourself
Did I enter this contest? You cannot win money or a prize in a contest unless you have entered it yourself, or someone else has entered it on your behalf.









Pyramid Schemes


Pyramid schemes promise a large financial return for a relatively small cost. Pyramid schemes are illegal and very riskyand can cost you a lot of money.

What to Look For

In a typical pyramid scheme, unsuspecting investors are encouraged to pay large membership fees to participate in moneymaking ventures. The only way for you to ever recover any money is to convince other people to join and to part with their money as well. People are often persuaded to join by family members or friends. But there is no guarantee that you will recoup your initial investment.
Although pyramid schemes are often cleverly disguised, they make money by recruiting people rather than by selling a legitimate product or providing a service. Pyramid schemes inevitably collapse and you will lose your money. In Canada, it is a crime to promote a pyramid scheme or even to participate in one.
Ponzi schemes are fraudulent investment operations that work in a similar way to pyramid schemes. The Ponzi scheme usually entices new and well-to-do investors by offering higher returns than other investments in the form of short-term returns that are either abnormally high or unusually consistent. The schemer usually interacts with all the investors directly, often persuading most of the existing participants to reinvest their money, thereby minimizing the need to bring in new participants as a pyramid scheme will do.
Be cautious, but do not be discouraged from carefully researching business opportunities based on commissions. There are many legitimate multi-level marketing opportunities where you can legally earn an income from selling genuine products or services.
!
Protect Yourself
Remember
Pyramid and Ponzi schemes may be sent to you from family members and people you trust—they might not know that they could be illegal or that they are involved in a scam.
Caution
Never commit to anything at high-pressure meetings or seminars.
Think
Don't make any decisions without doing your homework—research the offer being made and seek independent advice before making a decision.
Investigate
Do some research on all business opportunities that interest you.
Ask yourself
If I am not selling a genuine product or service, is participation in this activity legal?

Money Transfer Requests


Money transfer scams are on the rise. Be very careful when someone offers you money to help transfer their funds. Once you send money to someone, it can be very difficult, if not impossible, to get it back.

What to Look For

The Nigerian scam (also called the 419 fraud) has been on the rise since the early-to-mid 1990s in Canada. Although many of these sorts of scams originated in Nigeria, similar scams have been started all over the world (particularly in other parts of West Africa and in Asia). These scams are increasingly referred to as "advance fee fraud".
In the classic Nigerian scam, you receive an email or letter from a scammer asking your help to transfer a large amount of money overseas. You are then offered a share of the money if you agree to give them your bank account details to help with the transfer. They will then ask you to pay all kinds of taxes and fees before you can receive your "reward". You will never be sent any of the money, and will lose the fees you paid.
Then there is the scam email that claims to be from a lawyer or bank representative advising that a long-lost relative of yours has died and left you a huge inheritance. Scammers can tell such genuine sounding stories that you could be tricked into providing personal documents and bank account details so that you can confirm their identity and claim your inheritance. The "inheritance" is likely to be non-existent and, as well as losing any money you might have paid to the scammer in fees and taxes, you could also risk having your identity stolen.
If you or your business is selling products or services online or through newspaper classifieds, you may be targeted by an overpayment scam. In response to your advertisement, you might receive a generous offer from a potential buyer and accept it. You receive payment by cheque or money order, but the amount you receive is more than the agreed price. The buyer may tell you that the overpayment was simply a mistake or they may invent an excuse, such as extra money to cover delivery charges. If you are asked to refund the excess amount by money transfer, be suspicious. The scammer is hoping that you will transfer the refund before you discover that their cheque or money order was counterfeit. You will lose the transferred money as well as the item if you have already sent it.
!
Protect Yourself
Remember
If you have been approached by someone asking you to transfer money for them, it is probably a scam.
Caution
Never send money, or give credit card or online account details to anyone you do not know and trust.
Think
Don't accept a cheque or money order for payment for goods that is more than what you agreed upon. Send it back and ask the buyer to send you payment for the agreed amount before you deliver the goods or services.
Investigate
Examine the information on the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website for information on how to protect yourself against money transfer scams.
Ask yourself
Is it really safe to transfer money for someone I do not know?

Internet Scams


A lot of Internet scams take place without the victim even noticing. You can greatly reduce the chances of being scammed on the Internet if you follow some simple precautions.

What to Look For

Scammers can use the Internet to promote fraud through unsolicited or junk emails, known as spam. Even if they only get a handful of replies from the millions of emails they send out, it is still worth their while. Be wary of replying, even just to "unsubscribe", because that will give a scammer confirmation that they have reached a real email address.
Any email you receive that comes from a sender you do not know, is not specifically addressed to you, and promises you some benefit is likely to be spam.
Malicious softwarealso referred to as malware, spyware, key loggers, trojan horses, or trojans—poses online security threats. Scammers try to install this software on your computer so that they can gain access to files stored on your computer and other personal details and passwords.
Scammers use a wide range of tricks to get their software onto your computer. They may trick you into clicking on a link or pop-up message in a spam email or by getting you to visit a fake website set up solely to infect people's computers.
Phishing scams are all about tricking you into handing over your personal and banking details to scammers. The emails you receive might look and sound legitimate but in reality genuine organizations like a bank or a government authority will never expect you to send your personal information by an email or online.
Scammers can easily copy the logo or even the entire website of a genuine organization. So don't just assume an email you receive is legitimate. If the email is asking you to visit a website to "update", "validate" or "confirm" your account information, be sceptical.
Delete phishing emails. They can carry viruses that can infect your computer. Do not open any attachments or follow any links in phishing emails.
Online auctions and Internet shopping can be a lot of fun and can also help you find good deals. Unfortunately, they also attract scammers.
Scammers will often try to get you to deal outside of online auction sites. They may claim the winner of an auction that you were bidding on has pulled out and offer the item to you. Once you have paid, you will never hear from them again and the auction site will not be able to help you.
!
Protect Yourself
Remember
If you choose to shop online or participate in online auctions, make sure you know about refund policies and dispute-handling processes and be careful that you are not overcharged. Also, you may want to use an escrow service, such as PayPal. This service will hold your payment and only release it to the seller once you have confirmed that you received what you paid for. There is usually a small fee for this service. A legitimate bank or financial institution will never ask you to click on a link in an email or send your account details through an email or website.
Caution
Never buy from bidders with poor ratings on auction sites, and do your best to ensure that you are only making purchases from genuine shopping sites. Never provide your personal, credit card or account information unless you are certain the site is genuine.
Think
Don't reply to spam emails, even to unsubscribe, and do not click on any links or call any telephone number listed in a spam email. Make sure you have current protective software or get advice from a computer specialist.
Investigate
If an email or pop-up offers you a product or service that genuinely interests you and it seems reasonable, be sure that you understand all the terms and conditions and costs involved before making a purchase or providing your details.
Ask yourself
By opening this suspect email, will I risk the security of my computer? Are the contact details provided in the email correct? Telephone your bank or financial institution to ask whether the email you received is genuine.

Mobile Phone Scams


Mobile phone scams can be difficult to recognize. Be wary of somebody who talks as if they know you or of redialling a missed call from an unknown numberthere may be hidden charges.

What to Look For

Ringtone scams might attract you with an offer of a free or low-cost ringtone. What you may not realize is that by accepting the offer, you may actually be subscribing to a service that will keep sending you ringtonesand charging you a premium rate for them. There are many legitimate companies selling ringtones, but there are also scammers who will try to hide the true cost of taking up the offer.
Scammers either don't tell you that your request for the first ringtone is actually a subscription to a ringtone service, or it may be obscured in fine print related to the offer. They also make it difficult for you to stop the service. You have to actively "opt out" of the service to stop the ringtones and the associated charges.
Missed call scams start by scammers calling your phone and hanging up so quickly that you can't answer the call in time. Your phone registers a missed call and you probably won't recognize the number. You may be tempted to call the number to find out who called you. If it is a scam, you will be paying premium rates for the call without knowing.
Text message scams work in a similar way, but through a Short Message Service (SMS). Scammers send you a text message from a number you may not recognize, but it sounds like it is from a friend—for instance, "Hi, it's John. I'm back! When are you free to catch up?" If you reply out of curiosity, you might be charged at premium rate for SMS messages (sometimes as much as $4 for each message sent and/or received).
An SMS contest or SMS trivia scam usually arrives as a text message or in an advertisement and encourages you to take part in a trivia contest for a great prize. All you need to do is answer a certain number of questions correctly. The scammers make money by charging extremely high rates for the messages you send and any further messages they send to you. With trivia scams, the first set of questions will be very easy. This is meant to encourage you to keep playing. However, the last one or two questions that you need to answer to claim your "prize" could be very difficult or impossible to answer correctly.
!
Protect Yourself
Remember
Text "STOP" to end unwanted text messages or to end unwanted subscriptions.
Caution
Never reply to text messages offering you free ringtones or missed calls from numbers that you do not recognize.
Think
Don't call or text phone numbers beginning with 1-900 unless you are aware of the cost involved, and carefully read any terms and conditions when texting short codes.
Investigate
Read all the terms and conditions of an offer very carefully. Services offering free or very cheap products often have hidden costs.
Ask yourself
Do I know how to stop any subscription service I want to sign up to?









Health and Medical Scams


Medical scams prey on human suffering. They offer solutions where none exist or promise to simplify complex health treatments.

What to Look For

Miracle cure scams offer a range of products and services that can appear to be legitimate alternative medicines, usually promising quick and effective remedies for serious medical conditions. The treatments claim to be effective against a very wide range of ailments and are often promoted using testimonials from people who have used the product or service and have been "cured".
Weight loss scams promise dramatic weight loss with little or no effort. This type of scam may involve an unusual or restrictive diet, revolutionary exercise or "fat-busting" devices, or breakthrough products such as pills, patches or creams. The products are promoted with the use of false claims such as "lose 10 kilos in 10 days " or " lose weight while you sleep", and often require large advance payments or that you enter into a long-term contract to participate in the program.
Fake online pharmacies use the Internet and spam emails to offer drugs and medicine at very cheap prices and/or without the need for a prescription from a doctor. If you use such a service and you actually do receive the products in response to your order, there is no guarantee that they are the real thing.
There are legitimate online pharmacies. These businesses will have their full contact details listed on their website and will also require a valid prescription before they send out any medicine that requires one.
!
Protect Yourself
Remember
There are no magic pills, miracle cures or safe options for serious medical conditions or rapid weight loss.
Caution
Never commit to anything under pressure.
Think
Don't trust an unsubstantiated claim about medicines, supplements or other treatments. Consult your healthcare professional.
Investigate
Check for published medical and research papers to verify the accuracy of the claims made by the promoters.
Ask yourself
If this really is a miracle cure, wouldn't my healthcare professional have told me about it?

Emergency Scams


Emergency scams target grandparents and play upon their emotions to rob them of their money.

What to Look For

In the typical scenario of an emergency scam, a grandparent receives a phone call from a scammer claiming to be one of his or her grandchildren. Callers go on to say that they are in some kind of trouble and need money immediately. They claim to have been in a car accident, are having trouble returning from a foreign country or they need bail money.
You may get a call from two people, one pretending to be your grandchild and the other pretending to be either a police officer or a lawyer. Your "grandchild" asks you questions during the call, getting you to volunteer personal information.
Callers say that they don't want other family members to find out what has happened. You will be asked to wire some money through a money transfer company. Often, victims don't verify the story until after the money has been sent.
In some cases, scammers pretend to be your old neighbour or a friend of the family, but for the most part, the emergency scam is directed at grandparents.
!
Protect Yourself
Remember
Scammers are counting on the fact that you will want to act quickly to help your loved ones in an emergency.
Caution
Never send money to anyone you don't know and trust. Verify the person's identity before you take any steps to help.
Think
Don't give out any personal information to the caller.
Investigate
Ask the person questions that only your loved one would be able to answer. Call the child's parents or friends to verify the story.
Ask yourself
Does the caller's story make sense?

Dating and Romance Scams


Despite the many legitimate dating websites operating in Canada, there are many dating and romance scams as well. Dating and romance scams try to lower your defences by appealing to your romantic and compassionate side.

What to Look For

Some dating and romance scams work by setting up a dating website where you pay for each email or message you send and receive. The scammer will try to hook you in by continuing to send you vague-sounding emails filled with talk of love or desire. The scammer might also send emails filled with details of their home country or town that do not refer to you much at all. These are attempts to keep you writing back and paying money for use of the scammer's dating website.
Even on a legitimate dating site, you might be approached by a scammer—perhaps someone who claims to have a very sick family member or who is in the depths of despair (often these scammers claim to be from Russia or Eastern Europe). After they have sent you a few messages, and maybe even a glamorous photo, you will be asked (directly or more subtly) to send them money to help their situation. Some scammers even arrange to meet with you, in the hope that you give them presents or money—and then they disappear.
In other cases, scammers will try to build a friendship with you, perhaps even sending you flowers or other small gifts. After building a relationship, the scammer will tell you about a large amount of money they need to transfer out of their country, or that they want to share with you. They will then ask for your banking details or money for an administrative fee or tax that they claim needs to be paid to free up the money.
!
Protect Yourself
Remember
Check website addresses carefully. Scammers often set up fake websites with very similar addresses to legitimate dating websites.
Caution
Never send money, or give credit card or online account details to anyone you do not know and trust.
Think
Don't give out any personal information in an email or when you are chatting online.
Investigate
Make sure you only use legitimate and reputable dating websites.
Ask yourself
Would someone I have never met really declare their love for me after only a few letters or emails?

Charity Scams


Charity scams take advantage of people's generosity and kindness by asking for donations to a fake charity or by impersonating a real charity.

What to Look For

Charity scams involve scammers collecting money by pretending to be a real charity. The scammers can approach you in many different ways—on the street, at your home, over the phone or on the Internet. Emails and collection boxes may even be marked with the logos of genuine charities.
Often, the scammer will exploit a recent natural disaster or famine that has been in the news. Other scammers play on your emotions by pretending to be from charities that help children who are ill.
Scammers can try to pressure you to give a donation and refuse to provide details about the charity, such as their address or their contact details. In other cases, they may simply provide false information.
Not only do these scams cost people money; they also divert much needed donations away from legitimate charities and causes. All registered charities in Canada are overseen by the Canada Revenue Agency and listed in its database. You can also contact your local Better Business Bureau to see if they have any information about the organizations that interest you. If the charity is genuine and you want to make a donation, get the charity's contact details from the phone book or a trusted website.
If you do not want to donate any money, or you are happy with how much you may have donated to charities already, simply ignore the email or letter, hang up the phone or say no to the person at your door. You do not have to give any money at all.
!
Protect Yourself
Remember
If you have any doubts at all about the person asking for money, do not give them any cash, credit card or bank account details.
Caution
Never give out your personal, credit card or online account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source.
Think
If in doubt, approach an aid organization directly to make a donation or offer support.
Investigate
Search the Canada Revenue Agency database to check that the charity that has approached you is genuine.
Ask yourself
How and to whom would I like to make a contribution?









Job and Employment Scams


Job and employment scams target people looking for a job. They often promise a lot of income—sometimes they even guarantee it—for little or no effort.

What to Look For

Work-from-home scams are often promoted through spam emails or advertisements online or in newspaper ads. Most of these advertisements are not real job offers. Many of them are fronts for illegal moneylaundering activity or pyramid schemes.
You might get an email offering a job where you use your bank account to receive and pass on payments for a foreign company. Or you might be offered a job as a "secret shopper" hired to test the services of a chequecashing or a money transfer company. Some "job offers" promise that you will receive a percentage commission for each payment you pass on. Sometimes, scammers are just after your bank account details so they can access your account. They might also send you a counterfeit cheque along with instructions for you to cash the cheque and transfer a portion of the sum over a money transfer service.
A guaranteed employment or income scam claims to guarantee you either a job or a certain level of income. The scammers usually contact you by spam email and the offers often involve the payment of an up-front fee for a "business plan", certain start-up materials or software.
There is a range of scams promoted as business opportunities. You may be required to make an upfront payment (for something that does not work or is not what you expected) or to recruit other people to the scheme (refer to pyramid schemes on page 4).
!
Protect Yourself
Remember
There are no shortcuts to wealth—the only people that make money are the scammers.
Caution
Never send your bank account or credit card details to anybody you do not know and trust. If you cash the cheque and it turns out to be counterfeit, you could be held accountable for the entire monetary loss by your bank.
Think
Don't make any decisions without carefully researching the offer. Seek independent advice before making a decision.
Investigate
Beware of products or schemes claiming to guarantee income and job offers requiring payment of an upfront fee or sending money through a money transfer service. Make sure any franchise business opportunity is legitimate.
Ask yourself
Did I get all the details in writing before paying or signing anything?

Small Business Scams


Scams that target small businesses can come in a variety of forms—from bills for advertising or directory listings that were never ordered to dubious office supply offers.

What to Look For

Small business operators and individuals with their own Internet sites continue to be confused and caught by unsolicited letters warning them that their Internet domain name is due to expire and must be renewed, or offering them a new domain name similar to their current one.
If you have registered a domain name, be sure to carefully check any domain name renewal notices or invoices that you receive. While the notice could be genuine, it could also be from another company trying to sign you up, or it could be from a scammer.
  • Check that the renewal notice matches your current domain name exactly. Look out for small differences—for example, ".com" instead of ".ca" or missing letters in the URL address.
  • Check that the renewal notice comes from the company with which you originally registered your domain name.
  • Check your records for the actual expiry date for your existing domain name.
A directory listing or unauthorized advertising scam tries to bill a business for a listing or advertisement in a magazine, journal or business directory, or for an online directory listing.
The scam might come as a proposal for a subscription disguised as an update of an existing listing in a business directory. You might also be led to believe that you are responding to an offer for a free listing when in fact it is an order for a listing requiring later payment.
Another common approach used by scammers is to call a firm asking to confirm details of an advertisement that they claim has already been booked. The scammer might quote a genuine entry or advertisement your business has had in a different publication or directory to convince you that you really did use the scammer's product.
Be wary of order forms offering advertising opportunities in business directories. These order forms may look like they originate from a well-known supplier of directory advertising, when they don't.
An office supply scam involves you receiving and being charged for goods that you did not order. These scams often involve goods or services that you regularly order—for example, paper, printing supplies, maintenance supplies or advertising.
You might receive a phone call from someone falsely claiming to be your "regular supplier", telling you that the offer is a "special" or "available for a limited time", or pretending to only confirm your address or existing order. If you agree to buy any of the supplies offered to you, they will often be overpriced and of bad quality.
!
Protect Yourself
Remember
Make sure that the people processing the invoices or answering telephone calls are aware of these scams. They will most often be the point of contact for the scammers. Always check that goods or services were both ordered and delivered before paying an invoice.
Caution
Never give out or update any information about your business unless you know what the information will be used for.
Think
Don't agree to a business proposal over the phone—always ask for an offer in writing. Limit the number of people in your business that have access to funds and have the authority to approve purchases.
Investigate
Effective management procedures can go a long way towards preventing these scams from succeeding. Having clearly defined procedures for the verification, payment and management of accounts and invoices is an effective defence against these types of scams.
Ask yourself
If a caller claims that I have ordered or authorized something and I do not think it sounds right, shouldn't I ask for proof?

Service Scams


Many Canadians are being targeted by individuals claiming to offer reduced rates or deals for various services.

What to Look For

These scams typically involve individuals that make offers for telecommunications, Internet, finance, medical and energy services. This category of scams may also include offers such as extended warranties, insurance, and door-to-door sales.
The two most reported service scams targeting Canadians are the antivirus software scam and credit card interest rate reduction scams.
The scammers involved in the antivirus software scam promise to repair your computer over the Internet. This can involve the installation of software or permission to have remote access to your computer. Payment for the software or repair is typically made by credit card.
Downloading software from an unknown source or allowing someone to remotely access your computer is risky. Scammers could use malicious software to capture your personal information such as user names and passwords, bank account information, identity information, etc.
Everyone likes to get a deal and scammers know this. The people behind credit card interest rate reduction scams often impersonate financial institutions and claim to negotiate with credit card companies to lower your interest rates. They guarantee they can save you thousands of dollars in interest. The caller will tell you that the lower interest rates are for a limited time only and that you need to act now.
You might receive an automated call, prompting you to "press 1" and provide personal information, such as your date of birth and credit card number. You will also be asked to pay a fee up front for the service. The scammers will use this information to make purchases on your credit card or to access cash advances.
!
Protect Yourself
Remember
Only your service provider can offer you a better rate or price for their services.
Caution
Be wary of unsolicited calls from people offering a great deal "for a limited time only".
Think
Don't give out your credit card number over the phone unless you made the call and the number came from a trusted source.
Investigate
If a caller claims to represent your bank, telephone your bank to ask whether the offer you received is genuine.
Ask yourself
By offering up this information, am I putting myself at risk?

Handy Hints to Protect Yourself

Protect Your Identity

  • Only give out your personal details and information where it is absolutely necessary and when you trust the person you are speaking to or dealing with.
  • Destroy personal information: don't just throw it out. You should cut up or shred old bills, statements or cards—for example, credit cards and ATM cards.
  • Treat your personal details like you would treat money: don't leave them lying around for others to take.

Money Matters

  • Never send money to anyone that you don't know and trust.
  • Do not send any money or pay any fee to claim a prize or lottery winnings.
  • "Jobs" asking you to simply use your own bank account to transfer money for somebody could be a front for money-laundering activity. Money laundering is a serious criminal offence.
  • Avoid transferring or wiring any refunds or overpayments back to anyone you do not know.

The Face-to-Face Approach

  • If someone comes to your door, ask to see some identification. You do not have to let them in, and they must leave if you ask them to.
  • Before you decide to pay any money, if you are interested in what a door-to-door salesperson has to offer, take the time to find out about their business and their offer.
  • Contact the Competition Bureau, provincial and territorial consumer affairs offices or the Better Business Bureau of your province or territory if you are unsure about a seller that comes to your door. See "Getting Help and Reporting a Scam" for contact information.

Telephone Business

  • If you receive a phone call from someone you do not know, always ask for the name of the person you are speaking to and who they represent. Verify this information by calling the company yourself.
  • Do not give out your personal, credit card or online account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source.
  • It is best not to respond to text messages or missed calls that come from numbers you do not recognize. Be especially wary of phone numbers beginning with 1-900. These may be charged at a higher rate than other numbers and can be very expensive.

Email Offers

  • Never reply to a spam email, even to unsubscribe—often, this just serves to "verify" your address to scammers. The best course of action is to delete any suspicious emails without opening them.
  • Turn off the "viewing pane" as just viewing the email may send a verification notice to the sender that yours is a valid email address.
  • Legitimate banks and financial institutions will never ask you for your account details in an email or ask you to click on a link in an email to access your account.
  • Never call a telephone number or trust other contact details that you see in a spam email.

Internet Business

  • Install software that protects your computer from viruses and unwanted programs and make sure it is kept current. If you are unsure, seek the help of a computer professional.
  • If you want to access a website, use a bookmarked link to the website or type the address of the website into the browser yourself. Never follow a link in an email.
  • Check website addresses carefully. Scammers often set up fake websites with addresses very similar to legitimate websites.
  • Beware of websites offering "free" downloads (such as music, adult content, games and movies). Downloading these products may install harmful programs onto your computer without you knowing.
  • Avoid clicking on pop-up ads—this could lead to harmful programs being installed on your computer.
  • Never enter your personal, credit card or online account information on a website that you are not sure is genuine.
  • Never send your personal, credit card or online banking details through an email.
  • Avoid using public computers (at libraries or Internet cafes) to do your Internet banking or online shopping.
  • When using public computers, clear the history and cache of the computer when you finish your session.
  • Be careful when using software on your computer that auto-completes online forms. This can give Internet scammers easy access to your personal and credit card details.
  • Choose passwords that would be difficult for anyone else to guess—for example, passwords that include letters and numbers. You should also regularly change passwords.
  • When buying anything online, print out copies of all transactions and only pay via a secure site. If using an Internet auction site, note the ID numbers involved and read all the security advice on the site first.









Scams and You: What to Do if You Get Scammed!

Canadian authorities may not always be able to take action against scams, even if it seems like a scammer might have broken the law.

Reducing the Damage

Although it may be hard to recover any money that you have lost to a scam, there are steps you can take to reduce the damage and avoid becoming a target for a follow-up scam. The more quickly you act, the greater your chance of reducing your losses.
Report a scam. By reporting the scam to authorities, they may be able to warn other people about the scam and minimize the chances of the scam spreading further. You should also warn your friends and family of any scams that you come across. Details on how to report a scam are provided at the end of this publication.

If you have been tricked into signing a contract or buying a product or service

Contact your provincial or territorial consumer affairs office and consider getting independent advice to examine your options: there may be a cooling-off period or you may be able to negotiate a refund.

If you think someone has gained access to your online account, telephone banking account or credit card details

Call your financial institution immediately so they can suspend your account and limit the amount of money you lose. Credit card companies may also be able to perform a "charge back" (reverse the transaction) if they believe that your credit card was billed fraudulently.
Do not use contact details that appear in emails or on websites that you are suspicious of—they will probably be fake and lead you to a scammer. You can find legitimate contact details in the phone book, an account statement or on the back of your ATM card.

If the scam relates to your health

Stop taking any pills or substances that you are not sure about. See a doctor or other qualified medical professional as soon as you can. Be sure to tell them about the treatment that the scammer sold (take along any substances, including their packaging). Also tell them if you have stopped any treatment that you were taking before the scam.

If you have sent money to someone that you think may be a scammer

If you sent your credit card details, follow the instructions in the section opposite.
If you sent money through an electronic funds transfer (over the Internet), contact your financial institution immediately. If they have not already processed the transfer, they may be able to cancel it.
If you sent a cheque, contact your financial institution immediately. If the scammer hasn't already cashed your cheque, they may be able to cancel it.
If you sent money through a wire service (such as Western Union or Money Gram), contact the wire service immediately. If you are very quick, they may be able to stop the transfer.

If you have been tricked by a door-to-door seller

You may be protected by laws that provide you with a "cooling-off" period, during which you can cancel an agreement or contract that you signed. Contact your provincial or territorial consumer affairs office for advice about door-to-door sales laws.

If you have been scammed using your computer

If you were using your computer when you got scammed, it is possible that a virus or other malicious software is still on your computer. Run a full system check using reliable security software.
If you do not have security software (such as virus scanners and a firewall) installed on your computer, a computer professional can help you choose what you need.
Scammers may have also gained access to your online passwords. Change these using a secure computer.

If the scam involve s your mobile phone

Call your telephone provider and let them know what has happened.

Getting Help and Reporting a Scam

The best agency to contact depends on where you live and what type of scam is involved.
If you think you have spotted a scam or have been targeted by a scam, there are a number of government and law enforcement agencies in Canada that you can contact for advice or to make a report. This may help you and prevent others from being ripped off by scam operators.
Canadian Anti–Fraud Centre
www.antifraudcentre.ca
1-888-495-8501
The Competition Bureau's Information Centre
www.competitionbureau.gc.ca
1-800-348-5358

Local Scams

Contact your local consumer affairs office
Your local consumer affairs office is best placed to investigate scams that appear to come from within your own province or territory. A list of provincial and territorial consumer affairs offices can be found in the Canadian Consumer Handbook on the Office of Consumer Affairs website.

www.consumerhandbook.ca

Financial and Investment Scams

Contact Canadian Securities Administrators
Financial scams involve sales offers or promotions about financial products and services such as superannuation, managed funds, financial advice, insurance, credit or deposit accounts.
Investment scams involve share buying, foreign currencies trading, offshore investments, Ponzi schemes or prime bank investment schemes.
You can report financial and investment scams to the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) or to your local securities regulator.
www.securities-administrators.ca

Reporting Banking and Credit Card Scams

Contact your bank or financial institution
As well as reporting these scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, you should alert your bank or financial institution about any suspicious correspondence that you receive about your account. They can advise you on what to do next.
Make sure that the telephone number you use is from the phone book, your account statement or the back of your credit or ATM card.

Reporting Spam Emails and SMS

Many scams arrive by email and SMS. Visit www.fightspam.gc.ca for information on Canada's anti-spam legislation.
Fraudulent (or "phishing") emails requesting personal details can also be reported to the bank, financial institution or other organization concerned (be sure to use a phone number or email address that did not appear in the email to make your report).

Reporting Fraud, Theft and Other Crimes

Contact the police

Many scams that may breach consumer protection laws (those enforced by the Competition Bureau, other government and law enforcement agencies) may also breach the fraud provisions of the Criminal Code.
If you are the victim of fraud—you have suffered a loss because of someone's dishonesty or deception—you should consider contacting your local police (particularly if the amount involved is significant).
You should definitively contact the police if you have had your property stolen or have been threatened or assaulted by a scammer.
You may also contact one of the following organizations:
Canadian Council of Better Business Bureau
www.ccbbb.ca
Canada Revenue Agency—Charities Directorate
www.cra-arc.gc.ca
1-800-267-2384
Your local police, credit card companies, banks, and provincial records offices.
Credit bureaus can put a fraud alert on your account, which will alert lenders and creditors of potential fraud:

Equifax: 1-800-465-7166
TransUnion: 1-866-525-0262

Information on Downloading a PDF Reader
To access the Portable Document Format (PDF) version you must have a PDF reader installed. If you do not already have such a reader, there are numerous PDF readers available for free download or for purchase on the Internet:


http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/03074.html

------------------






WOAH.... July 16, 2015-  CHECK THIS OUT...FROM USA


AND... THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE..... when trading or selling big items on line- choose cop station
Household sales deals made online get safety zone at local cop shop


DENISE LAVOIE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BOSTON -Michele Velleman needed to sell a Zumba dance fitness kit, a cellphone and a table through Facebook. So she found buyers on Facebook and made the trades at - where else? - the police station.

‟It is always a little nerve-racking when you go to someone's house. It's in the back of your mind: 'I hope this person is OK and everything turns out all right,‟' said Velleman, 44, a pharmaceutical executive assistant for a pharmaceutical company who lives north of Boston in Georgetown. ‟I think my mother is happier I'm doing it this way." ‟Online safe zones" like the one Velleman uses are popping up at police stations nationwide as authorities try to clamp down on crime associated with online trade between strangers. More than 100 police departments now provide space in their lobbies or parking lots where people can make their deals and know that police are only feet away.

‟They have to meet them somewhere, but they don't knowwho they're meeting and they don't really have any background on these people," said Georgetown police Lt. Scott Hatch. ‟They can come here and at least they'll feel that the person is legitimate and won't take their money." A few departments began offering safe zones two or three years ago, but their popularity exploded this year after several high-profile killings as deals made on Craigslist were carried out:

In January, a couple who said they wanted to buy a 1966 Mustang were shot in McRae, Georgia, allegedly by a man who answered their ad.

A month later, a 21-year-old college student was robbed and fatally shot in Marietta, Georgia, after he responded to an ad to buy an iPhone.

In March, a pregnant woman responding to an ad to buy baby clothes in Longmont, Colorado, was stabbed and her fetus pulled from her womb, allegedly by the woman who placed the ad. The woman survived, but the fetus died.

In May, a 19-year-old Illinois college student trying to sell hissports car was killed. Authorities charged a man they say responded to the student's ad.

Police in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, set up a safe zone in May after reading about the killings.

‟I always tell people to do it at a neutral place, a populated place," said Chief James Spinney. ‟If anybody had a diabolical plan in mind, they are certainly not going to agree to meet at a police station." Craigslist did not respond to requests for comment for this article. But the classified service says on its website that most of its users are trustworthy and wellintentioned. But it urges commonsense precautions including meeting in a public place, not inviting strangers into your home, having a friend accompany you and ‟making high-value exchanges at your local police station." Advanced Interactive Media Group, a Florida-based consulting company for classified ad businesses, has started an initiative called SafeTrade that encourages law enforcement agencies to become havens for online transactions.




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Reverse


https://411.ca/reverse

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-----------------------

CANADA AREA CODES










Area Code Listing From 501 to 599


This page lists all area codes starting with 5 that are accessible from the U.S. and Canada, the state the area code belongs to, and the time zone of all area codes.Please click on the first digit of the area code if you need to find information on another area code:

2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . Time Zone . By State

501 . 502 . 503 . 504 . 505 . 506 . 507 . 508 . 509 . 510 . 511 .512 . 513 . 514 . 515 . 516 . 517 . 518 . 519 . 520 . 521 . 522 .523 . 524 . 525 . 526 . 527 . 528 . 529 . 530 . 531 . 532 . 533 .534 . 535 . 536 . 537 . 538 . 539 . 540 . 541 . 542 . 543 . 544 .545 . 546 . 547 . 548 . 549 . 550 . 551 . 552 . 553 . 554 . 555 .556 . 557 . 558 . 559 . 560 . 561 . 562 . 563 . 564 . 565 . 566 .567 . 568 . 569 . 570 . 571 . 572 . 573 . 574 . 575 . 576 . 577 .578 . 579 . 580 . 581 . 582 . 583 . 584 . 585 . 586 . 587 . 588 .589 . 590 . 591 . 592 . 593 . 594 . 595 . 596 . 597 . 598 . 599

Area Codes Table


Area Code

Country

State

Time Zone
501
USArkansasCentral Time Zone
502
USKentuckyEastern Time Zone
503
USOregonPacific Time Zone
504
USLouisianaCentral Time Zone
505
USNew MexicoMountain Time Zone
506
CanadaNew BrunswickAtlantic Time Zone
507
USMinnesotaCentral Time Zone
508
USMassachusettsEastern Time Zone
509
USWashingtonPacific Time Zone
510
USCalilforniaPacific Time Zone
511
Unassigned
512
USTexasCentral Time Zone
513
USOhioEastern Time Zone
514
CanadaQuebecEastern Time Zone
515
USIowaCentral Time Zone
516
USNew YorkEastern Time Zone
517
USMichiganEastern Time Zone
518
USNew YorkEastern Time Zone
519
CanadaOntarioEastern Time Zone
520
USArizonaPacific Time Zone
521
Unassigned
522
Unassigned
523
Unassigned
524
Unassigned
525
Unassigned
526
Unassigned
527
Unassigned
528
Unassigned
529
Unassigned
530
USCaliforniaPacific Time Zone
531
Unassigned
532
Unassigned
533
Unassigned
534
USWisconsinCentral Time Zone
535
Unassigned
536
Unassigned
537
Unassigned
538
Unassigned
539
Unassigned
540
USVirginiaEastern Time Zone
541
USOregonPacific Time Zone
542
Unassigned
543
Unassigned
544
Unassigned
545
Unassigned
546
Unassigned
547
Unassigned
548
Unassigned
549
Unassigned
550
Unassigned
551
USNew JerseyEastern Time Zone
552
Unassigned
553
Unassigned
554
Unassigned
555
Unassigned
556
Unassigned
557
USMissouriCentral Time Zone
558
Unassigned
559
USCaliforniaPacific Time Zone
560
Unassigned
561
USFloridaEastern Time Zone
562
USCaliforniaPacific Time Zone
563
USIowaCentral Time Zone
564
USWashingtonPacific Time Zone
565
Unassigned
566
Unassigned
567
USOhioEastern Time Zone
568
Unassigned
569
Unassigned
570
USPennsylvaniaEastern Time Zone
571
USVirginiaEastern Time Zone
572
Unassigned
573
USMissouriCentral Time Zone
574
USIndianaEastern Time Zone
575
USNew MexicoMountain Time Zone
576
Unassigned
577
Unassigned
578
Unassigned
579
CanadaQuebecEastern Time Zone
580
USOklahomaCentral Time Zone
581
CanadaQuebecEastern Time Zone
582
USPennsylvaniaEastern Time Zone
583
Unassigned
584
Unassigned
585
USNew YorkEastern Time Zone
586
USMichiganEastern Time Zone
587
CanadaAlbertaMountain Time Zone
588
Unassigned
589
Unassigned
590
Unassigned
591
Unassigned
592
Unassigned
593
Unassigned
594
Unassigned
595
Unassigned
596
Unassigned
597
Unassigned
598
Unassigned
599
Unassigned
Note: Area codes in gray represents the location is outside of the 50 states of the U.S. and Canada.




2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . Time Zone . By State



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from NEW ZEALAND..  waaaaay over in the middle?? sorry about that 


Internet pet scams...
WARNING for New Zealanders
(If you are NOT in New Zealand, please click here for international help)
NZ Police answer questions on pet and animal welfare
Official Warning from NZ Police:
* See the animal first, FACE TO FACE.
* Do NOT pay funds overseas.
* Do not "wire" funds.

 
 Internationally based (non NZ) scammers MAY attempt to scam you by..

 1) Replying to your ad
 2) OR Posting an ad, to which you may reply

 Education and communication is the key to prevent this internet crime, so please read
 these warnings and do communicate ANY fishy or suspicious ad/reply on
 petsonthenet.co.nz, to us IMMEDIATELY, thank you.

We also have a raft of security measures in place, details of which we do not wish to disclose publicly here as that would also alert the scammers to them...however we also rely on your help and vigilance by also reporting anything vaguely suspicious.

This is rare and no one to our knowledge has been successfully scammed via petsonthenet in the past three years. Prior to that two people were.. and we have progressively tightened security/increased warnings since then with great success. We cannot stop people being gullible and falling for online scams, but we can publish this information to help educate everyone. 

Recognising a scam 
Good luck finding/rehoming your pet via petsonthenet.co.nz, we have had a lot of success with adoptions via this free service since 2002.

However, please be aware of an international pet scam. Sometimes these scammers reply to both pets wanted and pets for sale ads. They may also place ads for Pets for Sale or Adoption (if only briefly as we delete them the second that we spot them...).They offer to ship pets to (or from you). Shipping to, or from OUTSIDE NEW ZEALAND

Any of these factors below will be strong indicators of an international pet scam...Do not reply to the ad, or email. Please forward the ad number or email reply to us for further investigation at team@petsonthenet.co.nz.
 

- No mention of location or ANY mention whatsoever of Cameroon
  (Cameroon = scam 100%  of the  time)
- Bad grammar and spelling
- Vague reply that does not make sense or relate well to your ad or enquiry
- Non .nz email addresses. They often abuse yahoo free mail (international, not NZ) for
  their scamming attempts.
- Reference to AKC (in NZ we are NZKC).
- Reference to pounds and inches, not metrics
- American spelling
- Shipping from overseas, or any type of domestic shipping/flights (you should always
  MEET the animal
- Religious angle (or missionary, aide or orphanage worker or similar "sob story")
- Wants Moneygram or Western union payment or other irreversible wire payment
- Avoids giving address/phone number/(checkable) references in NZ so that you could
  see/meet the animal
- Expensive purebred puppy for free or cheap, you just pay shipping
  (sounds too good to be true)
- Breeds most frequently targeted by scammers are English Bulldogs, Chihuahuas,
  teacup Yorkies and parrots/eggs
 
Keep in mind the animal does not even exist...they simply recycle pictures lifted from the internet and give a spiel they hope will work. And they are certainly not in NZ, nor are they New Zealanders, they are international criminals and fraudsters looking to suck someone in.

As soon as we pick up a scammer in our regular monitoring, the user ID and email the scammer registered under is disabled from both posting and replying to ads on petsonthenet.co.nz. We also "name and shame" them at www.twitter.com/petscammers, to warn people.


What (and what not!) to do now 
Please DO NOT REPLY  to those replies to your ad from overseas people. Their agenda may include collecting your bank/Visa details etc and/or to collect and harvest your email address, or to receive monies from you - for which no pet appears.... Please note your email address will only be known to them if you reply, otherwise it is protected.

Unfortunately in one case a person in NZ did wire $250 to these fraudsters, expecting a very cheap purebreed pup in return. Then the scammers came back for a second shot demanding a further wire of $300 before they would send the dog...
 No dog ever arrived and the person was down $250 by the time they realised it was a scam...
The net is a great thing, but there are scammers out there, please be careful, deal ONLY with people in our own country for pets for sale/wanted. Don't send money or bank details/credit card details for purchase of pets or for "shipping".
Reporting scams 
So if it is even slightly fishy, do not reply, please forward any such replies to us atteam@petsonthenet.co.nz for further investigation.

If the email originates from yahoo (as they do seem to very often), report the email scam to Yahoo or the ISP involved. Here is the link to the form to report emails on yahoo that are sending scam/fraudulent emails)

If the contact came from another classifieds site, send copies of all email correspondence to that website (or newspaper) and strongly suggest that they publish warnings, as we do on their classifieds site. Education is the key to stopping these people finding new victims

Report the scam to Internet Crime Centre, a US based FBI initiative. Report and seek support from fraudwatchers.org.

If you have been scammed, first of all report to the NZ Police and then the money transfer agent you used ie Western Union

 
Example scams (see also lost pet sample scams, you'll see a pattern emerging...!)
These are only a tiny sample of the real life samples we have been sent from victims worldwide. Shame on these scammers. Note their poor spelling and grammar...another clue...Plus they are geographically challenged ie) Buffalo, Eire..?!! Bamenda, New Zealand?!

The scammers either post ads on classifieds websites to catch you (including ours, which we quickly delete) or sometimes they will reply to YOUR Pet Wanted or Pet for Adoption or Sale ad as well...
Example scam replies to ads
Example scam ads


Please note we also immediately delete any ads for endangered and illegal animals, such as monkeys etc. We have no wish to contribute to that shameful business...

Scammers will often pretend to be priests, nuns, AIDS workers, soldiers, peace workers etc. They trade on these lies to make you feel you can trust them.

Also realise that these pets do NOT EVEN EXIST in the first place, they are made up stories, using pictures they pinch from the internet and simply recycle over and over. So when they tell you your pup may die if you wont send more money for taxes, insurance, bigger cage, strike action etc etc - don't be fooled. There is no pet whatsoever. Scammers say these things to suck more money out of you. When you've already paid once, they hit you again and again for more money with more stories, until finally you click...The worst case I have ever seen was US based person scammed of about $2000 US dollars for a monkey, they sent money 5x before they realised it was suspicious....

We now get 3 - 4 pet scams sent to us from victims (or near miss victims) from all over the world, every single day. So our collection is ever growing...we have published only a tiny representative handful here.

Here is a true and sadly typical summary of what will happen if you do send money from a US resident who was scammed...
"I think I definitely fell for a scam from Boulua, Cameroon. The person was supposed to be selling me a parrot and an airport in Douala Cameroon was supposed to be holding the parrot. I did send $200 as a down payment, then he said he needed pet insurance, I sent $50. Then they both emailed me saying they need $190. I did not send that. I told him I was turning him in if I didn't get either my money or the Macaw, he keeps emailing me with a line, can you help me stop this guy ,thank you"
(victim has placed this in the authorities hands now...)



Example scam replies to ads

(Scammers names have been replaced by XXXXXXX or "scammer", email addresses have been changed also....not to protect them, but ourselves, from their continuing threats......spelling mistakes have been left uncorrected, so you can see how they write. One day they will learn to use a spell checker and it will not be so obvious, so look at the content and especially the country of origin. If it's outside NZ, forget it.)

 

Scam reply to a "Pets Wanted" ad....

It will take just 3working days to get to you.As soon i get the payment i
will today i will friengt it soon..Please send e your full address.when i
send it i will call u.the equivalent of the total is 183 USD = 264 New
Zealand dolar
Use the money via western union using the names below
Name XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
bamenda
Caeroon




Hi thank for your mail.All our puppies have purbred papers i will send
them all to you.They are both ale and female for the 6 and 7 so u make your
choice and tell me shipp will be done as soon i get the
payment.Freighing is 30USD.i am about send some puppies to some other costomers in New zealand by week end if you will want that i friegt with yours then it will e ok.

You can make the Payment through western Union.
Name XXXXXXXXXXXXX
CAMEROON.
Waitin to read fro you soonest

 
Scammers reply to a Pet for Adoption ad (for a budgie..)GOOD DAY,  I AM INTERSTED IN ADOPTING YOUR{PET}I WILL WANT YOU TO MAIL ME
THE LATEST CONDITION AND THE FINAL ASKING PRICE.YOU ARE WILL TO ADOPT TO
ME.GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBILE TODAY.THANKS

johnson
johnson_david_2xxxxx6@hotmail.com
 
*** I want to adopt your pet as part of my family ***
Hello Friend.

I'm very much interested in adopting your pet to my humble home. I'm us
citizen. I live at delray beach FL, but presently in ontario canada to
accept a job offer with the american christain missionary as a clerk. I'm
happily married with a kid. I want to re-home your pet as part of my
family. I lost my most adorable pet some couple of days ago on the way to
the Vet clinic, the tragedy was so painful for me to bear as a pet
lover,soi need yours in replace to minimise the lost. I assure you a 100%
loving forever home for your pet and i want you to consider the pet sold to
a petlover. Chrismas is fast approaching and need a pet in my house. Pls,
briefly tell me these: adoption fees,mode of feeding, presenthealth
condition, breed, and pic if available.I have a recommendable pet
transporter that will come for thepick-up right from! your home. "means you
don't need to drive the pet to any where". So i urge you to contact the pet
shipping company at(petshippers_consultant1@fastermail.com)I wait to hear
back from you so that i can inform my TRUSTEE in the state to issue out the
payment ! in time.As for the payment, you have to forward your name,address
and your phone number for payment. A certified "MO" will be issue on your
behalf which'll cover the adoption fees + $50 as reward offer for the up
bringing of the pet + the shipping fees. I wait to hear back from you at
you earliest convinient time.

Mrs Daniela dash cares for your pet.
I just read about the Pet Scam and I just realised that I could have been the victim.
Here's the ad that says I can adopt a Chihuahua from Cameroon.

I've been exchanging emails with this person and was exciting at beginning but started to feel not so right about it.


Here's some of emails have been sent to me.
(SCAM!!!) From "Scammer" 

thanks very much for your mail. my the lord God bless you. thank you for loving to adopt this dog.thanks a million.
the dog is a male as i areasy told you.its name is nippy after my friend who passed away about 20months ago. so nippy is about 19months old. its birthdayis on november 14th .
nippy likes playing alot. it love me alot so i can say nippy love people. this is the best dog i have every have in my life.but i'm bound to give it for adoption because of this new . thank God again you are there to have. i still pray for you.
for the means of which it can get to you, i've seen the a flight agency that can transport the dog to you. please you can contact the general manager through this email address XXXXXXX@north.org so that he will give you the flight price. that is just all you need to do. thanks again.
thank you very much and please get back as soon as you've met the general manager of jetma so thati can know your final discursion with him.
for the photes those were all i send to you. this job does not give me time to do any thing. while waiting for you reply thanks again. thanks.

This email (below) is from transport company so called JETMA which doesn't even exist
(SCAM!!!) GOOD DAY MADAM,
I am the general manger of the JETMA AIRLINER FOR PETS TRANSPORTATION.This is a branch of the jetma shipping company in the uk.this branch is newly opened just for the international transportation of pets and cargo internationally.our branches in africa are in south africa,Egypt,cameroon, Libya and congo.

Transporting a puppy from Cameroon New zealand is $490us dollars and to Asia $675us dollars for door to door delivery service.

We have agents and vet doctors in our crafts that carter for the pets during the journey and the agency carters for their feeding during the trip. All you need to do is tell your sender to bring the puppy to us at our agency in the respective country, with your full name and address with all other contacts to facilitate delivery.

For the payment procedure,go to your nearest western union agency,pay the money to the following names: Mr XXX XXXXXX XXXX (our company accountant in Cameroon.)

address:Douala,Cameroon.

ues this test question:who is your reciever?

anwser:jetma

when you pay the money,send the details to my accountant immediately on email XXXXXXX@yahoo.com

you can also call (237)510XXXX.your tracking number will be emailed to you immediately.hope with the above information, your puppies will reach you soonest.

my regards,"scammer"


Last email (below) asking me to pay the bill as I told them I only can spend NZ200 for adoption.
(SCAM!!!) thanks for the mail. i understand your problem. i had already paid the money and they can't give back the as they said. and i can't afford to lost that money. so please pay the nz$200 and i will do everything to complete it. i'm just doing this because i see you really have love for the dog and also because of you patients. please if ok get to after you've paid the nz$200. thanks again for your understanding.



I knew this person can't be real after kept asking me to pay and Thank you for your information on the net about this pet scam which helped me to realise this.
I hope other people are not falling into such scams and so these ads no longer can exist. Thank you 

(real life) Example scam classified ad

Pet for Adoption Scam(you pay the shipping, then never get the non existent pet)


Headline: English Bull Dog For Adoption

(SCAM!!!)I have an English bull dog for adoption. I bought this lovely and healthy dog for my late son who died through a gasly car accident hence each time i see this dog it gives me memories of him i feel so sad and troubled hence i am in search of anyone who could adopt this dog and pay just for its shipment cost to whatever destination and equally an adoption which will surfice just to put a flower rib on my late boys grave.Just email me as soon as possible. Dog has all its travelling papers and shall not be quarantined at any point in time for what so ever reason.
The dog is named after my late boy Micky.thanks
Adorable English Bull Dog Puppies For Sale 800 Dollarshello purebred english bull puppies avialble for sale,she is call kenny well train akc reg health gurrantee and health certificate,have she shote uptill date and deworwed.some along with all her papers including the crate sign and her cage,she is for valentine for lover and caring people of pets,if you are interested mail me back for more information.or you can call me at 237 XXX  XXXX or mail me at XXXXy@yahoo.com
thanks waiting for any one to have her.



There is no end to their thieving creativity. Here is a religious Christmas scam just in time for the season of joy (and scamming)....

The only present you'll get from this lot is a very gaping hole in your wallet.

Headline: Adorable Yorkie Pops And Enlgish Bull Pops For Xmas
 the holly sisters of st anne solidat convent offers an xmas gift to pet lovers round the glob.as their own tocken in xmas. english bull dog puppies and yorkie pups are kept assied to offer to pet lovers arround the glob.he she who is previlage to come across this advert and loves pets should contact immidiatly.be one of the gods appointed persons to celebrate the xmas 2006 with the holly sisters of st anne solidat.
 may god be with he,she,who is previlage.
 stay blessed.

 

Websites to avoid

In 2006 we discovered scammers copying genuine websites and then changing a few contact details, to trick you into trusting them...such as these websites below...
http://www.dominicpetshome.page.tl/ 2008
http://www.terence4babieshomepets.page.tl/ 2008

www.markpuppy.net is an almost exact copy of a genuine US based website with a few details changed, importantly the hoax site says they are Africa based and only accepts irreversible wire payments. markpuppy.net claims to be the website of a Vet Centre in West Africa.
www.universalpetsexpress.net is an almost exact copy of a genuine US based pet shipper's website.

No doubt there are a lot more.

The trend prior to that was the scammers making their own "home made" websites, however they then progressed to the copied website style of scam which is harder to spot (unless you read this!)

Scam websites usually meet some or all of these criteria...
1) They are NOT based in your own country. Often openly based in Cameroon...or Africa. They may not mention the country but a city ie) Yaounde, Bafoussam or Littoral. Type any unknown location unfamiliar to you into Google or get an atlas, you may find they are not in your own country...
2) Often use poor spelling/grammar
3) Expect payment by irreversible wire i.e.) Western Union or Moneygram etc
4) Things just don't add up..

Deal ONLY with people in your OWN country. See the pet before you pay for it, pay only by "refundable means". Wire such as Western Union is not reversible! Your money is gone forever. Look very closely into the location of any person selling an animal. Use Google to check out any email addresses, company names, city names, (fictitious) airline names - even a real airline name does not mean they are for real. One scam website in Cameroon supposedly uses Continental Airs - not a real airline. Also often quoted is Jetma, another non existent airline/service. Another person in the USA who was scammed, was quoted a genuine company, DHL, who would ship. They were even given a supposed DHL reference number, which turned out to be non existent. The animal did not even exist, they just used a credible company to help hide their scam. That person lost over 250$ USD to that scammer...


Updates / New online pet scam twists
April 2006: We are now aware of at least one seemingly US based website, that is totally bogus also. Supposedly a pet transport company, but they also have "pets for sale" on their website.

July 2006: New trend? Thailand based pet scammers are pretending to run animal welfare shelters, they are probably running pet shipping (money laundering scams). They also have their own web pages to fool you as to their credibility. Please email any correspondence which may be of interest if you were scammed or nearly scammed.

November 2006: Now scammers appearing from Mexico. Christmas "themed" scams.Scammers proactively mentioning scams to you, to throw you off guard. Scammers pretending to be authorities, ministries, airports, officials etc (they pretend to help you or reassure you but in reality they are all the same person and they all want your money for these "favours". Most common breeds scam ads are for are Bull Dogs, Yorkies, Chihuahua, Monkies, Parrots and eggs.

November 2006: Scammers pretending they will give you a pet for free AFTER you wire a sizeable donation by (irreversible means such as Western Union) to an  "African Orphanage" (or similar sob story). They will pretend to live nearby you in New Zealand, but not give you their address for pickup, UNTIL you have sent the funds. Obviously once they have the funds (orphanage is non existent), you never hear from them again...BEWARE!

November 2006: Ads in newspapers by scammers with email contacts. When you contact you find out they start talking about international shipping of pets. I even saw one in my local NZ newspaper and it took a fair amount of convincing to get them to understand and accept it was a scam.

December 2006: Wholesale copying of genuine US based websites, fake website is now in Africa though and they only accept wire payment. See this link for fake sites we are aware of, this is by no means an exhaustive list...

Other useful links about internet scams, especially internet pet scams
 

Click link to the right to visit this advertisers website fraudwatchers.org - Report internet scams and get free forum support. Excellent indepth resource.

Click link to the right to visit this advertisers website CaveatEmptorus.com Well it seems we here in new Zealand are not alone in this, these scams are a worldwide issue! More on internet pet scams and examples are to be found on this very good site which is dedicated to educate to prevent internet fraud.
http://caveatemptorus.com/dogscams.html
 
Click link to the right to visit this advertisers website http://www.scambusters.org/petscams.htmlClick link to the right to visit this advertisers website Form to report scams/fraud originating from yahoo emails

Click link to the right to visit this advertisers website Scam Busters New Zealand. Focusing on NZ internet scams, largely online auctions, but also others plus online forums and excellent NZ links to police, consumer, Fair Go etc
http://www.scambusters.co.nz

  http://www.petsonthenet.co.nz/scam

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