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Beware of internet dog scam
14/02/2008 14:14 - (SA)
Johannesburg - An internet scam offering free dogs has come to light, the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) said on Thursday.
The NSPCA said one site showed photographs of free puppies.
"When carefully viewed, these images have clearly been downloaded from another website," the NSCPA said.
The scam claimed that a puppy would be sent to the adopter's address. All communications were conducted by e-mail.
Then an e-mailed message was received that money was required as the puppy was stuck at customs.
Once the money was paid and adopters expected to see their dog, they were disappointed as the puppy was never delivered.
The NSPCA said that adopting an animal was a huge and lifelong commitment.
"Do not be taken in by photographs of pretty puppies or the fact that they are being offered free of charge," it said.
"If these advertisements do not start to ring warning bells, the NSPCA does not know how else to warn the public. The easy, effective and responsible way to end all this is for websites to stop trading in live animals."
The NSPCA said it was looking for websites willing to place the phrase "we do not trade in live animals" on their sites with the firm undertaking that they would not do so.
Animal brokers, puppy-mills, backyard breeders and individuals sourcing dogs for security work were quick to use the internet to obtain dogs, the NSPCA said.
- SAPA
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