New scam targeting pet forums - beware

[skunkstripe]

This is showing up more and more. And most people know better than to fall for it. But if you are a soft-hearted, trusting type of person, please read this.

We seem to be getting more of the following type of post. A new member's very first post will be a link to a website which describes how someone else's dog is tragically sick and the how owner needs money to pay for an operation. Donations are requested by bank transfer to some foreign country or through some internet money handling system. Usually the poster is not the one who needs the money, but claims they donated and felt like they did a very good thing.

This is a scam - don't even think of sending money!

As a matter of fact, don't even try to find out more about how to donate money.

The last one of these we had recommended an internet money handling site that is located in Russia. If you provide your bank information or credit card information to such a site, there is a good chance they will try to clean out your account. I would not be surprised if even visiting such a site endangers your computer privacy, since the real crooks are known for downloading so-called "keyloggers" onto your computer. The next time you log in legitimately onto online banking or online credit card services, someone far away could be receiving your username and password.

Please be very wary. If you see a post like the one described, report it. And please be careful with any links in such posts. If you want to be extra careful, check the code by using the "quote" feature to see if the link is potentially dangerous. We do our best to keep the creeps off the site, but they are getting sneakier!

[PomeranianCrazy]

Thats for sharing! Great Post

[applesmom]

Thanks for the warning!

It's not only the professional scammers that we have to look out for, though without a doubt they are the worst threat to our bank accounts.

On many pet forums I see requests for donations to help someone's pet or a rescue. It often turns out later that these were scams too!

While $10 out of each of our own pockets may not seem like much of a sacrifice to help an animal; the scammers could be collecting thousands, by doing it ten dollars at a time.

We should always be aware, but particularly when the requests involve providing bank account information to complete strangers and we should never even open an email involving a foreign country.

By the way, I have millions of dollars coming from Nigera from a philanthropist. All I have to do is to send a few thousand of my own money to get the process started.

[skunkstripe]

Well the strangest one I ever saw was on a cat forum. Very long story, but the gist of it was that both a man and a woman were members and posted for quite a while. The woman was supposedly pregnant, but died in childbirth. Well the members felt so bad for the widower and her children that they wanted to donate money.
The site owners wanted to make sure that nothing was fishy so they checked up on it. Well it turned out that the "woman" never existed. It even made the paper!
http://jscms.jrn.columbia.edu/cns/20...ns-fakingdeath

[applesmom]

After reading those stories it seems this goes on more often than most of us are aware of!

In the following case no money was involved but emotions were certainly played upon and caring and trust were abused.

Last year (some members may remember this from another forum) we agonized along with another poster over the loss of her beloved pet. Only to have him resurrected the next day!

Of course we were all thrilled to hear that he had in fact survived. But (speaking for myself only); the episode confirmed my opinion that that particular poster was willing to go to any lengths in order to create drama for the sole purpose of gaining sympathy and becoming the absolute center of attention.

My instincts were right and wherever that poster goes; the drama continues and emotions of unsuspecting posters are constantly used and abused!

Many times posters become upset when questions are asked in trying situations. However when our emotions or our bank accounts are concerned, we have the right to expect the answers to those questions or to withhold our support entirely.

[KatzNK9]

Oh yes, this is good info. The scams are everywhere you look.

[Draco]

Shameful how far people will go. I've been around the net to have run into Emoti-harpies before with all the sob stories in the world... at least I had not been douped into sending any money. Shameful, simply shameful.

[montanagal]

Thank you for posting that waring! With personal information a millisecond away at a touch of a button, it's never a good idea to share that information with a complete stranger.

Originally Posted by applesmom

By the way, I have millions of dollars coming from Nigera from a philanthropist. All I have to do is to send a few thousand of my own money to get the process started.

You too, huh? I have a $5 million dollar scholarship coming from a long lost great-grandmother in Chile! All she wanted was my bank account number and my social security number.

[Lulu25]

Thanks for the info! I will keep this in mind. But I should have plenty of money to send to whoever wants it soon- I have now won the Nigerian lottery 5 times in a row!!!

[Gideon's_Girl]

thanks, wow that amazing what cruel hearted people!!