HURON COUNTY – Beware an advertisement offering purebred dogs at discount prices, Huron County OPP warns.
Local police are issuing a warning to Huron County residents about a scam that’s making its way across the province, advertising at on-line sites like Craigslist, Kijiji, community pages and in traditional venues like radio and newspapers.
The advertisements offer dogs for low prices because the owner wants to give it away or is moving and forced to give it away. The ad may indicate the owner is leaving Canada to work on a church mission in Africa or South America and must sell the dog to fulfill a commitment of helping people less fortunate.
Those who respond to the ad are asked to wire funds using a money transfer service. The cash is sent but no dog is received. The scammers will then say the dog is on the way additional fees are needed for such things as transportation delivery fees, out of country taxes, and verification of vaccination fees. The email requests for money continue until the scam is figured out.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reports most of the money is transferred to West African nations, including Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon.
To learn more about common scams, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
