Purchasing Scams

[sherriej]

Be really careful with buyers. I have listed puppies for sale and have gotten several very honest calls from local people. However, I also recieved a call via a hearing impaired operator, from a woman named Joyce who wanted to buy one of my babies. We had several emails back and forth. I was extremely hesitant as she lives 12 hours away, but I thought that this lady must really want to have a pup. Sounded genuine and caring. I offered to drive half way and meet her. I guess that should have threw up more flags when she used her hearing disability as a reason for not wanting to do this. Then she says she would send out a cheque to me and would I forward the balance to her shipper with address for delivery. Thought this was really fishy. Got the check in the mail. 2700.00 for a pup being sold for 100.00 hmmmm. Address on the check not the same as the buyer. I called the bank and the check was bogus. Called the local sheriff and was told yes this was a sham, but there are so many of these type that they do not process them and that I needed to talk to the Attny General office. If I had been more naive and deposited the check and sent the balance I would have been sunk. I guess I learned a big lesson, fortunately not a costly one.