List Only - Possibly buying a puppy. She wants to be paid via western union. Sketchy? Please read!?

Possibly buying a puppy. She wants to be paid via western union. Sketchy? Please read!?

I'm sure this question is in the wrong section but I had no idea where to place it. I saw an ad in the American Classifieds for English Bulldogs for sale. I contacted the lady via e-mail, it was the only contact option given and she got back to me a few hours later. She gave me info on the pups, prices and the parents. She also asked for my name, address, phone number and nearest airport so she "can have all of the pups papers prepared for a new home". She says that her shipper can deliver the pup to me or I can pick it up at the airport. The thing that got me thinking was that she is asking that when it comes time for payment to be paid via Western Union. Is this a bad idea? What if I wire the money and nobody ever comes to drop off the pup or meets me. Instead I asked if we could physically meet up and I could pay her in cash or money order. Am I worrying too much? It just seems odd that she isn't asking to be paid via paypal/etc. Have I come off rude asking her to instead meet with me to do the exchange? Also - she lives 3-4 hours away. Oh, and - she asked if my husband and I were experienced with puppies and how large our home was as she wanted her pup to go to a good home. So this makes me believe that she is not trying to scam me. ??? Thank you all for your help! I had a bad feeling about this. I just read on a site to NEVER pay for your pup via Western Union as it is usually a scam. Thank god I checked with others first! We were responding steadily via e-mail and when I brought up physical meeting to do the exchange she has not replied since. Hmmm..

Public Comments

no asking to meet in person is a great idea. make sure you see where the puppies are and meet both parents. also make sure you get the pup checked thoroughly by a vet before you buy it just to make sure she's not selling you a sick dog.
DONT DO IT!! its def a scam ive heard of this before. report it to the site shes advertised. Remember pedigree British Bulldogs cost around £2000 Old tyme Bulldogs £600 and American Bulldogs £700 so if they are offering them cheap its a scam. Please be careful i have been ripped off before. x
I wouldn't buy from her. Sounds way too sketchy to me. some thngs to keep in mind Primary Characteristics of a Reputable Breeder Provides a written contract of sale with a health guarantee and written instructions on feeding, training, grooming and care Provides access to the mother (dam) who should be on site and exhibit a healthy, happy temperament Does not sell puppies until they are at least 8 weeks old or in some cases older Shows you where the puppies are kept. This area should be very clean Provides you with a record of the dates and types of vaccinations and de-worming done, feeding instructions, a pedigree, and a "blue slip" to apply for registration of the puppy in your own name with the AKC. Is able to prove he has performed pre-breeding health checks on the parents Provides references of people who have purchased puppies in the past, the names of other breeders, and the veterinarian who provides care for the breeder's dogs. Offers a return-buy back policy and make it clear that his/her responsibility continues as long as the dog is alive. They should be available for advice whenever needed, and help you over many rough spots. Is involved in some way with rescue organizations Abides by code of ethics, typically by belonging to a breed club or association Is very knowledgeable about the breed he or she is selling Requires or encourages the neutering of all pet-quality dogs Sells puppies only to approved buyers and never sells to brokers or puppy mills Can discuss socialization of the puppies and can make recommendations for their continued socialization and training Usually breeds no more than two breeds.
I would definitely meet in person. I had this happen to me a couple of years ago over an english bulldog puppy. I was very nervous that I was being taken for a scam, and I was. I had to pay half up front then the other half when I received the puppy, but as soon as western union confirmed the money had been picked up, I never heard from the guy again. I then searched on the internet for english bulldog puppy pictures and found that he got the pic of my puppy that I was supposedly buying from another breeders website (copy & paste)! he was also about 4-6 hour drive away from me and was supposed to be sending the puppy by flight.
this sounds too sketchy. I'd ask if you can go to her home to meet the pup and pay with cash.. since she's only 3-4 hours away. If she isnt willing to do that, then I'd avoid her. It seems odd to bother with shipping a pup by air when you live such a short distance anyways. The "nearest airport" for both of you may just as easily be the same airport!! You may be better off to just get a referral to a reputable breeder and just walk away from this one anyways.. Bulldogs are prone to alot of health problems.. and it may be more worth your while to save some money, do a little research and get a referral from a good resource to a breeder. http://www.thebca.org/ ADDED When I purchased my pup, I paid the deposit thru paypal.. I drove up about 3-4 hours to the breeders home to pick up my pup, and I paid cash for him there. It worked out for all.. my pup did not have to deal with the stress of a plane ride.. me and the breeder got to meet each other, and I got to see the home where my pup was being raised. I think the breeder was glad to see that I was concerned about what I thought would be best for the pup too. I also had done research and gotton referrals to that breeder before I even contacted her. A good breeder will not be insulted if you question arrangements on payment/pick up. A good breeder would be more than willing to make proper accomodations! A good breeder should have NO problem with you coming to her home!
You are always within your rights to question the person selling the puppies. She should also ask you a variety of questions to ensure that you are a good home for her puppies. If I was you I would go fetch your puppy from her and give her a check or cash face to face. That way you can have a look at the parents and the puppies living environment. If she refuses you the opportunity to do this then you are right to be suspicious. I recently bred and sold a litter of puppies. It was a traumatic thing for me and I won't be doing it again. However, I only received payment from the new owners once they had their new puppies for two weeks. That way I knew that all was okay. They send me monthly emails and photos. follow your gut instinct. This puppy that you are interested is going t o be with you for its lifetime, spending a little bit extra making sure that he is coming from the right place is worth it. Good luck.
No, don't pay... i got cheated before. Bad experience. She will show a lot of concern for the puppies blah blah bah... Then ask you to pay, the shipping company will ask you to pay as there is a pending puppy. Once you finish the money transfer and give them the address and whatever, they will ask you for more saying that pup does not have insurance. And after paying for everything, pup will never ever arrive and she will not reply you anymore. The only way to find out if it's real is that you tell her you go collect the pup and see if she gives you her address and lets you collect it then you can tell her you want to deliver instead. Do not do money transfer via western union. And BTW, the "shipping company will tell you to pay to cameroon, Africa".
Western Union is a classic sign. They're always scams if they want to pay by Western Union.
total scam! almost went through the same thing! they act like they care but it's all fake. there probably isn't even a puppy. ask about pay pal and/or an in person exchange..then you'll know forsure.
Nekkid Bootie is spot on: "A good breeder will not be insulted if you question arrangements on payment/pick up. A good breeder would be more than willing to make proper accomodations! A good breeder should have NO problem with you coming to her home!" I did the Western Union thing with my last two dogs. It was a total PAIN dealing with Western Union, but one dog was coming from Canada, and the other from Hungary so I was pretty much unable to pick the pups up and pay for them in person. However, I had worked with both breeders in the past and knew the Canadian breeder very well so I had no issues or problems. However, whenever I've sold puppies I always made sure I met the buyer in person (a 14 hour drive once). I talk to my buyers several times via email and the phone and then (after we're all feeling good about the placement) either they visit me or I visit them or we meet halfway (that is usually when money and puppies--AND puppy contracts, and health certificates--exchange hands). We also ALWAYS bring the parents of the pups so the potential buyer can see them in person as well. If she won't meet you in person, I'd walk away clean and look elsewhere. That is just a big red flag to me. Esp for a Bulldog. Even if she honors her end of the deal and sends you a puppy, who knows what health problems he/she might have down the road.
Run, don't walk. This is a well known scam. She'll take your money but you won't get a puppy.
NONONO i lost 300 bucks doing this once. just, no.... for an english bulldog too. just go to a breeder seriously. cuz if they do live that close you could just go there or she come to you and pay with cash. i drove 5 hrs for my bully and it was worth it.
I truly believe it is a scam, if she were legimate, she would not mind you saying you'll drive up to where she lives, check out the dog for myself, and then (only and only then) if this is what she said in the email, and this is what I wanted (if the price was right), I'd pay her,and take the dog w/ instructions of how to adminster to my dog! But it sounds fishy to me if she doesn't want paid thru pay-pal, [bells should be going off],DON'T SEND HER ANY MONEY !!!If she will not aloow you to pay her in the right way, or she doesn't want to driving to where she lives 2-3 hours away, back off from her, DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY PERIOD!!!I believe it to be a very thought scam, you send the money NO PUP! Don't try to find your dog on the internet, try in your hometown, someone will know where you will be able to get a bull dog pup, at the right price, and you'll be able to go see the dogs before any mention of payment! DO NOT SEND HER ANY MONEY!! Don't even email her back! When she emails you DELETE IT!!Mam, that should tell you something! She doesn't want to meet you physically, because it is a scam!