I just came across this article which refers to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, but I think this can serve as a good warning for dog lovers across the country.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials are warning the public about a scam in which customers spend upwards of a $1,000 on pets that will supposedly be shipped from overseas to the airport for pick-up, only to be detained while the sellers ask for more cash.
The scam, which typically originates in West Africa, involves online ads or unsolicited e-mails offering to ship pets such as dogs, birds and monkeys to the U.S., said airport spokeswoman Katena Carvajales. But once the buyer spends the cash, the seller, posing as an airport official, requests more money and claims the pet is sick and being detained at the airport until it receives vaccinations needed to pass through customs.
Airport officials first learned of the scam about two years ago, but it tapered off until about six months ago, she said. Now, the airport receives a couple calls a week from people seeking information on the pet they believe they purchased. Carvajales said the victims call from across the United States and are typically out about $1,000.
Call me crazy, but aren’t there enough homeless animals in the U.S. to choose from?
