Junk Mail is glad that Carte Blanche has highlighted this issue in their Consumer Watch program. Junk Mail believes that knowledge is the key in the fight against scammers. Our motto is “Be Smart! Be Savvy! Be Safe!”. This post contains useful information about the Parrot Scam. You can use the following post as a guideline to check if you are dealing with a parrot scam.
The advert you are responding to might be a scam if:
- The deal sounds too good to be true (eg “Hyacinth macaw with 16 eggs R10000″ or “Macaw for adoption”).
- The advertiser wants you to pay for parrots you have not seen.
- The cell number on the advert does not work or if you call the number you reach someone who did not advertise parrots (Scammers do this to lure advertisers into responding via e-mail).
- The e-mail reply that you receive from the advertiser is from a web-based e-mail address that can be created in 5 five minutes online (eg @yahoo.com / @yahoo.co.uk / @googlemail.com / @gmail.com / @hotmail.com / @hotmail.co.uk / @live.com / @live.co.za / @msn.com).
- An online search for the person’s e-mail address and reports of scams on websites like Fraudwatchers appear in the search results.
- The response you receive from the advertiser contains broken English and it sounds like a person who knows nothing about parrots when you ask them specific details.
- You receive photos of the parrots from the advertiser and they are available on other websites on the internet.
- The advertiser claims to be in a foreign African country and that they are not able to care for the parrot (in some cases they claim to be missionaries).
- The advertiser is not using a valid Pet Transport Agency. (You can check this with IPATA - An International Trade Association of animal handlers, pet moving providers, kennel operators, veterinarians).
If you have been a victim of a scam please contact us at ccc@junkmail.co.za or if you have found a fraudulent advert on our website please make use of the “Report Advert” option which is provided for each advert on the website to report the advert to us ASAP. You can read a transcript of the full Carte Blanche report at this link.
This advert is a variation of the scam which claims that a Hyacinth Macaw parrots is available for adoption. A pair of Hyacinth Macaws sells for R300,000 to R400,000 (according to the Carte Blanche piece)
Junk Mail works closely with the SAPS in this regard. We follow up on all scams that are reported to us.
We’ve covered the ‘Pet Scams’ topic previously on the Junk Mail blog. You can read our post about this topic at this link.
Henno Kruger
Social Media Contributor and Blogger at Junk Mail Publishing.
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I am glad to see Junkmail is doing their part but in fact all users should be vigilant and report this stuff. It does not help you see a scam and just avoid it. It is everyones duty to report it and in doing so protecting others in the process. Junkmail is just the platform we use to sell and find stuff, and it is every users responsibility to look out for other users out there.
I got scamed by versacerobson@yahoo.co.uk.
He also uses universaldelivery@representative.com
I bought Rottwieler puppies R5400 and I did not get my puppies nor my money back.
Be carefull people.
I got scamed with Rottwieler puppies.
The guy ”Rev Gates” said they moved to Botswana to do ”missionary work” he said to pay for the flights which was R2400 and then he as well as the transporting company emailed me telling me about insurance money, I paid R3000. then they said due to the fact that the puppies stayed there for 5days i must pay another R1000 for accomodation, which i refused to pay, now i almost dont hear from him anymore. I found the ad on the junk mail a few weeks ago maybe a month.
His details:versacerobson@yahoo.co.uk from Botswana
Transport company:universal pet deliveries
universaldelivery@representative.com
Payment details to:Mrs Brain Venakong
Place: Cameroon
City: Limbe
Zip Code:00237
Test question: where
Test answer: Here.
Just want to inform everyone, about this ”Rev Versace Robson Gates.
So be carefull people and pet lovers.