Victim Location 95035
Total money lost $1,445
Type of a scam Online Purchase
Entered into Pet Sale Contract with a Taylor Morgan,the Breeder/Seller. Sent $600.00 via MoneyGram to a Lakiel Oliver (supposedly the son of the breeder) to purchase "Drake" a 12-week old male golden retriever puppy.
Then days before delivery, notified by breeder’s choice of delivery agent, United Pet Relocation, 1700 Memorial Ave., Lynchburg VA phone: (719) 422-4011 that they required puppy life insurance coverage before they’d ship. Sent $845.00 via MoneyGram to a Parker Howard, of Richmond, VA 23260. Being assured that upon delivery of Drake, 95% of this $845.00 would be refunded to me.
Then, advised by a Frederick McBride, a customer service agent for United Pet Relocation, that the puppy Drake was supposedly being held by the animal check-in unit at Charlotte, NC airport pending a rabies vaccination and acclimation certification; which United Pet Relocation would rectify once I’d sent an additional $510.00. (Charlotte, NC airport (704) 359-4013 animal handler said they didn’t have that policy and they didn’t have the puppy, either.
Interestingly enough, all MoneyGram payment instructions contain the following verbiage:
IMPORTANT NOTICE
*** We always advise clients not to disclose the reason for the transaction in the store because they will consider it as a commercial transaction and request high transfer charges. So, in case you are asked the purpose of the transaction at the store, just tell them you are sending the payment to a friend or relative to avoid the huge transfer charges associated with commercial transactions.***