Victim Location 98043
Total money lost $500
Type of a scam Online Purchase
I contacted AKC Mini Dachshund to inquire about purchasing a puppy. I received email contact regarding a few different puppies including pictures. After several email exchanges Mr. Denis Dumas instructed me to send money via Western Union Money in Minutes. I originally sent it incorrectly, with the 4 business day option and was told that this was incorrect and had to be sent via Money in minutes. I sent the $500 and it was picked up. I was then informed via email that his shipping agent would contact me to make arrangements for flying the puppy. He also asked if I would be willing to send a little more money for food for Molly (the puppy I chose) since I would be on vacation for a week and he would have to keep the puppy for a week longer. The shipping agent stated that due to "poor climactic conditions" that I would need to either a) purchase an electronic air conditioned crate for $3,000 or b) to place a deposit which would be 98% refunded to me. This money would also need to be sent via Western Union Money in Minutes. I contacted carriers at Richmond International Airport and was told that this was not the case and that no animal would be shipped if it was over 85 degrees. I contacted the shipping company (Ecotransporters International Ltd – which I googled and cannot find this company) via email and let them know this and to contact me as they provided no telephone number. I emailed Mr. Dumas and expressed my concerns about being scammed. His sentiment was offended that I would accuse him of scamming and that the shipping carrier was just trying to do what was best for the puppy. I called Mr. Dumas the next day and spoke with him and told him that I would be more than happy to purchase a crate and a crate fan via Amazon and have it sent directly to him. I also told him that I would send puppy food as he had asked for this as well. He said that I should just sent him $200 for the crate and the food and that he would take care of it. I told him I could find both a crate and the puppy food that he had specified in his email via Amazon for much less. He continued to argue and get agitated. He said he would contact the shipping carrier and call me back in an hour. He never called back. I emailed again and asked that he send Molly the weekend earlier than I had asked. He emailed back and said that I was pressuring him and that I just needed to send the $200 and he would get Molly to him. I said that I would absolutely send no more money via Western Union and asked for his address again to send the crate a food. Since this email I have heard nothing from Mr. Dumas. I have requested him to contact me, to give me a full refund and finally emailed him letting him know that I would be contacting various agencies to report the transaction as fraudulent. I have received no communication from him and no puppy.