I was in a text discussion with this man who also gave me the same information above. I asked him to send me a video of the puppy that I wanted. The video didn’t look like the same puppy he sent to me via text message. He told me that it was older and grew. But I was still suspicious, so I goggled searched his name and found these reports. I’m so happy that I did. thank you. This confirms everything that I thought from the beginning. So sad because the puppy was very sweet and cute.
This dude is still at it with his scams! Last night and today, my husband and I have been in conversations with him regarding toy poodle puppies. We found by googling poodles for sale in Ontario, which routed us to www.puppiesforsale.com. It lists him as residing in Thunderbay. He sent us pictures and videos and seemed knowledgeable and legit. He asked for an $800 deposit and said the puppy would be couriered to us with the rest of the fee due upon receipt. $2500 for one $3200 for two. I said that we could be happy to fly to him to collect the puppy as I did not like the idea of having it fly as cargo, however he insisted on the courier saying they travel with toys and are comfortable and he does this all the time. 🤷🏼♀️
All the puppy videos showed him with a white family, and after speaking with him I could tell I was speaking with a black man with a thick French accent. Something did not sit well with me so we googled his name and saw this thread! Thank GOD. We almost got scammed! This is absolutely horrible.
I wish I had seen this sooner.
On April 28, 2020, I saw an ad for a Bichon Poodle puppy on www.getapuppy.ca. (The ad was deleted before I could take a screenshot) I contacted the seller (Frank Joaquim) that night. We discussed the price and $1200 was agreed upon for the purchase of the dog (which was supposed to cover all costs required for puppy transfer. ) An initial e-transfer of $600 was made that night, and balance payment on pup’s arrival.
Frank’s listed address was Woodstock but when we texted, he told me his current address is Red Lake, Ontario. I was willing to drive the 20 hours to pick up the puppy, but he insisted on using a pet courier service he was familiar with.
The courier (Universal Express Shipping) emailed me informing me that Frank’s crate was unsuitable for air transport and a fully refundable rental fee of $1500 was required to proceed. The $1500 was unable to be deposited via e-transfer to the courier so Frank received the money instead for the transaction.
On May 1, upon receipt of the money, the pup’s delivery was further delayed as the courier informed me there was an issue with “traveling life insurance” for the dog that the seller was taking care of. I did not hear anything for 8 hours until the courier informed me they were en route but delayed in Sudbury with another delivery.
This morning I received a text from the courier that the puppy needed “a city license permit” before they could proceed with the delivery. I spoke with the courier by phone, they told me an “importation permit” is needed which costs a further $1800, to bring the dog to Toronto and this was a recent policy due to COVID-19. I asked for proof of this new law, they promptly hung up the phone and ceased communication. Frank asked me to send the final $600 so he could pay it but I refused, as it negated our deal and he backed out of the transaction. Thus $2100 was lost.
Total money lost $800
Type of a scam Other
I contacted a Dog Breeder on PuppiesforSaleontario.com. I found a dog breeder on line who I contact via phone and we texted and communicated over the phone. They advised on the puppy stats that I was looking for and required a deposit of funds. Once the deposit was received, the breeder indicated that he required further details to ship the puppy as it was already 12 weeks old. I was put in touch with the shipping organization who then advised they required a further etransfer of funds however the breeder indicated credit card would be accepted. Once it seemed like a scam, I contacted the breeder to advise and he indicated that he had already spent the funds. I have asked for a refund and to date, no funds have been returned and the breeder does not return my calls. He wanted me to drive 10 hours to pick up the dog which was not part of the agreement. I am not out $800.