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The Museum of Hoaxes is dedicated to promoting knowledge about hoaxes. (Click here for opening hours, etc.) On our blog we post about dubious- sounding claims, and whatever else strikes our fancy. The site is also home to the Hoax Photo Database, the Hoax Forum, and the Hoaxipedia.

Web Hoax Museum

RUDE ROVER
The Christmas dog with no class! He sings and toots Jingle Bells.
INFLATABLE TREE
Who needs the hassle of a real Christmas tree?
FARTING SANTA
Go ahead and pull his finger!

"... You're lucky to have mailed at this time because the puppy has just been placed on adoption by one of my customers, who went on a veterinarian work transfer with the West African veterinarian commission Lagos Nigeria, West Africa. He is giving the pup up for adoption because he cant take good care of the pup due to his busy and tight state of work. All he wants is someone that's homely and with a good christian home to adopt this young and lovely human best friend."

i fell victim to this scam, lost over 800$. and then another 200$ in phone bills after trying to contact them and harassing them. I wish there was more being done to stop it,...oh well.

Dear Victims and Would-be Victims-
I'm just blowing off someone from Maryland in Nigeria for work who has an English Bulldog. He still keeps emailing me asking me why I am so skeptical.
His email address:
I don't know for sure if this is a scam, but how can I not think it is when my story almost ended up the same as all of yours?
He can't spell (or speak English very well), he wants the money "yesterday" via Western Union, he wants to make sure I'm blessed ("God Bless you and your family"). He ALMOST had me. As a matter of fact, he just responded, again, asking me if I was still interested because he has another interested family. I said no, and that if he was legit, he might want to advertise and accept payment in a different way.
Son of a bitch! He just emailed me AGAIN saying he's sorry that I'm skeptical, but send him the money right away so I can get the puppy tomorrow. Not only can he not spell worth a damn, he also doesn't understand English.
BEWARE OF THIS GUY! Want proof? Email me, and I'll email you our conversations from the very beginning.

-Stephanie

Hi Stephanie!
I am SO glad you saved your money. I have to tell you one other point my husband and I were talking about when WE almost got scammed. You see, we ended up getting a little Coton de Tulear from a reputable breeder, and from the time we sent the money to the time he was able to ship him was 2 or 3 days, and we were kinda rushing him because we were going to be near the airport to pick him up that weekend. So, we were talking about it, and I don't think it is POSSIBLE for them to send the puppy that fast, especially from Nigeria. (They have to be Vet checked before they can fly, they have to arrange it with the airline, etc...all stuff we didn't know until later.) When we were almost scammed, they told us we could have our "precious babies" in 12 hours. YEAH RIGHT!!! Thanks for sharing your story. It will help others!
JoJo

Hi Jojo-
I think I'd rather pay $2000 for the real deal than $350 for nothing at all.
On a side note, I think he's done emailing me, I had to get mean but sometimes that's what it takes!
Take Care-
Stephanie

On Feb. 5, 2007 I contacted a breeder on puppyfind.com. The breeders name was Michael James, email: , phone: 5635826449, location: Chicago, IL. Michael informed me that he had just sold his last puppy but referred me to another man that he had just sold 2 puppies too. This mans name was Pastor Brian Park, and was presently in Africa doing missionary work. He stated that the Pastor could no longer keep the dogs because had "committed his life to god" and the African weather was too harsh on them. He gave me the Pastors info as email: , phone: +2348062928274. I then got in contact with the pastor. The Pastor told me that he had two puppies (Betty and Blake, he also provided pics) available for $700 each, plus $200 for shipping. At first I thought this was an amazing deal, I was soo excited, since these pups are usually $1500. However, I was a little apprehensive. So I then went online to google.com and searched the Pastors name. In my shock the man actually existed. Google returned a page on a Korean Pastor, named Brian Park. I was then sure that I wasn't being scammed. I kept in contact with the Pastor over email for the next two days. I then asked him to phone me with information about payment. This is when I realized it was a scam. Pastor Brian called me, but instead of having a Korean accent, he had a Nigerian accent. I know this because I have several friends from Nigeria and I recognize the accent. He then told me he needed my payment ASAP. He told me to send the payment via Western Union money tranfer. The info he provided to wire the money is: Name : Oladimeji Olaribigbe. City: Itire Surulere. State: Lagos State. Country: Nigeria. Zipcode: 23401. The first alarm is the name of the person I am sending the money to. Pastor Brian informed me that Oladimeji is his manager and that this man was taking care of all the arrangements for the Pastor because the Pastor was so busy with his "god work." Pastor Brian continued to call me multiple times throughout the day asking when I was going to send the money. He began pressuring and yelling me saying he had other offers, but I wasn't buying it. At this point I told him I was no longer interested in the dogs. I think he called me seven times in one day. The Pastor tried several ways to manipulate me into sending him the $900 ASAP. I just do not want anyone else to be taken advantage of. I found multiple advertisements by James Michael on the web regarding his french bulldogs. He didn't only post on puppyfind.com. I also found similar stories to mine (except the people lost their money) of a US breeder referring people to a Pastor in Africa doing "god's work." The stories are all the same except different used, some are Pastor James, Pastor Harry, etc. Before buying ask to see a pic of the Pastor with the dog, or tell him that you have colleagues in the area that would like to come by and look at the dog. If they say no, you know it’s a scam.

Hey Stephanie!
Yeah! I TOTALLY agree with you! We payed about $850 for our Coton, shipping and everything (Which I hear is pretty cheap for the breed, but it was this breed's first litter, so we lucked out. They have raised their prices since.). Anyway, the GREAT thing was...we actually GOT the dog! So, like you, I had NO problem paying more from someone legit. We got the dog, and he has been AWESOME for us!!!
And, yep! Sometimes, mean and to the point is the only thing that will get through...especially to people that are dishonets and SCAM!
I wish you the best in finding the dog that you are wanting. We found out that there ARE good reputable breeders around, it is just a matter of finding them.
Sincerely,
JoJo

Hee, Hee, I meant "dishonest" not "dishonets"...but hey! Close enough!

Well they are still at it, with a different email address. ... Luckily I can spot scam, but some people cant. These people need to be stopped, using puppies and God to scam good people out of there hard earned money is about as low as you can get. Here is the email they sent me.

From: Jeffery Boden [mailto:jeffboden31@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2007 4:24 AM
To: Chris
Subject: Re: English Bulldog

Thanks for your interest in my lovely baby.She is still very much available for new home.She is 11 weeks old,she will be 60lbs at full grown,her parents weighed 55-60lbs at full grown, She is AKC registered and her shots are given up to date,she is vet checked and healthy.All her papers will accompany her, But right now i am in africa on a Christian mission with my wife and we have her right here with us.We are going to ship her to you via Express pets delivery on next day delivery after shippment through a shipping agent , i am leaving her for $600 Including shipping.If you are interested in having her, i want you to get back to me with your full name,address including the nearest airport to you.Please if you know that you are not going to take very good care of my baby do not reply me because i am only giving her out because we dont have time to take care of her again due to the mission work before us here.Await your response. View attached file for more pictures.

Thanks and God Bless
Mr & Mrs Boden

Hi this is one of 2 emails i recieved from a man called "Tony Mike" email address when i enquired about a bulldog puppy

Hello ,
how are you ,i am very happy reading from you.i am actually giving
mimi out because she used to belong to my daughter (jenner) but
jenner died last month in a car accident on her way back from
school.i really need someone who could take mimi ,give her love
,care and attention just as i normally do.
Mimi was born on the 08-27-2006 she is Registered ,has taken all
Current vaccinations, Veterinarian examination ok, Health
certificate available,she comes with a one year health
guarantee,very excellent Pedigree,she also has a Travel crate
please i am so busy wih work now and i really need a home for mimi,
email me back if you are ready to take her.i am in the UK.please where
abouts in the UK are you
located??????????????????????.maybe we could be close and you can
come pick her up.i have attached her most recent pictures
thanks

This is the other email, he was offering the puppy for free, and i thought that i would email him as i knew it was proberly a scam and i wanted to see what he would say to delivering the puppy himself

Hello Trisha,
i am very happy reading from you.
please note that you must accept the following conditions listed below
before i give her to you:

1-To provide warm, dry, draught-free, clean, spacious sleeping quarters
indoors.
2-To provide good and sufficient exercise at least twice a day.
3-To provide sufficient good quality food at regular intervals appropriate
to
the dog's age, size, state of health etc., and constant access to fresh
drinking water.
4-To provide qualified veterinary treatment in case of illness or injury,
and
to pay for all bills ensuing. Relevant insurance is highly recommended.
5-To worm the dog under veterinary advice (at least every four months)
6-To fit a collar with name, address and telephone number (where possible)
inscribed on it to be worn at all times.
7-Not to let the dog roam unsupervised.
8-Not to keep the dog chained up, confined or left alone for long periods
(guidelines: 2 hours while she is still a puppy and 4 hours as she grows
to be an adult dog)
9-To have the dog inoculated against parvo-virus, distemper (hard-pad),
hepatitis and leptospirosis etc. plus any other recommended vaccinations
e.g. kennel cough, and to have the annual boosters done for the rest of the
dog's life.
10-To provide proper care in the event of absence (e.g. holidays, sickness
etc.)

since you dont drive ,i could ship her to you at your expence,the shipping
from here to you in bristol will cost £150 with accessories included.you can
call me so we make proper arrangements.my number is 07053801603


thanks and i am expecting you call right away

Below is the text of an obviously Nigerian scam. The guy sent it to our paper (...to the Abuse address. Great idea!). Now they are pretending to be located in the States. Why can't 419ers afford a spell checker?

Hello Editor,

New Year wishes to you all, I am emailing you to let you know that i am interested in placing an avdert in your newspaper. Below is the advert details.
=======================================================
======
AD TEXT BELOW :

HEAD LINE : English Bulldogge-Puppies Now Available We offer you very beautiful puppies bulldog,Puppies will have had their first well puppy check-up, shots /worming appropriate for age of puppy, and come with a Certified Health Certificate from our Licensed Veterinarian.Our bulldogs are breed for looks, health, and tempermant. Dogs are registered through AKC REG.
Take a look, I am sure you will find them to be adorable.Contact me on my phone (757-217-2876) or
Email: ( )

=======================================================
======
My information is written below for record purpose.
Name : Debbie Pat
Address : 1469 Diamond Springs Rd Suite A,Virginia Beach, Va. 23455 , Phone : 757-217-2876 Email : =======================================================
======
I want you to calculate the total cost for 4 weeks and get back to me.So that i can send you my Credit Card details for the payment. Please let me know if you are a daily newspaper or weekly
papers.( )

I just kinda want to add in a couple of things I came across. I've been looking for a english bulldog for a couple of months now on nextdaypets. I thought I would just glance at the rescues. And I came across not 1, but 3 of the same situations. I knew from the beginning when they kept pressing the christian act so strong and the missionary missions etc, etc and insisted on western union that it was a scam. Although I love animals and would NEVER hurt an animal, I even told them my intentions was to hurt the animals, and they STILL wanted me to send the money in exchange for the puppies. Since then, I have been so upset that people would even do this, that I constantly look at the adds on nextdaypets and there are so many daily. English Bulldogs, American Bulldogs, and Yorkies. How many people lose their hard earned honest money each year and why can't they be caught. I also had to have Trojan Horses removed from my laptop after receiving emails from them. So who knows if you don't fall for their dog scam and even if you do, if they're not getting every password you enter in your computer when you're paying your bills online.

At other times they have tried to place ads for cars and furniture. Same pidgin English...sent to the Abuse address. A couple of times they have successfully placed online ads at our web site.

Be careful who you buy from.

Hello, there is a gent by the name of Clementino Lay that is selling bullies for 400 dollars in the Kansas Mo news and says they live in TX but phone is in CA and then wanted me to send money to Malaysia! Says he owes vet money there.His VET is there for a seminar! Thank goodness we did not fall for this. His number is 510-860-4327 He wants money sent to a Emmanuel Ashiedu in Nilai in Nageri Semilan 71800 Malaysia! Told him he was busted and he gave me the old God knows That pissed me off even more!
Beware! If anyone knows of a bullie for a pet at a decent price please wright I have nieces and a nephew that had there hopes up and now are very upset. Please respond

I hthink I have been scamed but I am not sure I was contacted as to beneficiary sole to an inheridence of 3.2 million dollars. I have sent money to them to get a dlea clearence certificate then the chase manhattan bank in london was to transfer these funds to account here in the states then I got a letter fron the United Nations say the transfer was stopped due to a anti terriost certificate not being obtained. when I did not send any more money I have not heard from anyone after serveral attempts have been made. I have sent approximately 12775 usa dollars.they sent me an ownership certificate of the funds. I do not know what to do to get these funds or at the very least the money already sent back

Barbara; you got scammed. Sorry to say this but if the inheritence had been real, you would have had to pay nothiing up front for any fees or taxes or whatever. You will never see your money again. Contact the FBI, they handle wire fraud cases, with all the emails you got. You should also contact the investigation section of whoever you sent the money through. Both will investigate and be unable to find anything since the scammers are probably close with the local police in whatever country they work from and any investigation will die there. Sorry for you, but true. The fact that someone you don't know left you 3.2 million dollars should have been a red flag to end all red flags. But, unfortunately, for the vast majority of people such red flags never get seen. I was almost scammed by the "internet lottery" one and if I hadn't been scammed many years ago I probably wouldn't have listened to any doubts about the near miss.

I too got scammed on the "Bulldog". Trust me, I have heard it all on how stupid I am, but it really seemed like a good deal. Once again, I know, I am stupid. I sent "harrydoug@yahoo" $600.00 for the dog and s/h. Once he recieved my money, he needed more to get her out of "cutoms".
That would cost me another $300.00. I e-mailed him back and told him that I just sent him $600.00, he could use that to get her out. This pissed him off. He threatened to kill me if the dog died because of the harsh conditions in Africa. This scared and pissed me off. I called the local law enforcements. Now he is sending me boogus checks wanting me to cash them, keep the $600.00 I sent him, send the rest of it to 2 different people to two different addresses.
He too told me that he was doing "missionary" work.
I hope that he keeps pissing me off, cause the more he does, the harder I am trying to catch him.
Names he gave me and names that he gave to my fake accounts that I made up
Harry Dough, Harry Doug, Sonia Smith, Omownmi Dada, Jeff Nuby, Emmanuel Odusina, and Matt Edwards. PLEASE BEWARE OF THOSE NAMES!!!!!

ppl i just fell for this scam!! plz someone tell me how can this be so? is anyone doing something about it? i am still so confused and upset byt he situation??

I found an add in the nickel want adds regarding a papered registered bulldog puppy and it was by a paster karen in Lagos Nigeria and she wanted 400.00 via western union..her ema-l was and stupid me i sent the 400.00 by western union but it bugged me all day and I did research on nigerian bulldog scams and well surprise what I read really matched with what this person was trying to do to me..I stopped my money transfer in time and got my money back before the person had gotten to the money so too bad for them but i will not lose money to an idiot.. you cant overnight puppies from a third world country..does not happen

Well didnt we have a response from pastor troy who was sent to west africa on a missionary statement. He also provided us with information where we contacted the breeder here in canada who confirmed his information. We were also sent emails from a "shipping" company who were all phoney. They should all be shot stealing from my familys mouth. Sorry to all you honest merchands on the internet but i and everyone i can breath this too will never buy online again!!!