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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."

Hello, I was just scammed 350.00$ The name of the guy was Pastor Philip from Oyo Nigeria. I thought I was buying a female bully because he could not give her the proper care over there with his mission work. HA! HA! Then to my suprise she got caught up with customs because he had not transfered her into my name. He needed another $200.00 to save her from customs so they would go ahead with shipping. I told him I only had $100.00 and was stupid enough to fall for it. Thank heavens I did some research and found out about this scam and called western union and had the transfer stopped. My children are devastated by this night mare. There has got to be a way to have authorities stop these scammers. Thanks for letting me vent. Juli

Someone placed an ad in the local paper about a free bulldog puppy to a loving home... after messaging the 'owner' and coming to find that the dog was located in LAGOS, AFRICA... we decided to do our research and came across "the african bulldog scam". He almost got us for $350 'pet express delivery' haha.


One sure way to find out is to ask them for a picture of the puppy with a piece of paper that has your name written on it or a familier object next to it....

Also... It's very likely it's a scam if they are using western union. No bulldog breeder or ranch use western union.

i have to admit, finding this site has saved me money. I tink i was nearly scammed by a 'missionary'in Nigeria. I have the message here...

Am only intrested in giving out this baby to a loving home were they will be love and well treated,if you are intrested in both babies is $350 for both while one will cost you $200,I got your information; I thank the almighty god that I found an interesting parent for my puppy. All you need do is go to a Grocery Store that operate western union around your location, tell them you will like to send money a receipt would be given to you, fill the receipt with your full contact information, your puppy will be ship next day available flight to your Airport .Then send your payment to the shipping agent in charge of shipping your puppy back to united state.
Immediately after sending your payment email me with the western union reference number, I will forward all the information to the shipping agent to confirm your payment, Then send you all the flight details on when the puppy is expected to arrive your Airport , I will email the flight arrival time flight number, Am so happy that my baby is moving to a lovely home.send me the nearest airport to your location.

I wasn't really sure about what to do, but after seeing an episode of Doctor Phil where a group of people scamed thousands out of their money and find this website, i decided it wasn't a good idea. Thanks!

I think i am getting the same thing :/. it was different names and they sent me pic without me even asking. Saying they just want to get the pup to a good b/c it was not good weather for that kind of dog out there. They only asked for the shipping fee and seemed really concerned for the dog i said i could not afford the shipping fee and thus asked what i could afford now and said we could try to work something out b/c he really just wanted to make sure the pup was safe and out of harms way. i dunno what do you guys think??

IF YOU HAVE BEEN SCAMMED PLEASE E-MAIL ME YOUR STORY AT !!!!

i got this exact same email from the guy. thanks for this site, it made me realize i was about to make a huge mistake!!

Hello

I am so happy hearing from, my address in United States of America is: 4114 DAVIS PLACE , WASHINGTON but i am presently in Nigeria for a vet commission for 3 years in: 1st avenue 111 Apapa vet road center Lagos Nigeria .

We are register Vet Company and have so many customer, check out our customer Testimonials about our puppy’s at :( http://www.lovemarkpuppy.com ) and they have no regret. Attached is the pictures of the Yorkie pups and they are AKC register and they have there current vaccinations and vet Exams updated. They are 3lb.

The cost for each puppy is $300 including shipment, when shipping they will come with there certified health papers, it will be ship through Virgin airline immediately.

Send to me your Full name / telephone number and home address for the shipment. i will be waiting to hear from you and i hope you will take good care of the puppy’s, we care a lot for them so we advice you also do the same.

Please ensure you call me on: 0112348033761656

Please get back to me immediately.

Thank you and God bless.

Regards,

Rev: Chris Fisher


Note; I will be sending you my puppy’s AKC register document for your safe keeping.

Yeah i got scammed for 400 dollars, by someone who went by the title of Gayle O'neal, western unioned to cameroon. Be careful, these people WILL get you to trust them. I did a lot of research, and this guy was pretty good

I just answered a similar add in my local paper. I was suspicious and did a search for bulldog scams. I've seen evidence of this scam going back at least to 2006. This happend to me in March 2008.

The first email I received from them was the following:

Thanks for your interest in my lovely baby . She is still very much available for new home.She is 12 weeks old,she will be 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 $500 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 her current pictures in the attach files.

Thanks and God Bless
Mr & Mrs Watton

Hey I think they are doing this scam with Yorkies too. I answered an ad on puppyfinder.com for an adoption and then this other person emailed me saying that the original person no longer had that dog but that she has two. She said that she is a doctor who had to move to Nigeria and needs a good home for the puppies, all I have to pay is for the shipping and she will make all the arrangements. Her English was not that good and in the emailed she first wrote the puppies were 12 wks. old and later wrote they were 14 wks old. Are they serious?? I wish we could do something to stop them from taking advantage of people. I emailed her a link to this website too and asked if she had anything further to say. I'll keep you posted if she gets enough balls to email back...

Yohanna,
I would like to suggest if you haven't already done so to report them to the puppyfinder website you found them on. I reported them to the newspaper here & they said they would take off the ad but it is difficult for them to keep them all off since they can post them for free on-line. Good luck!

Apparently scam artists in Nigeria have no consience when it comes to using God in a scam. It's sad. I almost fell for it, then I noticed little discrepancies that sent up fireworks, nevermind the red flags. When I got an email telling me that the bulldog I was interested in would be $300 and that there is an additional $500 insurance charge I told them to stick it in an oraface that is very uncomfortable...the guy's name was Chris Fisher, and he supposedly works for a "Lord Stanley" in Logos, Nigeria. They all seem to come from there too. How about that...hmm.

By the way here's his email: & his phone number is: 0112348033761656 & 0112348037508712

Someone needs to nail these people.

hi! okay i almost fell for this exact scam too! i'm a college student and wanted to get the dog for my boyfriend but my parents said no because it sounded shady and they were right! however i was a flaming IDOIT and gave them my address to "ship the puppy to me" i feel so stupid and i have definetly learned my lesson but i SCARED! what if they like come after me or something. i wasnt rude or anything i just told them i didnt have the money and they havent emailed me again. but if anyone else was stupid enough to give them your actually address i want to know if anything bad happpened to you???!!!! thanks!!!

sorry i meant *idiot

I almost got scammed but thought to check this out first as it seemed too good to be true. A free teacup yorkie shipped from Yaounde Cameroon.

The Scammers email address is

cute teacup yorkie puppies for free
posted: April 26, 2008, 07:30 AM

lovely teacup yorkie puppies for free adoption.contact us through the email address you see below their pictures when you enlarge them,Beautiful little girls and boy. Soft and silky coats,Has a very nice personality and temperament. Playful and sweet,very outgoing and busy all the time.this tiny little babies are AKC Registered. they are happy go lucky and likes attention.send us an email through the email address below their pictures if you want one or two.
Contact: (250) 350-3350

Below is the letter I got when responding to an ad on the internet offering free puppies.

hello, thanks for contacting me.and sorry i only have one left. i know you will love her. i simply call her lily, she loves her name,she is 11 weeks old when ever i call her lily she will run up to me like a three year old kid,she has a very beautiful head, ears and coat. she has been raised in the home with lots of love and care, and is well socialized with a wonderful temperament she is vet checked and up to date on all her shots and will need them only after six months, lily is very fine among kids and other pets like dogs,cats.birds etc, she will make a very fine house pet.her face is just too adorable.this little girl loves to run and play.likes to stop and smell flowers.she is a pleasure to have around,she is very friendly,playful and has a very good behavior.very fine where ever i keep her.i traveled
out to Yaounde Cameroon 8 days ago and i have come to discover that the weather and climate condition here in Cameroon is not good for her and i love her so much that i will not want anything to happen to her here, so i just want to ship her back to the states to any loving and caring home.i'll be shipping direct way which will only take few hours, since she is up to date and has all her health records. it wont take any long, she will have to come with full legal authorization permit.so permit.so you will have no problems having my little princess with you. she will come along with all her papers,toys and a 1 year health guarantee. she will bring so much love and joy to your home or family for the new year.get back to me if you are interested in her and let me know where you are located.your detail home address where you will want her deliver to or the closest airport to you where
you can pick her up from.email me your contact number so i can call you..also she is free and so all you will need do is pay for theshipping. thanks and get back soon.

We almost got scammed as well by the same Nigerian liars. Luckily, we did our research. Here is the info they gave:
Irma Bulcher" RECEIVER'S NAME: DAVID HALLS
ADDRESS : 360 VICTORY CHURCH STREET,
LAGOS,
NIGERIA 23401.
TEXT QUESTION :FAVOURITE COLOUR ?
ANSWER : YELLOW

She as well talks about being on a Mission in Nigeria and her precious little angels, etc.
$500 for Terry the male and $900 for Derby the female, and shipping is included. Yeah, right. I hope they get caught. Not Godly people at all.

someone just tried to scam me with purchasing a shar pei. Here was the first of many emails:

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 Missionary transfer with the West African Missionaries to Nigeria, West Africa. He is giving the pup up for adoption for $300 because he can't take good care of the pup due to his busy and tight schedule at church and at his missionary work. All he wants is someone that's homely and with a good home to adopt this young and lovely human best friend." he will give the Puppy to you if you promise to take good care of the puppy. He needs a good and caring home for his puppy becuase he really wants the puppy to go to a good home. If you are willing to take the puppy contact
Rev at ( )
Thanks

Obviously my first instict was to do some research about this... and what do ya know... this "Revern Steven" was a scammer.

Here are the emails i received from the woman who claims to have this bulldog puppy but it's the same scam that was tried on my sister ..... my best friend is in search of a chihuahua or a bulldog and they almost fell for these scams ..... here are the emails that were sent to me

Hello Love
Oh! it is nice reading from you, at this time she is still available and can be shipped over to you right.Luck is not a permanent gift from God,it changes when we take things for granted .My name is Rev sister Noella located in California and i travel to St Cameroon island for an inspection of a new church building,i carried my 11weeks puppy(Nina) along with me,so i later discovered that my nature of job makes me not to show much love and attention to this pet.Loneliness is one of the greatest problem people face today.People feel various kinds of loneliness(my pet is suffering from loneliness of love). So i have now decided to give it for free(adoption).She(Nina) is home and potty trained, great with kids and other pets.she is vet checks, health examination and comes with 2 years health guaranteed.She is very cute and playful girl. Very friendly and smart dog(the breed is English bulldog)you would pay for the shipping,coming with all papers.I'll need your details if I'm to commence any shipping arrangement for the dog to get to you(your full names,home address and phone number nearest airport to your location).Your details will be use to address her traveling crate and it will be delivered at your door step.The shipping duration is just 5 hours,After i get hold on the shipping agency then I'll as well get back to you.so please if you are interested in my puppy just kindly mail me back.Please if you know you'll take good care of this pet,I'll be greatful. well Have a nice day and stay blessed
regards

The names of Sodom and Gamora are now named Nigeria. Perpertrators will know the rath of their own conscienes for the financial and emotional pain they cause those trying to ease their standard of living.

Western Union scam detection should be passed on to MoneyGram.

Thanks for your willinest to adopt my little adorable baby to be part of your family.And i pray that when my baby get to you, may almigthy God bless her and your family in Jesus name, Amen. She is still very much available for new home.She is 10 weeks old and she is AKC registered and her shots is up to date and she is also dewormed, She is pottytrianed. All her papers will be accompany with her when comming to your new home,We reside rigth Island Pack Nigeria.Where we are doing our church Training Programms as a Rev. We are a very strong good christian and we need someone who can help us take very good care of the baby like we do for her in the state, And i hope you are also achristian too t hat will take very good care of our lovely on next day delivery after shipment through one of our secretary who is one of the agent in the company , I am leaving her for $150 with the shipping . If you are interested in having her,I want you to get back to me with your
Fullname Informations Like :

Fullname Address:
Contact Phone number:
City:
State Zipcode:
Including the nearest Airport:
Tag Name which will be writing on the Puppy's Files :
New Owner's Name Full Name :

to you so the puppy can be registered in your name and the next is to ship the puppy to you asap.After payment is been confirmed at the Shipping company, i will get back to you with the flight details on how you will have to receive the puppy at the airport and all the paper works will be accompanied with the puppy okay.... Please if you know that you are not going to take very good care ofmy baby do not reply me becuase i am only giving her out becuase we don't have time to take care of her again due to my programe in the church and i will alsolike you to please scan me the pictures of your house to know how sweetable the home will be for my baby,

Thanks And God Bless You.