Scam Protection-to help protect you & your family....
We have decided to create a page dedicated to help guide you through your online search for the perfect sphynx kitty. Sadly, this world is full of dis-honest people who find it their pride and joy to sit behind their computer to search for cute photo's of baby sphynx to steal hoping they will "sell" and convince you to send them money. These people will steal from anyone and we find our pictures stolen and being advertised by scammers ALL THE TIME. We have started writing our website name on our photo's to detour scammers from stealing them but some will go as far as stealing the picture and taking the time to physically remove the logo.
Luckily, if you are aware and educate yourself, you can see all the red flags which will protect you and make you feel confident in your final decision. I am going to do my best to out-line the red flags scammers leave behind along with some REAL ads posted by scammers so you can see and read what a scam ad looks like. I will also list things you can say and ask which will give the ultimate "yes" or "no" on this is a scam.
1) THE SCAMMERS MIND: A scammer wants your money and that is it. They want it short, simple, and to the point (the money). They will not talk to you on the phone instead they will ask you to "text only" or resort to just emails. They will not provide a website URL and will usually provide only a P.O. box address if it goes that far. They do not bother answering lengthy emails or a series of questions-they are too busy running other more, "promising" ads and responses than to try and make up bogus answers.
EXAMPLE OF REAL SCAMMER AD: Ultimate sphynx kitten,Please kindly text your email address to me at 980-404-1583 for more details and pictures of my kittens Thanks.Text your Email Address to 980-404-1583 PLEASE. Text to me Just Your Email Address Please.
2) A scammer has only what pictures they can steal. If you are in any doubt that the kitten you are considering is part of a scam ask the person to take a "random" picture that could only be done if the person actually has the kitten. For example, "Could you please send me a picture of this kitten standing on a white piece of paper" or, "Could you please take a picture with this kitten by a bananna". If it's a scam you will either never hear back from them as they realize you are onto them or they will find excuses as to why they haven't done it but assure you they will.
3) SCAMMERS OFFER FANTASTIC DEALS!: Most scam ads I see are "offering" the kitten for a fraction of what a healthy, normal sphynx kitten would cost. For example $350.00-$600 when the average cost of a sphynx is $900-$1600. They are relying on the potential buyer to be un-aware of the normal cost for a healthy sphynx so when they see the $400 and darling photo's they get very excited and are ready to place that deposit or send full payment. Scammers don't expect to make a ton of money each scam they win.... they rely on all the small amounts to add up as these sick people advertise everywhere and will often be scamming puppies and all sorts of other pets.
4) SCAMMERS PRESSURE YOU: Sometimes to urge you to pay sooner a scammer will tell you, "If you pay now I will give you 50% off the total" or "if you can pay now I will ship for free". This rarely happens in the real world-it can but is rare and is always a red flag.
If you have any doubt trust your instincts.... hopefully reading this will help you during your search and if you have any questions about a situation you are in always feel free to ask us for our opinion. :)
*The Hooligan Team!*
Luckily, if you are aware and educate yourself, you can see all the red flags which will protect you and make you feel confident in your final decision. I am going to do my best to out-line the red flags scammers leave behind along with some REAL ads posted by scammers so you can see and read what a scam ad looks like. I will also list things you can say and ask which will give the ultimate "yes" or "no" on this is a scam.
1) THE SCAMMERS MIND: A scammer wants your money and that is it. They want it short, simple, and to the point (the money). They will not talk to you on the phone instead they will ask you to "text only" or resort to just emails. They will not provide a website URL and will usually provide only a P.O. box address if it goes that far. They do not bother answering lengthy emails or a series of questions-they are too busy running other more, "promising" ads and responses than to try and make up bogus answers.
EXAMPLE OF REAL SCAMMER AD: Ultimate sphynx kitten,Please kindly text your email address to me at 980-404-1583 for more details and pictures of my kittens Thanks.Text your Email Address to 980-404-1583 PLEASE. Text to me Just Your Email Address Please.
2) A scammer has only what pictures they can steal. If you are in any doubt that the kitten you are considering is part of a scam ask the person to take a "random" picture that could only be done if the person actually has the kitten. For example, "Could you please send me a picture of this kitten standing on a white piece of paper" or, "Could you please take a picture with this kitten by a bananna". If it's a scam you will either never hear back from them as they realize you are onto them or they will find excuses as to why they haven't done it but assure you they will.
3) SCAMMERS OFFER FANTASTIC DEALS!: Most scam ads I see are "offering" the kitten for a fraction of what a healthy, normal sphynx kitten would cost. For example $350.00-$600 when the average cost of a sphynx is $900-$1600. They are relying on the potential buyer to be un-aware of the normal cost for a healthy sphynx so when they see the $400 and darling photo's they get very excited and are ready to place that deposit or send full payment. Scammers don't expect to make a ton of money each scam they win.... they rely on all the small amounts to add up as these sick people advertise everywhere and will often be scamming puppies and all sorts of other pets.
4) SCAMMERS PRESSURE YOU: Sometimes to urge you to pay sooner a scammer will tell you, "If you pay now I will give you 50% off the total" or "if you can pay now I will ship for free". This rarely happens in the real world-it can but is rare and is always a red flag.
If you have any doubt trust your instincts.... hopefully reading this will help you during your search and if you have any questions about a situation you are in always feel free to ask us for our opinion. :)
*The Hooligan Team!*