HOW TO SPOT A SCAMMER! --RED FLAGS
Did you get scammed?
Or almost get scammed?
WOW! I am amazed at the stories I hear of the scammers. It is so sad.
Here are some ways to help you detect a scammer:
a) Price is not realistic. If it seems to good to be true, it probably is! Scammers *lure* you into their trap with low-discount prices! Amazing...Beautiful cats at a deep discount! This is a RED FLAG! It is so tempting and it works! A real Maine coon from a real breeder should cost somewhere between $1500 and $4000. Unfortunately, if it seems *cheap*, something is not right.
b) Look closely at the photos. Scammers are getting more clever with the photos, but usually the photos are not right. You may see one photo advertised repeatedly (one as a male and again as a female). Or different backgrounds for each cat (a breeder will snap photos of kittens with similar backgrounds). Are the litters separated or are all kittens lumped together? (breeders must keep things organized) Are the parents named (real breeders love their cats and will have photos of them).. Can you find multiple snapshots of the same kitten (real breeders take lots of pictures, look for progression of age and multiple angles VS scammers usually have 1 CUTE photo they copied from the internet)?
c) Website design…. Simple! Quickly thrown together!..… make note of misspelled words and/or sentences that don’t make sense! These things throw up RED FLAGS!
Check out their “about me” or “who we are” page. Scammers will have very little personal information about themselves (or may leave it off completely). If there are no details or something seems off/not right this is a RED FLAG.
d) LOTS and LOTS of kittens!.....this should be a give-away! Be careful of ANYONE who has LOTS and LOTS of kittens (and puppies also). Try to imagine what is going on. If this is true: are they getting the proper care? Socialization? What kind of environment can handle this sort of factory? Or is it a scam? RED FLAG...just think about the realistic scenario (not the kitten)
e) COMMUNICATION…… ~ I never accept payment until I have spoken to someone in person~ This protects ME & YOU. I will not sell a kitten to someone I have not met.....and as a buyer (with so many scammers) it is imperative for you to speak to someone over the phone before you send money. However, I have heard scammers will sometimes talk on the phone.
f) Video……If you are in doubt, ask for a video call! A scammer doesn't have the kitten so he can't produce it for a video call......this one is certain!
g) Tons of Testimonials……A SCAMMER'S #1 GOAL IS TO GAIN YOUR TRUST! Many scammer websites usually have TONS of testimonials. Okay, real breeders have testimonials too.
All of these things are not 100%--scammers copy real breeders and that is what makes it difficult. But being armed with these guidelines should throw up red flags.
SIMPLE WEBSITES…..CHEAP PRICES……TONS OF TESTIMONIALS……LOTS OF KITTENS…..PHOTOS AREN’T RIGHT