Knowing what scams are out there and how to identify them is very important as they take shape in all different forms. With more utilizing online platforms to buy and sell items, especially on Facebook Marketplace, Monmouth Police Department Investigator Josh Kramer advises using caution:
“A lot of animal purchases, whether it be dogs, exotic animals, birds, and usually the part that grabs your attention is the price. It starts out as sounding really good, you will provide them with payment, and then they will tell you there is a problem with delivery, there has to be insurance, they are at the airport now, there will be a fee of some sort and it will keep going and going. You will never end up seeing the dog that you thought you ordered. Usually after about the third payment that you make to them, they will disappear, just because they know you are onto them or if you keep giving them money, they will keep telling you that there are more problems.”
If you do sell or purchase an item off Facebook Marketplace, Investigator Kramer recommends meeting in a public place and make sure the currency that is provided is real money.
