The police are investigating a scam on the sale of pedigree animals over the internet, the Times of Malta has learnt.
The probe is looking into adverts placed on MaltaPark advertising the sale of a variety of animals for a fraction of the price they should be sold for if they had an international pedigree.
Sources said a number of Maltese customers have fallen for this trap and already transferred money to the scammers.
The sources said the advertisements for the sale of animals, which include dogs, cats and parrots among others, were posted by the usernames ‘staceyfanan’ and ‘haarrison’.
They are selling Rottweiler puppies at €400, Maltese puppies at €300, and Golden Retrievers, miniature Yorkshire Terriers and white Pomeranians for €500 each.
Most of these dogs, with pure pedigree, usually sell at around €2,000, sources said.
Sphinx kittens are also being sold.
One of the adverts for the sale of Boxer puppies reads: “Pedigree Boxer puppies, three male and four females, available for their new homes now. The puppies have been brought up on the best food so have shiny coats and are very healthy and great pups. They are now ready for their new homes. Five star homes only please make sure you have time for a new puppy as they can be a lot of work. These pups need forever homes.They will come with paperwork and some food to help you along.”
The advert calls on people to send an e-mail to the address provided and told people not to call on the number provided.
When the Times of Malta called on the numbers provided, the person who answered the call said that he had no animals for sale and that he had been inundated with calls from people who wanted to buy animals. The person said it was “a mistake”.
When informed that the police were investigating as his number appeared to have been used in a scam, the man said he was relieved at hearing this news as he was fed up with the calls.
The Times of Malta saw correspondence with one of the sellers, offering a Maltese man two puppies which were currently abroad.
Apart from €200 for each, he was asked for a further €400 to ship the animals over to Malta. He was then asked for a further €200 to register the animals, more money to insure them and a further €400 to cover vaccinations.
The man did not fall for the scam and referred the matter to the police. Sources said the police had already received several such reports, including from people who had transferred the cash but remained without any animals.
Attempts to contact MaltaPark management proved futile.
matthew.xuereb@timesofmalta.com