FW: scam alert

[Guest guest]

Currently there is what seems to be an internet scam circulating in

the vet community but it might make its way into the animal welfare NGO's.

 

It is basically offering to donate a (used) mobile clinic / surgical

unit with some equipment - however according to information any one

interested is asked to send $$$ in advance to cover the transport..who knows

what then happens - not much I would imagine except the cash disappears!

 

The name of the donating vet changes in different versions of the

letter.

 

I am not sure if such a scam might find its way into the NGO

community - I might well have forwarded it on if I hadn't been alerted by a

colleague who had seen other versions!

 

Perhaps you can post a simple warning to beware on AAPN - this is

the first time I have come across this type of internet scam based on

donating vet equip!

 

Regards,

 

Fiona

 

Dr Fiona Woodhouse

 

BA Hons, MA, VetMB, MRCVS

 

Deputy Director (Welfare) Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals (HK)

[Guest guest]

> Currently there is what seems to be an internet scam

>circulating in the vet community but it might make its way into the

>animal welfare NGO's.

 

 

It already did, months ago, & ANIMAL PEOPLE has been

banging the drums about it since October. See the next couple of

e-mails.

 

The rules for not getting scammed are really quite simple,

and are exactly the same rules that intelligent people should follow

before responding to any sort of Internet activist alert, appeal for

donations, sales pitch, virus warning, or warning that the world

is coming to an end:

 

Verify the information before responding.

 

If your mother says she loves you, get a second opinion.

 

If a stranger offers to do you an extraordinary favor, keep

one hand over your wallet & the other one over your ass, walk away

sideways, & check out the alleged fairy godmother's identity,

capacity for doing such favors, history of doing such favors, and

possible motives.

 

This is not all that difficult in the web age. All it really

takes is knowing how to use a search engine.

 

The following statement is the sort of thing that boggles my

mind, since warnings are by now all over the web, not just in

ANIMAL PEOPLE, & there are now scammed NGO victims on at least four

continents:

 

> I am not sure if such a scam might find its way into the NGO

>community - I might well have forwarded it on if I hadn't been

>alerted by a colleague who had seen other versions!

 

 

Never forward anything without verifying the authenticity of

it. If it comes engraved on a hot rock, claiming to be the Ten

Commandments straight from God, ask whose God this one is, & check

his/her identity against lists of known devils.

 

 

 

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

[ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing

original investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide,

founded in 1992. Our readership of 30,000-plus includes the

decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal protection organizations.

We have no alignment or affiliation with any other entity. $24/year;

for free sample, send address.]