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Dog Star Daily
Headed up by Dr Ian Dunbar (who founded the original Puppy School), this is a fantastic web site for all dog lovers: http://www.dogstardaily.com
A Pet Sitting Scam???
See also: the Scam Museum - now includes checks from scammers!
Scam´mer: a person who swindles you by means of deception or fraud
Many people have heard of the more common scams in the world, and most have received their own share of "You've won the lottery" of a foreign country emails.
However, many new pet sitters don't realize how common it is for scammers to target specific industries with their online scams. Pet Sitting / Dog Walking is definitely one of those industries, and once a new sitter lists an email address on any website (including their own business website), it becomes only a matter of time before they will be targeted by a scammer.
The good news is that scams only work if you fall for them.
How The Pet Sitting Scam Works
The most common pet sitting scam in 2007 is an overpayment scam. There may be many variations.
The scam starts with a scammer inquiring about pet sitter services, often specifically dog walking services . Or the scammer may offer to give away an animal (often a dog), or may claim to be wanting to buy an animal (mistaking pet sitters for dog breeders).
When a pet sitter responds, an offer is made by the scammer to send payment for services or goods by Money Order, often from some time of "business" the scammer claims to work for, or a government "embassy".
The amount of the Money Order will be written for more than the amount needed, and the recipient is to send the extra on to a 3rd party.
The Money Orders are fraudulent. However, many banks will still cash the Money Order and place the funds into the pet sitters account within a few days. However, usually within a month, the Money Order is returned as fraudulent, and the bank will withdrawl the money from the pet sitter's account. The bank may also charge extra fees, and may pursue the sitter with criminal charges for cashing a fake check.
By that time, the pet sitter has often though since the bank cashed the check, it was good - and they've already sent legitimate funds back to the scammer, often using western union. Usually the scammer is long gone with the money by this time.
How Scammers Find Their Targets
Many scammers use software that scours the internet for pages that have certain key phrases, such as Pet Sitter , Dog Walker , Pet Nanny , and Pet Care . The programs catalog any and all email addresses listed on these pages. Pet sitter directories are especially popular.
Once a list is made, the scam is sent out to every email on the list. There can be hundreds or thousands of emails on each list. It only takes one or two gullible pet sitters to make it worthwhile.
How to Spot A Scam
Scammers change their tactics daily to make their scams better and more noticeable. So there is no guaranteed way to spot a scam. However, there are some individual current key factors that should raise your suspicions:
- When you first read the email, it sounds like a terrific opportunity. The scammers count on pet sitters (especially newbies) being so excited by the request, that they turn off their normal "too good to be true" sensors.
- The "To: " address on the email messages is not your email address. A real client will generally find your email address on a website, and send email directly to that account. If the "To: " is blank, or the same as the "From: ", or has some nickname for you, that is less likely to be from a client.
- The client is traveling to your location from outside the U.S. This is very rare. A survey on the message board found that so far, no sitters have received a legitimate request of this nature.
- The client plans to write a payment for more than they owe you, and you are to send the extra elsewhere. Clients just never do this. Nor should you ever let them!
- The clients says you have to wait for payment for services because the business they work for is going to write out and mail you check directly . It is true that some businesses will cut checks for pet sitting services. However, this is rare - so it should raise a red flag for you. And it is more common for the client to get reimbursed than the business to pay the service directly. A business will certainly will not pay extra directly to you to send on to somewhere else.
- Scammers tend to start from the perspective that all they have to do is contact you to get you booked. So their messages start "I will be needing your dog walking services" and ask for nothing but a price quote.
Real clients tend to start with "I'm interested in learning more about your business" and then follow up with some questions. They often will feel you out before jumping in.- The message is from a Yahoo user. That in itself is not a sign that it's a scam, but many scammers do use Yahoo for some reason.
- The IP is from Nigeria or another foreign country. If you are a bit computer savvy, you can find the sender's IP in the headers and look it up at a service such as AllNetTools to see the originating country of the email.
- Requested vacations are very long (such as a month). And time requests are longer than average sits lengths. Plus, the times are very flexible
- Punctuation is poor, and the English is questionable.
- The sender has a very odd name. Sometimes the last name may actually be a common first name.
- They may use terms like "Soonest", "Regards", "God".
- They may offer to call you. Scammers get a hold of used cell phones, and will often offer phone contact in order to convince you that they are good people with a legitimate service need.
- When asked for a picture of their pets, they will send you a picture of a show dog (usually found on google).
- They may keep trying to snag you, even if you start to question them. Some will go as far as still trying to scam you after you've told them you've been contacted by the FBI.
Note: As soon as the scammers read this list, they will likely change their scams to avoid these things.
About The Scammers
Online Scammers in Nigeria and other countries are not often like the rich offline scammers you hear about on the news in the U.S.
Overseas scammers often come from very poor areas. They are trained to do scams very efficiently. For many, this is their FULL time job. They sit in internet cafe's all day long, and they are very good at smooth-talking victims after a victim takes the first bait.
Responding that you know it is a scam, or other excuses why you can't help them will not impress the scammers. They have thousands of other scams out there to manage and people to write back to, so they will just ignore your response if it's not promising.
How To Avoid Getting Scammed
- Trust your instinct from the first instant.
- Never accept overpayment for pet sitting with the expectation to send some of it on to somewhere else.
- Never offer your birthdate, SSN, username, bank, or other private information to anyone online. Especially if they are asking you to "confirm" something for security reasons.
- Never click a link provided in an email message.
- See if others have already received the same (or a very similar) email message.
- Read through previous scams to get a feel for how the messages work.
See the live scam forum and read actual scam emails in the Scam Museum on the PUPS Forums Public Area.
Article Credit: Professional United Pet Sitters LLC at www.petsits.com
By NORA ZAMICHOW LOS ANGELES TIMES Published: September 1, 2003, 06:34:05 AM PDT LOS ANGELES --
As Annie Lever padded along a sun-scorched trail in the Hollywood Hills, a white Labrador, a Gordon setter and a golden retriever sprinted ahead. A 5-pound Maltese dashed in the dust by Lever's sneakers, and two chocolate Labradors and a pit-bull mix plodded behind. "Are they all yours?" one hiker gulped. Not exactly. Lever, 46, is a professional dog walker who earns $150,000 a year -- enough to buy a Brentwood condominium, decorated in tones of taupe, green and cream, and a Steinway piano. "I still wake up, look at my place and say, 'This is the house the dogs bought me,'" said Lever, a graduate of University of Michigan with a degree in fine arts. "Who knew?" Most dog walkers don't do as well.
Lever's clients include Hollywood moguls and movie stars. She used to walk Jim Belushi's shepherds, but decided they were too aggressive. She tended Mike Myers' two yellow Labradors and mutt for three years, until he assigned the task to his cook. She also exercised Steven Spielberg's golden retriever and his daughter's chocolate Lab, but it turned out to be too much of a hassle -- between the security on his estate and the fact that the dogs periodically boarded with a trainer. Lever is every pooch's best pal. She romps with Ruby, throws the ball for Jake and coddles Coco Chanel. If a dog misbehaves, he gets a timeout. When he shows self-restraint, he gets patted and praised. She alerts owners to behavioral and medical problems. (The dog that ate the candle, leaving the wick on the floor of its owner's home, went straight to the vet.) The job of dog walker requires attributes of a kindergarten teacher, drill instructor and chauffeur. It's like being the mother of 10 2-year-olds, said one Westside walker. "You spend your day saying, 'No humping. Don't pee on your brother,'" said Lever, who has walked dogs for 10 years. Sure, she cleans up after dogs, but she has higher social standing than the nanny. She's invited to some of the most desirable parties. She gets fabulous presents: cashmere sweaters, diamond earrings, gift certificates for spa massages. She has an insider's view -- she knew Reese Witherspoon was pregnant long before the paparazzi knew. And she is her own boss. Lever takes anywhere from six to 12 dogs at a time, three groups a day. During the summer, the first group hikes in the hills, the next two hit the dog park. For most of the year, every group goes on hikes. Rain or shine, the dogs go out. And Lever likes variety. One day, she called Courtney Thorne-Smith about her basenji, a brown and white dog named Ed, and asked: "We're at the beach. Can Ed stay out a little longer?" "I hate to admit it, but Ed is much more excited to see Annie than me," the actress said. "She does different stuff all the time." Lever picks up and delivers each dog. By the end of the day, she has driven about 100 miles. She charges $25 per dog -- a high rate for the industry. Most Manhattan dog walkers get $15, but they don't drive their charges. Lever must remember which owners want security alarms activated, mail brought inside, television or lights turned on, as well as where to leave Fido. She also knows which dogs eat raw chicken hearts and gizzards, a new trend, and which ones get ice water. She jokes that the two Australian-shepherd mixes eat better than she does, because their owner feeds them pre-cooked boneless chicken breasts. And she rolls her eyes at the owners who serve bottled water. After all, she says, "dogs lick their own" bottoms. Dog-walking is not for the squeamish. When duty calls, so to speak, it cannot be ignored. Lever is prepared. She favors baby powder-scented plastic bags, coiled in a tiny dispenser. Horror stories abound: snakebites, dog bites and locking keys in a home (Lever is slender enough to wiggle through a doggy door to retrieve them). Once, another walker's dog attacked Lever's charge, peeling the fur off its back. Another time, one of Lever's dogs collided with another chasing a ball, knocking out three teeth in the smaller dog, which belonged to a different walker. Or there's the time Lever stopped at a light and her wagon's back door flipped open, allowing 10 dogs to hop out into the street. Lever drives a gray Mitsubishi Montero wagon. No one ever asks for a lift. A yellow, leaf-shaped car deodorizer dangles from the rearview mirror; it is as effective as a beaver dam facing a tsunami. The heavy canine scent permeates the air even when the dogs are gone. Dog hair clings to the interior. Lever's car doesn't just reek; it sheds. For some Hollywood aspirants, dog-walking is the newest version of waiting tables and tending bar. It's a job that allows time for auditions, pays well enough to fuel dreams of a name on the big screen, and -- at the upper echelon -- provides unusual access to important people. Linn Boyke, a 35-year-old wanna-be screenwriter, waited tables for 10 years and switched to dog-walking. David Lee, 32, an actor, would rather walk dogs than wait tables or work as a spinning instructor at a gym, which he has done. But Lever is a dog walker because she adores the dogs, the outdoors and the independence. "Maybe someday, I'll go into doggy day care," said Lever, who once ran an art gallery. "But as far as I'm concerned, I've found what I love." Standing 5 feet 4, she wears her auburn hair short and her skin tight -- she's a big believer in plastic surgery. (She's had work done on her hips, thighs, stomach, breasts, nose and eyes.) Her eyes are the green-blue of Caribbean waters. Her hairstyle and color change dramatically every year. Lever takes her job seriously. She even has a recurring nightmare. She dreams that it's 10 p.m. and she's forgotten to walk a client's dog. She awakens in a sweat. In real life, she hasn't forgotten a dog, but she is careful to check and recheck which ones are in her car. A dog walker can be out of a job in less time than it takes to say, "Fetch." For two years, Lever walked Reese Witherspoon's three dogs -- an overweight English bulldog named Frank Sinatra, a French bulldog, Coco Chanel, and a Chihuahua named Chi-Chi. Witherspoon's assistant recently called to tell Lever that too much gossip was getting into the tabloids. Unable to find the leak, household staff were being fired, the assistant told Lever. "It really hurt my feelings," Lever said. Do they think I'm the snitch?"
Survival of the fittest, for a fee
Source: North Side Courier
Author: Jeremy Drake
Posted: Wed 11 Apr, 2007
Lane Cove fitness trainer Graham Skilleter said his business was now the biggest loser following the release last week of Lane Cove Council's 2007/08 draft fee list.
At the start of the new financial year, personal trainers, dog walking businesses and similar organisations will be required to pay a fee of $22 to the council each time they use local playing fields, parks and reserves.
The fee, which the council initially set at $13 but later increased, came after other lower North Shore municipalities started charging a maintenance and ground-keeping fee.
Mr Skilleter's EnergFit business charges $80 for an hour's one-on-one training session, but he said the 25 per cent increase meant he would have to reconsider individual sessions.
"You can't just increase your fee to your client by $20 or $30," he said. "All of a sudden your service is diminished and you need to think 'is it viable for me to train in this area?'"
Mr Skilleter said he was providing a valuable service to the community by helping to tackle health issues such as obesity and diabetes, which impacted on a State and local level.
"I'm not degrading the quality of the local park as much as anyone else," he said. "If you go for a walk in the park, should you have to pay for it?"
Lane Cove Council's general manager Peter Brown said the rising interest in fitness meant the council had to introduce the fee to be fair to other sporting organisations.
"People who are personal trainers use community facilities as their office and charge quite reasonable fees, but don't pay any costs," he said. "The issue is people are making money on the community without paying some offset to assist with maintenance."
The draft fees will be on display for community review next month.
We Walk Dogs and DAPPA Inc are currently in discussions regarding how to rectify this situation. Your opinion on this issues would be greatly appreciated. Members, please head to the forum. Non members please email WWD's with your views via the contact page.
Dog Walker and Pet Sitter Public Liability Insurance
Julie from WWD's Central Coast Critter Sitters has researched and secured access for us to a Public Liability Insurance policy and an Income Protection policy specifically tailored for dog walkers and pet minders. Designed by Barker Meier Insurance Brokers all of WWD’s member queries and concerns relating to these insurances have been discussed with the broker and comprehensively answered for us. A great rate has been negotiated, a lot lower than most insurance policies available to us, and the policies are far more relevant and appropriate to our type of work than ever before. It will be the first of its kind in Australia!
All members can find out more through the forum.
Attention All Members!
The brand spanking new forum is up and going! Please sign up and check it out.
FYI: Only WWD's members can utilize our forum.
Let us know what you think.
Congratulations Geoff!
We Walk Dogs extends a round of applause to Geoff from Furkidz, with the announcement of his new role as Executive Officer of the PIAA (Pet Industry Association of Australia).
We look forward to hearing about your progress, and the latest news in the industry.
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Here is the latest from Geoff, in his new role:
Your Position: Executive Officer – Member Liaison with the PIAA
Your Background: I have worked for the last 9 years in the Pharmaceutical Consumer Health industry, primarily in national sales and marketing roles. Prior to this I had 10 years in the grocery industry.
Your view of the Pet Industry currently: I believe I have joined the pet industry at a very exciting time. The future looks very bright for all businesses within the pet industry, with continued growth expected for the foreseeable future.
Industry Challenges & Opportunities: I see the biggest opportunity for the industry is how to maximize the growth potential. This includes the challenges being put in to place by new businesses with new, different and exciting ideas in pet retailing and pet related services, Another challenge is the more savvy consumer, now knows more about the product or service they want and who will seek out the businesses which offer the standards they expect. Lastly the increased attention the Australian pet industry is receiving from global and multi national companies, means more investment into the industry. This increased interest will mean a focus on how every operator within the industry delivers its promise to customers.
Your short term goals with the PIAA: My number one goal is to increase the member’s benefits and to improve the return on their investment in the association. Increasing benefits to members will encourage potential members to investigate how their business can be assisted by the PIAA. Growing the membership base will offer greater benefits to existing and new members, as the greater the voice of the PIAA, the more government and other key bodies will listen. Another major activity for me is to increase the public awareness of the association and its members. Via both mainstream and more targeted Pet media, I plan to ensure that the public (our customers) are very aware of the benefits and peace of mind that comes with dealing with members of the PIAA, adding confidence and increasing investment by the public with the members.
Other Activities: The PIAA’s accreditation scheme is a very important benchmark for the industry it needs to remain relevant with continuous improvement, so that PIAA accreditation is something that all pet businesses strive to achieve. The continuous improvement will ensure that businesses continue to exceed the raising bar set by the industry. Industry Training is also an important area which good work has started, but more work is needed to ensure that our members have professional, educated and confident staff.
Last words:I look forward to representing the PIAA members in all aspects of our industry, as well as negotiating on their behalf with government and other external parties.
We Walk Dogs Email Account
Interested in having your own myname@wewalkdogs.org account, for free? WWD members are encouraged to email info@pawsonpaths.com.au to express your interest. Please note, to be able to use this service you must have Outlook or Outlook express software.
Weather
As a dog walker and pet minder, it can be hard trying to work around the weather. We Walk Dogs suggests the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) web site:
http://www.bom.gov.au/index.shtml
Advertising Discounts for We Walk Dogs
Great savings for We Walk Dogs Members from Pets Playground and OzDoggy.
Forum
Soon the multiple emails we send to each other, shall be replaced by a forum. This week, WWD should be moving to its new home (www.wewalkdogs.org.au), and there we can create a great mini forum for us to all keep in contact, instead of over flowing each others in-box's!
Compulsory Microchip Plan for Melbourne
"Micro-chipping will be compulsory for Victoria's 840,000 pet dogs and cats under a government crackdown.
Support for microchip planOwners will have to microchip their dogs and cats from 2007, or face fines of up to $500.
Pet shops, breeders, pounds and animal shelters will have to microchip dogs and cats before selling them or be slugged with $1000 fines.The crackdown was hailed as the biggest change to animal welfare laws in 25 years.
All cats and dogs being registered for the first time from May 2007 will have to be micro chipped, under laws introduced in Parliament yesterday.
If not, local councils will bar them from being registered. Owners of unregistered pets can be hit with fines of up to $500.
The legislation also enables councils to apply the new rules retrospectively to the 600,000 dogs and 240,000 cats registered in Victoria.
Exemptions for micro chipping can be granted on the advice of a vet.
It costs up to $50 to microchip a cat or dog at a veterinary clinic, but most councils have "micro chipping days" where it costs about $20.
Councils will also be given the power to require the compulsory de sexing of all dogs and cats.
Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron said micro chipping was a permanent identification that helped councils track down owners if a pet was lost or impounded.
About 40 per cent of Victorian households have a dog and 26 per cent have a cat.
Mr Cameron said stray cats were a problem, with only half the cats in the state registered.
RSPCA chief executive officer Maria Mercurio said compulsory micro chipping would save many lost pets.
Ms Mercurio said it was a requirement under law for animals to be destroyed if they are not claimed after 28 days.
Lost Dogs' Home managing director Graeme Smith backed the changes. "This is the best piece of legislation I have seen in 25 years by any government," he said.
Dr Smith said only one in five dogs and one in 100 cats were returned to their owners from the shelter because of problems with identification.
He said compulsory microchipping would also deter owners from dumping their pets.
"We will be able to track them down and they will have some explaining to do," he said.
Under the Primary Industries Acts (Further Amendment) Bill, councils will also be able to require the compulsory de sexing of all dogs and cats in their jurisdictions.
Professional dog breeders will be exempt.
There are three providers of microchips for dogs and cats in Victoria, all using different identification systems.
From December 1, their databases will be linked.
Councils offer cheaper registration fees for cats and dogs that have been micro chipped or de sexed."
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