New Brunswick Welfare Mum (of 6) scammed for $2000 "bulldog adoption"

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/front/article/599319

Internet Mother of six on welfare paid $2,000 for English bull dogs

2009/03/11

Tammy Scott-Wallace

HAMPTON - Michelle St. Amand admits she has a soft spot for animals, so when she saw an ad on the Internet to adopt a pair of English bulldogs, she made arrangements to transport them to her home.

Seven months and hundreds of dollars later, she is still without the pets.

Sgt. Steve Gourdeau of the Hampton RCMP said police are investigating the case of alleged Internet fraud.

The single mother of six children said when she saw the pitch for the adorable puppies last summer on the popular classified ad site Kijiji she was excited to welcome the brother and sister dogs named Nelly and Kelly into her home.

She contacted the seller by phone and computer and arranged to have them flown from the African country of Cameroon to Saint John.

The deal was that she would pay half of the approximately $400 transportation fee, which she sent by Western Union, and she was to pick them up at the Saint John airport around 4 a.m. last August. Before that happened, she was contacted again by the seller saying the dogs were being held at the Douala International Airport in Cameroon because they required carriers before they could board the plane.

red-flag right there; when "seller" asks for Western Union MT...you should be asking "is this a 419 variation?"

She has a Western Union receipt showing she sent another $729 at that time.

Then days later it was another $129 the seller needed for food, and even more for health papers.

All told, St. Amand says she sent upwards of $2,000 for the dogs she is yet to see except for photos sent to her by email.

"I put a lot of money into these dogs," she said Tuesday. Even while she was on the phone with the Telegraph-Journal, the seller was sending her notes via chat mail promising the dogs would be arriving soon if she helped make adoption arrangements for other dogs by placing ads on Canadian Internet sites that the international seller could no longer access.

"I am still being told these dogs are coming but they need more money to get here," St. Amand said from the tiny home she calls a camp on the Pickwauket Road.

St. Amand is on welfare, and along with her children ages two to 11, shares her home with her boyfriend and six pets - including two mixed breed dogs.

"I really thought this was all for real," she said.

"The kids were really excited about these dogs. If you'd seen them you'd say they were cute too.

"This is so much money for me but it was so gradual, and the money needed seemed to make so much sense. I'm sure I will never see that money again, or the dogs," she added. "I have six kids to pay for - I took money from my kids to do this."

Money in St. Amand's household is so scarce she was going to have to pawn two small rings to come up with the gas money to have a relative take her to the airport to get the dogs.

The Kijiji site warns buyers to only make transactions in person, and never to send or wire money to sellers.

[Nagishkaw 510]

She needs to spend the money on feeding her kids.

[almaty 19]

total agreement sister mocassin

[Emancipation 2]

I'm sorry but who buys dogs from the Cameron to be shipped to canada???

Adage that applies directly here "A fool and his money are easily parted"

[Niels Bohr 72]

Hmm...She has some serious social issues. Using welfare money intended for her kids' well being for the dogs. Very responsible.

Edited March 16, 2009 by Niels Bohr

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

that's part of the reason this country is bankrupt...people don't have priorities

[Ban Hammer 14,569]

that's part of the reason this country is bankrupt...people don't have priorities

[one...two...tree 2,762]

She must really love English Bulldogs.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Had she been "patriotic" and adopted Labs or Newfies....

[Niels Bohr 72]

You think the sociology majors have anything to contribute when helping these people get welfare?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Had she been "patriotic" and adopted Labs or Newfies....

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You think the sociology majors have anything to contribute when helping these people get welfare?

I think they're cut from the cloth as these CEO's who pay millions of dollars to have their office renovated while the company's profits are in the tank. Same mentality, different economic status.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Exactly!

[Danno 1,228]

Whatever happen to the good old days when welfare mothers spent there checks on Lottery tix and weed for the "stay at home" boy friend.

[Danno 1,228]

You think the sociology majors have anything to contribute when helping these people get welfare?

I think they're cut from the cloth as these CEO's who pay millions of dollars to have their office renovated while the company's profits are in the tank. Same mentality, different economic status.

Let's see, a company which spends money which stimulates the economy is bad but....

Obama going into debt to spend money to stimulate the economy is "good".

Now I understand, stimulate the economy.. bbbbut do it with credit.