Bore your friends and it can really help

The scammer took down the advert for the horse but continued to advertise dogs. The original advert for the horse was 2009 and was sold for $15,000.
I therefore thought I would have a go at baiting him, especially as it was a subject I was well conversant with. This was the first time I have tried a bait by email but don’t believe I have made any fundamental errors.

Dear Richard
I recently lost my Kelpie X Collie. Do you have any for sale. I do not need a puppy essentially and it’s sex doesn’t matter. Some training if an older dog is essential though.
I look forwards to hearing from you
Regards
Isobel Wilkins

Kelpies are Australian sheep dogs and we now have quite a lot in the U.K.

Hi there Isobel,
I have border collies available. What age of dog are you looking for? Where are you located and when are you ready to adopt? kindly let me know.
thanks

Dear Richard
Thank you for your reply. I am though looking for a kelpie X collie, not a pure bred.
Many thanks
Isobel

Isobel, we were saying the same thing. I have attached pictures of the male available.
let me know when you are ready for him and where are you located
thanks and waiting to hear from you

He then sent several pictures of 2 boarder collies, not a kelpie cross. These were puppies reversed imaged in Australia.

Dear Richard
Thank you for your reply. These are collies not Kelpie X collies which is what I am looking for
Regards
Isobel

At this point a couple of emails went missing. This included an email which was not meant for me which said “I am through with looking for this dog” presumably about a photo.

Dear Richard
I am sorry you cannot find what I am looking for. The cross makes an extremely good working dog and there are certainly several working in our area recently.
Are your collies from working parents and how much are they?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Isobel

Isobel

Yes they are off working parents and like you already know collies are also strong working dog too. They're 700 each adoption fee. And they're ready to go now. Let me know when you're ready and where u located. Thanks and waiting


Dear Richard
Thank you for your reply.
Please can you let me know their DOB and vaccine status.
If you let me know where you are we could come and see them. I think I prefer the one with the more uniform head markings.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Isobel.

We're located in redacted. An address in Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland
Don... 8/30/21
We can also arrange for the puppy to be delivered

Date of birth written the American way.

Dear Richard
It is quite a long way to Scotland.
Please can you send me a video of the two puppies so I can see how active and socialised they are
Many thanks
Isobel

Here we go.. the video you asked for. Kindly let me know which of them you'll like to go for. Thanks and waiting for your reply.
Regards

Video of two sheepdog puppies playing.

Hi there, it's everything okay, kindly let me know. Thanks & Regards

Hello Richard
Sorry but I have been in Birmingham for a couple of nights.
The puppies look well and active.
Please can you send a photo of the vaccination certificate and then I think we are ready to go.
Sorry this has taken a while but the puppy will have other sheep dogs to live with so it is important that all medical issues are covered.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes
Isobel

I was actually in Birmingham for a couple of nights and by coincidence met someone who had lived in the village that the scammer purported to be from.

Thanks for getting back to me.
Isobel, like I told you, the puppies are very much healthy, active and have no health issues at all. They have been brought up with other pets as well as other animals, so you have nothing to worry about okay. they will come alongside with all health papers and vets records for you to be clear. what would need now are your full details as below

Full name
House address
City/county
post code
phone numbers
nearest airport

Once I have these details, I'll prepare a contract form and send to you as a guarantee that you have puppies coming from me with all health records listed for reference okay. Once I do this, I'll send you a copy for your signature before i can proceed to get them registered with a couriers service for transportation over to you okay,.
Thanks and waiting read from you soon
regards
Richie

Is everything okay with you?. I haven't heard from you in a while... Let me know pls. Thanks

Dear Richard
Sorry for my absence but our farm manager has suddenly left and we are busy calving. Not a good time to leave!
Please can you send a copy of the vaccination certificate and we can seal the deal
Best wishes
Isobel

Good morning Isobel,
Sorry I can only send the vacs certificate along with the puppies due to past experience. But you have nothing to worry about, the puppies are completely healthy and strong in anyway okay.

All I need now are your full details so I can get things going and you'll have the puppies delivered same day okay.
Thanks and waiting to hear from you
Regards

Seems he’s sending more than one!

Dear Richard
I think you misunderstand me. I do not want the original vaccine certificate until I take possession of the puppy. What I need is a photo, emailed to me of the certificate.
I look forward to receiving this
Regards
Isobel.

Isobel, I did understood all you said. It's just due to past experience that I can only send alongside the puppy pls. Try and understand me too ... Am ready to proceed, all I need now are your full details to get things going okay. Thanks and waiting for your reply.

Dear Richard
I am sorry you have had a problem in the past with vaccination certificates but I cannot understand how sending a photo of the puppies certificate can cause a problem.
I am sure you will understand that I do not want to waste my time travelling all the way to Glasgow only to find that the puppy is not fully vaccinated. Bio security is very important here. All cattle, sheep, horses and dogs are kept fully vaccinated.
I look forward to completing the arrangements as soon as you can confirm the puppies vaccination status
Regards
Isobel

The puppies are very healthy ... I can assure you about this again and again... If you're ready for us to proceed then am ready.

Dear Richard
After discussing this with my husband, we are unanimous about needing to view the vaccination certificate of the puppy. Those are our rules.
Furthermore he pointed out that to bring an unvaccinated dog onto the farm would invalidate part of the farm insurances.
I must therefore apologise for wasting your time here and I will continue to look for another puppy elsewhere.
Regards
Isobel

I heard no more from Richard but was satisfied I had wasted a lot of his time and left him believing I had been a serious buyer.