Airport warns public of pet scam

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials are warning the public about a scam in which customers spend upwards of a $1,000 on pets that will supposedly be shipped from overseas to the airport for pick-up, only to be detained while the sellers ask for more cash.

The scam, which typically originates in West Africa, involves online ads or unsolicited e-mails offering to ship pets such as dogs, birds and monkeys to the U.S., said airport spokeswoman Katena Carvajales. But once the buyer spends the cash, the seller, posing as an airport official, requests more money and claims the pet is sick and being detained at the airport until it receives vaccinations needed to pass through customs.

However, the airport doesn’t have a facility to hold animals. Pets are shipped through individual carriers; not through the department of aviation, Carvajales said.

Airport officials first learned of the scam about two years ago, but it tapered off until about six months ago, she said. Now, the airport receives a couple calls a week from people seeking information on the pet they believe they purchased. Carvajales said the victims call from across the United States and are typically out about $1,000.

Some tips for consumers from airport officials:

• If purchasing an animal from overseas, make sure to request the 11-digit airway bill number to confirm the animal has been booked on an international airline before making payments.

• Recent pet scams have come from Cameroon shipping and the following e-mail addresses: Atlanta_intl_airport@usa.com and pet_department001@mail2aaron.com

• Avoid sellers who accept only wire payments or money orders. Use payments that have fraud protection, such as credit cards.