These days – what with travel restrictions in some places, fuel being so expensive and duprasi still being so rare – people are turning to and/or recommending animal couriers to collect and deliver their duprasi pups.
Usually these animal couriers can deliver your duprasi pup to you, door-to-door, same day, and with a smile, anywhere in the UK; and potentially within a week in the US (but they are called animal ‘transport services’ of course).
The main issue with this is people often get worried that it is a scam.
How can you trust someone you don’t know to deliver an animal that you haven’t even seen before? It is exactly the same for anything you buy online – you need to look out for the signs of a possible scam so that you don’t get tricked into parting with cash and get nothing in return.
Most importantly – let’s talk about the use of certain words – as there are different ways to go about things here:
Duprasi Breeder: Someone who actively breeds duprasi as a hobby. This person may or may not want to be actively involved in helping you find a separate courier
Animal Courier: The term most-commonly used in the UK for a legitimate animal transport service provider (usually insured) who will collect and deliver your duprasi door-to-door
Transport Services: The term most-commonly used in the US for a legitimate animal transport service provider (with references) who will collect and deliver your duprasi door-to-door
Animal Supplier: The term used to describe a duprasi breeder or animal stockist who is able to deliver your purchased animals to you themselves as part of the same deal
Top Tips For Choosing A Combined Breeder & Animal Courier/Transport Service:
There are many things to consider of course – but here are the key things to look out for.
- You can find proof that they do actually breed duprasi and have done so for some time
- They can and (actively) want to answer all your questions to a standard YOU approve of
- They suggest you find a courier/animal transport and list several for YOU to choose from
- They offer you a variety of secure pre-payment options or a pay-in-full on delivery option
Going for a separate breeder and courier/transport service is ALWAYS the safest option if you want to avoid scammers – as it would be VERY unlikely if one of both of them were a scam as you would have found them both yourself. They are independent of each other.
Being independent of each other means that it would just take one second to find out one was a scam as the other wouldn’t be able to contaact them. You would be able to find out if they had contacted each other etc. as the arrangements would need to be three-way every time. And if the courier didn’t arrive, or the breeders address wasn’t real – they will get caught out in a flash.
Making them work harder to prove themselves – and getting third party feedback – is the key to scuppering scammers. There is nothing to gain from waiting until something goes wrong and them complaining. Get it right first time – especially where live animals are involved.
The Best Way To Choose An Animal Courier or Animal Transport Service:
There is one simple way to ALWAYS know that you are using an animal service that is genuine and buying from a breeder who actually has animals.
It isn’t the easiest way for some people because it involves a bit of patience – and many people wanting a new pet overlook this quality: something the scammers thrive on of course. There is never a better time to scam someone that when they are impulsive buyers and don’t make the time to do their own research.
So – how do you do it?
You find a good breeder (and this depends on a clearer definition of ‘good’ breeder) and then WAIT FOR THEM TO HAVE A DUPRASI.
If you can’t wait or you have already done some research, then you may be taking a different route to your ideal pet.
Just remember: never trust the word of anyone you don’t personally know (or have had recommended by someone you personally know). Scammers know how to make you feel like they are genuine – and this is how their scam works. Don’t believe anything they say if you don’t personally know them – make them prove themselves with the least effort and stress from you.
You don’t need to be hostile and accuse them of anything – just don’t immediately believe the words and stories they put in place at face value.
If they ‘really love this guy and would rather keep him themselves‘ or ‘have another buyer waiting if you don’t decide now‘ or ‘will personally throw in a bag of food‘ or ‘give you a discount‘ – fine – (we sometimes say similar things ourselves) but none of these statements PROVE they have a doop and are going to send it to you do they?
Surely buying an actual (and very valuable) healthy doop is more important that a promise of a small bag of food?
The Breeder: Buying An Actual Duprasi:
Firstly, you need to make sure that the breeder is actually a breeder. Not only that – but you need to make sure that not only do they breed duprasi – but that they actually have a live duprasi right now that you are going to be able to buy.
And there is only one way you can prove this – get a picture of that doop next to something you have just chosen right now.
Ask for a picture of their doop first – whatever they have. When they send you the picture – assume that it is a day or two old (the picture – not the doop) unless they say otherwise. Thank them.
THEN, during a future chat – or this same chat – casually ask them if they are at home now with this doop – and find this out first before asking the next and very important question: to send you an up-to-date picture. – Make sure you say that ‘it is really important to you’ and it doesn’t matter if it isn’t a brilliant picture.
When they agree to take the picture – and not before – ask them would it be ok if they put a teaspoon (or any other random everyday item that wouldn’t usually be associated with a duprasi) in the same picture. Weird I know – but if they are a fraud – they will have loads of different pictures of baby doops they have downloaded off the internet. Plenty of them no doubt, all looking real cute. However, they won’t already have a stock picture of a doop with a teaspoon, clothes peg or tweezers in it will they?
So either they get back to you within the hour with a picture of a similar-sized doop pup to the original picture they sent with a teaspoon in the picture – or they haven’t got a doop pup for you.
Can you see why timing is important?
They HAVE to be at home in the same place as their doops and have agreed already to take a picture. You are making it super easy for them to get you the picture. If you ask for the picture ‘later’ they can potentially find one anywhere if they are a good scammer.
They have to have already agreed to take the picture for you right then – before you can throw in the surprise item of course – and only YOU know what this suprise item will be this time. The key is that they can’t plan for it.
Obviously don’t always ask for a teaspoon (otherwise all scammers will share the same picture eventually). Ask for something totally random each time – but something that they will most likely have in their house already – but can’t necessarily ‘plan’ ahead on. Something like – like a candle, a black pen, or a teabag.
You want them to be genuine right – so keep it easy – a genuine breeder might not want to be sent on a wild goose chase…
The Delivery: Do They Know Who You Are?
So, you are as sure as you can be that there is an actual duprasi pup in the home of the person you are buying it off?
You are almost 100% sure they are genuine (and remember they may actually be genuinely breeding duprasi at the time to get stock photos for themselves but still not actually selling them to anyone who pays…).
But now comes the delivery part.
Whether it is part of the breeder deal or separate – you need to use the PIN trick to great effect. Never heard of the PIN trick? Well, the equivalent in the doop world is to give them your address with an impossible geographical mistake in it. (check this yourself first).
Never give out your ACTUAL spot-on address first time anyway – to anyone.
That is always a no-no for various reasons – including if they say ‘Can we deliver on Monday?’ and you say – ‘er – not that weekend I’m on holiday’ – BURGLAR ALERT.
So, for safety – and checking if they are genuine: you need them to have checked things. So, say you live at: 202 Fat Tail Street, Duprasiville, North Gerbil – message them: Duprasitown, North Gerbil; or: Dupronsiville, South Gerbil.
Basically an address similar to yours but not in your home town – (but that doesn’t exist anywhere else of course).
Then, once they have your ‘address’ leave it to settle before asking about delivery and what day they can make it and timings (the timings are very important as they are the most specific) – just like you would if you had given out you own actual address. If they know your state – this gives them a ball park even if they are genuine – but a timing across some states can be a day apart.
Needless to say – if they have no intention of delivering to you – they probably won’t even check where you say you live – and just say ‘we are in your area on Friday 16th’- and maybe even add something individual like ‘we just love Dupronsiville’.
If your fake town doesn’t even exist – how can they know they will be there on the 16th or at 4pm? And saying they ‘like it’ will surely seal the deal.
Now this won’t catch out the most sophisticated of scammers (or a scammer who has read this article of course), but it adds layers of action for them. These people only make money because people don’t put any barriers in place or make things difficult.
Choosing The Best Animal Courier or Transport Service:
Now you have a breeder who has a current picture of their doop pups – and a courier who has bothered to find out you live in a real place – you are a lot more secure in your choice of buyer.
Of course this still isn’t 100% safe – so you need to add your own extra layers. Things you could do additionally are:
Free Exposure:
Ask the breeder if you can use the image of your doop on FB page as you are so excited and have been looking for ages. When they agree – and why wouldn’t they if it has no faces or personal identifiers in it – thank them and then create a positive post on a duprasi, gerbil or rare mammal FB group.
On the post, say how excited you are to be getting a doop (totally true) from X and delivered by Y (also totally true) – and see what the comments are like. We are sure that genuine breeders and couriers/transport services will be extremely happy to have their services shared positively online – but you will sure hear otherwise if they have tricked others.
Controlled Payment:
Always clarify payment methods way in advance.
All good breeders that we know will accept PayPal ‘service’ payments if you ask them to – so don’t go with anyone who refuses to take it no matter WHAT their excuse.
If good breeders we know will take payment this way – then why would you risk going with a breeder you don’t know using a method that isn’t as safe?
You would just be putting yourself at risk for the sake of convenience – another thing that scammers are hoping for.
Paying cash on arrival or collection is of course the safest – but many business won’t do it that way – so it can be tricky to arrange for every purchase. But if you are unsure or still wary – then be persistent for as long as you can bear. If you still feel something isn’t right – then it is safest to pull out entirely. Better to wait another month than lose both the duprasi AND your money.
Bank and Credit cards can offer you buyer protection from a genuine transaction through a proper device and a legitimate company. Remember though, that if you are asked for your card number, expiry date and security code and they AREN’T legitimate – you have just given away all the details needed to use your card elsewhere – over and over again AT ANY POINT until you notice yourself that your account is draining – or the doop doesn’t turn up in 2 weeks – and you finally check your account…
We can’t speak for how safe other payment methods are as they will be varied – but cheques/checks, bank transfers, BACS and other systems would all be possible – but you would have to take the time yourself to find out if they were protected or unprotected before using them.
Why is everything so complicated?
We just want people to get their wished-for duprasi – so take care out there.
Nearly all breeders will be totally genuine and everything will go to plan – but if you are the cautious type – then we are here to help you get that peace of mind.