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Camron Sheppard & friend, an adopted snake
Recently I wrote a story on Roland Andusah, an individual who lived in Africa and was searching for people to adopt his snake pets due to a work situation. After several telephone interviews, multiple emails, and doing much research, I agreed to assist Roland in not just finding a home for his snakes, but educating the public about snakes. After all, I love Africa, I love snakes, and I believe in the mantra, “Adopt, don’t shop.”
Unfortunately, Roland Andusah’s situation does not exist. Nor do the snakes. It is a scam. A very sophisticated rip-off called “Cameroon Pet Scam” in which someone in Cameroon is supposedly attempting to find a home for a pet at the cost of shipping only. The unsuspecting adopting person sends the shipping fee via Western Union. The pet is never received; the shipping fees are never recovered. Someone in Cameroon pockets $100 - $250, and you are left with no pet, wondering what happened. The way the con is played out and the type of animal varies. Many, many people across the globe are taken by this scam every day. It just so happens a reader sent me an email with a link I had not researched, and I was up half the night researching the legitimacy of this information.
It was not a tough decision: pull the story and pretend it never happened, or pull the story and warn my readers, and admit I, too, was scammed?
As a journalist you have many responsibilities. Some occur at different times. This is one of those times. I am sure I will get responses: how could I be so stupid, irresponsible, lame, trusting, etc. etc. I can take a punch. But I do not want my readers taking a hit, so I am posting the truth and admitting I was swindled, I am warning my readers about the Cameroon Pet Scam, and I am providing a few links below which are legitimate, where you can adopt healthy, wonderful snakes.
I still love Africa; the Cameroon Pet Scammers are giving this wonderful country a bad name (just as American criminals give the U.S. poor publicity). I love snakes – this is a very different type of pet. And I will always believe in the mantra, “Adopt, don’t shop.” My heartfelt apologies to my readers. And Mr. Andusah has been reported to both United States and Cameroon authorities.
Adopt a snake at these legitimate sites:
For more info:
My book makes a great holiday gift & all proceeds benefit endangered animals
Comments
boy am i glad i read this article. My daughter wanted a teacup maltese puppy and we were getting ready to transfer the money for the shipping when we realized that it was going to camaroon, why? The Western Union lady told she was pretty sure it was a sacm so we did not do it. I started looking into in tonight and this is what i found. Thank you for writing about this scam. Sincerely Dorothy Bolton dotbolt64@yahoo.com
The scam started out with pups of various breeds, and now is branching into snakes- obviously. If you want a pup, go to breed - specific rescue & adoption pages- there are many on the web. So many animals are waiting for good homes! Glad I could help.
does anyone know about the child adoption in cameroon, i have been getting emails about women who want me to adopt their child. the first one i was able to find out that the baby pics she sent me were off of someones picture site with a totally different name and actually was already grown, i have gotten 2 more from someone differnet asking if they could even come over has anyone got these are these a big scam too
well now its babies and kids
Linda, I would contact local authorities on this one. Also google it online. For everything out there, there are 1,000 scams to go with it...
It seems as there are some updates to the Pet Adoption scams. Thank you to a reader who sent me more information - the website Anti Fraud International is posting photos and information about Roland. The Cameroon authorities have closed in and arrested many of the scammers. Roland, by the way, is on Facebook under Bigboy Roland.
Thank you same thing just happend to me just wanted to pay shipping and I was worried cuz he said pythons not ball pythons and just random things that made no sense so I checked and I was walking into the same thing as you I am sorry what happend to you
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