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Sssnakes, snake adoption, & the Cameroon Pet Scam
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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:
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