How to identify a parrot scam

There have been a few posts recently which are scams involving parrots for sale or adoption. Most of the threads end with "this is a scam, and here's why" so I thought it would be good to have a fresh thread explaining how you can tell.

A scammer doesn't have the parrot in question, so they have to scoop a photo and text from somewhere. Usually they just go on Google to find a picture, and sometimes they go to actual breeders/owners sites to scoop the text, so the description sounds right. When you see one of these posts, whether here or on craigslist or some other site, just do this:


1. Right click on the picture of the bird. From the pop-up box, select "search Google for this image". You'll get a page of similar photos. You can click one to see where it came from originally. If you don't see a match, it doesn't mean the add is legit - they could be using an old saved photo that isn't online any more.

2. Copy a chunk of the text and paste it into a search box. You might find the original post it was stolen from.

3. If you don't find any other examples of the photo or text, read the ad carefully. Look for spelling or grammar mistakes which could be a tip-off that the ad was written by a non-native speaker of English. Look for ads that don't give much detail - they don't say where the bird is located, or the price is either unusually low or free, or they don't even say what kind of parrot it is! Things like "tame green parrot", for example.

4. If you have any doubt at all, don't contact the person. If they aren't able to scam you into buying a parrot that doesn't exist, or into paying shipping charges for a parrot that doesn't exist, they might send you some malware in an email to infect your computer. Or they may save your contact information for a future scam. It's better to ask here if you have any difficulty figuring out a suspicious ad.

This is a great thread!! All of the points you made are great and very accurate.

I go on Hoobly almost daily (a classifieds site, like craigslit) and I can usually spot a scam from a mile away. But sometimes they can be clever. There's always usually grammar/spelling/sentence fragment errors or things that don't make sense. They'll mention multiple species when they are only selling one bird, or talk about how many years they've had the bird when it is only such and such months old...

Some of the pictures people get are very easy to see as fake, but some use pictures from ads from previously (legit) sold birds in the past, which makes it harder. You always want to try to see the bird first before you purchase it, if you can. This goes for anything you buy from a classifieds site. There's always risks when looking online and especially if the bird is not close to you.

Always ask for additional pictures, videos. Look for complete sentences. The decent, honest people out there (they ARE out there!) want their birds to go to good homes and won't hesitate to give you specific, detailed information on the bird and its personality. Scammers will be vague, indirect and often times will just want to get right to the payment part.

Oh, wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...
Many thanks, Ms. Amazonienne.
These tips could be used to spot all kinds of scams, huh?

Butttttttttttttt... this DOES give me an idea for a new LOLRickeybirds post!

Also look for things that are too good to be true; a hyacinth macaw is NOT going to be for sale for $900, not for any reason.

Inconsistencies in the number of things for sale, and mismatched gender. If the add is for one bird, the wording shouldn't switch between male and female, and shouldn't sometimes seem like there are multiple birds involved.

Parrots are never spayed and neutered. If the ad includes that, it's a scam. Same for "up to date on shots" (even though there are a couple of shots birds can get) it's a sign that the person is just using important phrases from other types of ads.

If they suddenly can't let you visit the bird in person, ask to have your friend visit (even if you don't actually ha e a friend in the area). If they don't let you, run away.

Also if it's parrot eggs, it's a scam.

If you don't believe me, and want to buy some parrot eggs, I'll sell you some. The unfertilized kind, which is what other people would be selling you, too.


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could be how to identify a parrot scam deserves a "sticky" somewhere.
good info to keep in mind for lots of things.
texsize

Hi
I am one who is truly looking for a parrot. I am finding it harder and harder to get around scammers. Thanks for this info. I will be looking twice or more for these wicked people!

Thanks
Pam

I bought my Bingo (my second bird) through an ad in the recycler or penny save back in 85/86.
The Idea that someone would use the sale of a per bird for a scam was the furthest thing form my mind. Now it's the first thing you have to ask yourself, Is This For Real.
Is it "to good to be true"?

Thank you

pjb said:

Hi
I am one who is truly looking for a parrot. I am finding it harder and harder to get around scammers. Thanks for this info. I will be looking twice or more for these wicked people!

Thanks
Pam

Click to expand...

We found Gus through Petfinder. You pick the kind of pet and how far away, and it shows you everyone available. Gus was in a rescue about an hour or two away, so we went onto their website and corresponded for a while. There were so many birds, such sad stories, some of the birds were lovely and healthy but had outlived their owners. We did pay a fee to adopt, signed a lot of promises, but we would have treated him the same without any contract. And J was sending them donations from the beginning, too, so the adoption fee was money we would have given anyway. If you saw how hard the women were working to keep the birds healthy and happy .. Their whole home was turned over to the birds, they worked hard to find homes for them all, got them vet care until they were well enough to adopt out, and these weren't rich people. Just big hearted people. I'm sure there's a parrot rescue with a bird for you.

Just my two cents with all of those who contributed in this thread. I believe craigslist should have a whole section called ' Scam" and we ought to repost this kind of add as a scam. I go mad when i see this kind of add in craigslist and the other one is rehoming fees only "1000, 800 etcs. example of a craigslist scam add




Hyacinth makaws are known as the "gentle giants" of the Macaw world due to their sweet and affectionate dispositions when raised as handfed babies.. .Mmacaws are one group of parrots that are big on what is called "flock calling". In other words, they talk loud in order to find their friends. This is wonderful for them when living in the jungle but it's cool for you and your neighbors when they live inside your house. This is a natural characteristic of macaws and is as much a part of them as their beautiful feathers. With careful training you can get a macaw to do this less often then he normally would but you can never kill this instinct all together.The parrot talking skills of this bird are pretty good. out lil angel is looking for that new environment to call home so lemme know if interested in getting her. She will come with absolutely everything you will ever need ,Most macaws will pick up a handful of words even without proper training. They don't tend to be able to compete with African Greys, Eclectus, or Budgie Parakeets though in terms of vocabulary. Contact: Text (803) 820-1717



https://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/for/6063341410.html


Same add in NJ Craiglist's with a different headline

https://newjersey.craigslist.org/for/6060216994.html


This add is in DC, a decent add and can be a good candidate for rehoming, since the person said they can provide vet record, and will give away 2 cages with the parrot. At least if we can get the Vet record check that would tell us something about the health, and may be about the owner a bit. I mean I don't mind if the person could honest about why the want to rehome but i dont get the idea of asking sky-high rehoming fees. I mean that person is doing you a favor by adopting the bird.

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/for/6063576539.html


6 Year Old Male ECLECTUS Parrot...healthy, friendly, lovable bird

Comes with 2 Large Cages, rolling play cart, eclectus bird seed, vitamins, shower perch and toys

Regular vet checks and beak/nail/wing clips

$800 for All

A better add, since we can actually call the vet, and verify about the bird and the ownership.

SilverSage said:

Also look for things that are too good to be true; a hyacinth macaw is NOT going to be for sale for $900, not for any reason.

Click to expand...

Is this in reference to my story? Because it was $200 for a "colorful parrot," with multiple pictures of a hyacinth macaw in front of a house that looked typical for the neighborhood it was posted from. Not knowing how much the bird is worth but knowing that it's a lot of work to care for seems like a valid reason to rehome a hyacinth macaw for $200. I'd like to think it was a scam, I've been telling myself that it was, but I'm still not entirely convinced.

gavagai said:

SilverSage said:

Also look for things that are too good to be true; a hyacinth macaw is NOT going to be for sale for $900, not for any reason.

Click to expand...

Is this in reference to my story? Because it was $200 for a "colorful parrot," with multiple pictures of a hyacinth macaw in front of a house that looked typical for the neighborhood it was posted from. Not knowing how much the bird is worth but knowing that it's a lot of work to care for seems like a valid reason to rehome a hyacinth macaw for $200. I'd like to think it was a scam, I've been telling myself that it was, but I'm still not entirely convinced.

Click to expand...

No it's in reference to a ton of different scams I've seen.


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cnyguy said:

Another thing to look out for is a telephone area code that doesn't match the advertised location of the parrot and person looking to rehome the parrot. I've run across that several times, where the bird is supposedly here in central New York state, but the area code matches up with Nevada or California. Not a guarantee that it's a scam, but a good indication that it might be.

Click to expand...

This is a good thing to check for, but like you say it's no guarantee. For example I live in Hawaii and raise birds, but my area code is from Minnesota. My husband is in the army and it isn't worth it to change our phone numbers every year or two when we move.


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I got a feeling this is probably one. I'm trying to get this person on the phone. https://houston.craigslist.org/for/6105003154.html

Not sure how you raise up an amazon well enough that it's not only friendly but will only talk to you and not even know what species it is. Yellow nape my *ss