[Equine_Harmony]

This notice is for anyone shopping for a horse online. Recently, a NetPosse member brought a suspicious ad to our attention. Here is the ad: (read below how this played out)

(Lizzy) is a beautiful red roan Tennessee Walking Horse mare, 10yo., 15hh, double registered , has smooth easy gaits, and would be great for a confident rider. She is up-to-date on shots, coggins (neg.), teeth floated, and gets wormed and farrier about every 6 weeks. She comes with a 16 western saddle, saddle pad, and bridle. Lizzy is free contact fast, firm. Serious inquiries only, please.
For Sale LocationADAIRVILLE, Kentucky BirthdateNovember 1996BreedTennessee WalkerGenderMareColorRoanHeight15.0 handsAsking Price$0 (US)Weight1100 poundsRegisteredWPCS H7698DisciplinesYouth; Working Cow Horse; Trick Riding; Team Driving; Sport Horse; Reining; Racing; Pleasure Driving; Playday; Parades; Pack Horse; Lesson Horse; Jumping; HYPP N/N; Hunter; Hazing; Halter; Foxhunter; Driving; Cutting; Barrel Racing; All-Around; 4-H;

Seller Contact InformationBe sure to say you found them through Horseville!Seller:asley (cole)Phone:No phone number provided.Email:Click Here To Email Seller

When the NetPosse member asked our thoughts on this ad, here were possibilities. They are all good ones even if they didn't apply to this situation:

* This was a stolen horse since the seller wouldn't allow the buyer to see the horse or come to the property
* A barn owner/manager was trying to get rid of the horse over a dispute with boarder
* A friend/family member was trying to dump the horse after dispute with owner
* A spouse was being nasty in a divorce and trying to cause harm to the owner

However, after receiving a couple of suspicious replies to inquiries, here is what one NetPosse member received:

Hello Dear,
how are you doing today so happy to hear from you so soon you would not be able to pick them up couse they are right with my shipper in the states and they fer away.

i am willing to give out the horse to you for free as you can see am a busy type and i am not presently in the country now am in africa as my shipper told you before so i need a looving and caring home for the horse if you would be able to take good care of them and you shall be sending me their pictures every month so i could know how they are doing well with you.

the horse is well behave gentule and super trail/camp horse am sure you would love the horse it is trained you know its can do all most every work at a time very hard working horse the horse is registerd and got all shots up to date.

all you need to do is to pay for a shipping fee so i would just instrust my shipper to ship immiediatly to your address as soon as i have received payment from you so the shipping fee is $900TO SHIP THE HORSE TO ANY OF YOUR LOCATION get back to me asap.

Thanks,
Mr.PHILIP



That is a classic Nigerian-type scam reply with incorrect grammar, spelling, etc.

Here are the items that tipped of the NetPosse member for the original ad:

* Seller wanted buyer to pay $900 to use SELLER's shipper
* Seller wouldn't allow buyer to first view the horse
* The picture was very low quality and didn't show detail well
* The horse was offered with multiple disciplines, many of which didn't fit the breed
* Once the "seller" wrote back, he turned out to be the middle man for the owner who was in Africa

So BE CAREFUL! This shows how easy it is to "steal" a horse from the Internet. This was most likely an ad placed for this horse on another site that was stolen and listed here.

GREAT JOB NETPOSSE! Keep it up!

Sincerely,
Angela Kirby
NetPosse Admin Assist
Relocate

[Slowrider]

Thanks so much for the heads-up. I'm sure there are a lot of people who would be lured in by the hopes of getting a 'free' horse. This is exactly why I love HGS. Good people and good advice.

[jumpthemoon]

Great now we have a new twist on a old scam!