Net scam swoops on bird buyers

MACAWS FOR CONCERN: Darren Dwyer says online scammers are offering macaws for sale at a fraction of their market value to swindle shoppers. Photo: GLENN FERGUSONA BELMONT pet store owner has warned of an internet scam that promises exotic endangered birds for a fraction of their usual $15,000 price.

Darren Dwyer of Family Pet and Aquarium said he had received five calls in the past month from people who had come close to losing thousands to scammers.

"One lady was going to buy two four-year-old breeding blue and gold macaws for $1500," Mr Dwyer said.

"She realised it was a scam when I told her they were worth in excess of $30,000."

Mr Dwyer, who is convinced the advertised birds do not exist, said he wanted to prevent honest people from losing their hard-earned money.

He said tactics used by the scammers included "comments that the birds belong to someone overseas and the money needs to be put into their account" and claims that the birds were cheap because the vendor had to leave the country soon.

RSPCA spokesman Tim Pilgrim said buying pets online was always a bad idea, especially an endangered species like the macaw, and that restrictions applied to owning, selling and importing exotic birds.

"People should really be checking up on those things before parting with their money," Mr Pilgrim said.

He said all pet purchases should be done in person, preferably at the breeder's residence "so you can learn about its history and look at the environment it was raised in".

A spokeswoman for Consumer Affairs Victoria said scammers often used the anonymous nature of the internet to rip off the unaware. The spokeswoman said while Consumer Affairs Victoria had no recent reports of scams involving macaws for sale online, internet scams were rife, with 690 of the 5236 scams reported in 2011 taking place online.

"As many scams go unreported, however, this figure is likely to be only the tip of the iceberg," she said. To report a scam, visit consumer.vic.gov.au or phone 1300 558 181.