The holiday getaway period is defined by light-weight but can also often evoke thoughts of darkness, from grief to loneliness to depression. In Victoria Rowell’s new Christmas motion picture, “Blackjack Xmas,” the author, producer, actress and director claimed she was drawn to create a holiday movie to strike both of those the gloomy and the vibrant.
“People need to have pleasure,” Rowell stated. “Right now they will need hope. There’s a lot of hope in this motion picture.”
“Blackjack Christmas,” which premiered this thirty day period on Guess+, tells the story of Delores Johnson, a Black girl in her 50s, played by Charmin Lee, who is mourning the loss of her spouse though also having difficulties with gambling dependancy. Motivated by her desire to gain huge, she reconnects with her estranged sister, Corrine Allen, played by Dawnn Lewis, in Jamaica, with hopes of getting a position to stay so she could go to a nearby on line casino. Their reunification helps make the sisters come face to face with troubles that plagued their connection and puts it at danger for more harm and resentment.
Charmin Lee as Corrine Allen in “Blackjack Christmas.”Guess+
“I wished to discuss about gals, women of color, immigration and the isolation immigration brings — not just in a Xmas ability, due to the fact the holiday seasons are really hard for a lot of folks, even when people are functioning,” Rowell stated.
Rowell, who grew up in foster care, explained the inspiration for the film stemmed from her guardian, Barbara Sterling, about whom she wrote in her 2007 memoir, “The Woman Who Raised Me.” Sterling, originally from Kingston, Jamaica, traveled to the U.S. and later on became “a pillar” in her lifestyle “and remains so.” Rowell reported she usually “made Xmas so magical.”
Rowell explained “Blackjack Christmas” is the third venture she filmed in Jamaica, a position exactly where she feels “very grounded.” By a industrial DNA exam, she uncovered and linked with one of her family members, a retired teacher, who lives on the island.
“Jamaica is very central to me,” Rowell claimed. “It’s intrinsic to my personalized becoming.”
Adam Lazarre-White as Graham Wilkes, Charmin Lee as Corrine Allen, Kyrie McAlpin as Marsha Matthews and Leigh-Ann Rose as Gloria Matthews in “Blackjack Christmas.”Guess+
Some of the key themes of the film focus on the issues of grief, colorism and an issue that afflicts lots of family members: dependancy. Rowell claimed she has witnessed the hurt of dependancy as a result of the loss of her nephew and by observing other folks wrestle with it when she was in foster care. Her preceding tasks have also grappled with habit, like her 2019 film “Jacqueline and Jilly,” on Wager and ALLBLK.
Illustrated by Delores’s character with her very own dependancy with gambling, Rowell claimed addicts just can’t be compelled into recovery but a beloved one particular can offer support and a listening ear, like Delores’ spouse and children in the movie.
Director Victoria Rowell.Times Ferry Productions.
“It’s really hard for folks to discuss about these own matters, simply because we come to feel that it ought to be retained quiet and kept private,” Rowell claimed. “But we’re as ill as our insider secrets. And so, it is extremely vital that we allow for a safe and sound area to discuss about psychological ailment.”
With humorous and heartfelt times, the film also touches on some positive life improvements, like getting like once again, mending damaged relationships and forgiving other individuals. Rowell, whose enjoyment profession spans virtually 50 many years, claimed she also required to build extra representation for more people who appear like her. Which is why in numerous of her works, including “Blackjack Xmas,” she focuses on Black women of all ages as central figures and shares their experiences.
“It’s crucial to me to see… Black producers, in newsrooms, on networks, broadcast — not only on camera, but behind it,” Rowell reported. “And so, I will keep on to build content that features and profiles folks of colour, specifically African People.”
Considering the fact that its launch, Rowell mentioned the motion picture has garnered good responses from teams like guide golf equipment and sororities, which she calls “incredible.” With its PG ranking, Rowell explained her movie also invites both of those older and youthful audiences, with some viewers obtaining presently advised a sequel.
“This is these types of a Christmas film and folks are watching it all over again and again,” Rowell claimed.
This is the busiest time of 12 months for numerous gals out there and it really is not acknowledged as the finest time to perform towards your fat-reduction plans. There are countless Christmas functions, family reunions, and particular once-a-year functions to get to, and at every single solitary one of these functions there is a myriad of harmful nevertheless seasonally delightful meals that’s amazingly tough to say no to. This is the time of year when the typical American gains 5-7 kilos, so you may have men and women in your life who consider it really is crazy that you might be hoping to lose bodyweight for the duration of Xmas. But the only explanation folks consider that is mainly because most never have an understanding of what it truly takes to get rid of bodyweight. You do not have to fully give up meals that you appreciate and social gatherings that you love. Fat loss isn’t really about entirely depriving you it really is about finding out to consume in moderation although concentrating on a superior-protein, nutrient-dense eating plan. Of study course there is continue to place for a peppermint latte or slice of pumpkin pie.
Just after virtually a ten years of performing in the health and fitness house, I’ve seen and listened to it all. The gals who locate the most accomplishment in their body weight-loss journey uncovered how to adjust their food plan and diet behavior to healthy their lifestyle—not the other way about. Which is why it truly is correctly okay to continue on your bodyweight-reduction initiatives by way of a holiday break time, a difficult interval of your existence, even though you are touring, and so on. Life is by no means heading to be fantastic. There will normally be distractions, obstacles, and hiccups that toss you off alongside the way. There is certainly no use in ready for your everyday living to be totally uninterrupted, due to the fact you know deep down that will never take place. I am functioning with a few girls ideal now who are observing amazing results so much they acquired by Thanksgiving and are preparing for Christmas. There are strategies to adhere to your aims even though continue to savoring the magic of the season. Below are some suggestions to get you started out.
Of system there is area for a peppermint latte or slice of pumpkin pie.
Frontload Protein in advance of Social Gatherings
You know you are headed to a social gathering with booze, a variety of sorts of creamy chip dips, and limitless cookies. They may possibly have some finger meals like pigs in a blanket and deviled eggs, but you previously know this isn’t the area the place you happen to be heading to get a balanced meal. Social gatherings like this can basically be the quite reason why so many folks throw in the towel and refuse to stick to their weight-reduction targets during this time of year—they assume it can be pointless to even try out and successfully deal with these functions. But you’ve obtained practically nothing to be concerned about.
Take in as significantly protein as you can early on in the working day so you will not have to worry about obtaining lean resources of protein to consume at the get together. I have some clients who are so critical about their ambitions that they are going to take in nothing at all but protein right up until they get to the get together (i.e. protein shake for breakfast, shredded hen for lunch, beef jerky for a snack ahead of the get together). So when they arrive, they never really feel responsible or even anxious about the reality that they are heading to be feeding on far more carbs and fats than standard.
I also extremely suggest hardly ever heading to a get together hungry. Normally try to eat a thing about an hour just before you head above there, for the reason that you want to experience pleased but not total, information but not hungry. This will assist you make superior selections with what you’re ingesting at the occasion, as you is not going to be blinded by your starvation. If you might be somebody who simply overeats at parties, make it a position to distract your self with the visitors and actually spend some time receiving to know other people. In other words and phrases, be far more interested in folks than in the foods all around you.
Try to eat as much protein as you can early on in the day.
There is absolutely space to love the seasonal desserts and dishes though sticking to your bodyweight-loss program. Jut apply part command. Settle for a single piece of pie, not 3. Say indeed to 1 cookie, not 4. Monitor every thing you consume and preserve an eye on your macros (you can use an on line macro calculator to determine out how a lot you will need to be consuming every single working day). There is space to love you in moderation.
Get 10,000 Techniques a Working day
If you might be traveling for the holidays, it can be tough to preserve your workout regimen if you are performing exercises regularly. A person thing you can do no make any difference wherever you are is walk—and going for walks is a excellent endeavor for inexperienced persons to concentration on. 10,000 steps a working day has been demonstrated to increase your overall wellbeing and stave off diabetic issues, substantial blood tension, weight problems, and so forth., and it is really also a superb way to promote your digestion, distract you from snacking mindlessly, and shell out significant time with household in a way that won’t entail electronics. Get your liked kinds involved and go for a wander every single working day, even if it truly is cold outdoors and anyone has to bundle up.
Think about Your Liquor Ingestion
You’ve most likely listened to the phrase “you should not drink your calories.” It is not a bad piece of tips actually. Alcohol not only improves your calorie intake, it also lowers inhibitions, which usually means you might be a great deal a lot more probable to try to eat the kinds of food stuff that never really match into your excess weight-loss routine. In addition, your body treats liquor like a poison, meaning that a whole lot of your other metabolic features shut down in your procedure until eventually you absolutely digest and method the alcohol. That means a good deal of that foodstuff is just not utilized for electricity and is in its place stored as extra fat.
Just one factor you can do no matter the place you are is stroll.
At the pretty the very least, considerably minimize how substantially alcoholic beverages you happen to be consuming in the course of Christmas and choose thoroughly which forms of liquor you are drinking. Obvious liquor is much less calories and has the the very least impact on your intestine stay absent from beer as a lot as you can, and steer obvious of the mixed cocktails with tons of included sugar. But even improved than that is picking to abstain from alcoholic beverages for a number of months and see the remarkable consequences it will have on your technique and particularly on your pounds-reduction endeavours.
Keep Hydrated and Sleep Effectively
A lot of men and women error thirst for starvation, so make absolutely sure you might be consuming a great deal of drinking water all through the working day so you will not finish up mindlessly snacking. It can be just as important to get lots of large-high-quality slumber so your system is well rested and can get better perfectly. This will also encourage improved metabolic features and enhanced immune procedure. If you happen to be traveling this holiday getaway year, deliver what ever you require to be comfy wherever you’re sleeping. Acquiring a journey pillow you appreciate definitely aids, and it also doubles up as lumbar support when you happen to be sitting down in the unpleasant airplane seats. Purpose for 100 ounces of drinking water a working day and 7-8 several hours of slumber a night.
Get a Development Photo Every Day
This is likely heading to feel like the most tiresome endeavor on this checklist, but it truly is going to maintain you sincere with your self. Acquire a progress photograph of on your own each individual single working day through the Christmas holidays. This will give you an truthful, unfiltered look at your progress and how you are tracking through December. It can be completely great if you really don’t see a lot of a big difference, but what you you should not want to see is that your dresses are getting tighter or you’re feeling considerably less assured. The scale will be deceiving, based on issues like h2o retention due to salty food stuff or menstrual cycle, but your progress pics really don’t lie so you are going to be confronted with your real progress every day. This will retain you accountable with your self and remind you to make wholesome decisions in the course of the working day.
Consider a progress photo of you each one working day in the course of the Xmas holidays.
Closing Thoughts
Fat decline can be an pleasurable experience if you generate the appropriate attitude and setting. Xmas is the best time of 12 months to mirror on all the things in your lifetime and what you’ve got uncovered this earlier year. If you have been struggling with your overall health these days, this season will give you a lovely reminder of why you’re embarking on this difficult journey, and that will give you the power to carry on even when it gets challenging and maybe even feels unachievable. Be constant, take pleasure in daily life, and bear in mind every solitary day is a clean slate to start once again.
These days fixture Al Roker has shared a significant wellness update whilst surrounded by his liked kinds.
The beloved meteorologist was “so grateful” to be “very well sufficient” to embellish his Christmas tree with his loved ones.
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Al Roker flashed a huge smile when decorating his tree with custom made ornamentsCredit history: Instagram/alroker
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The These days weather was ‘so thankful to be perfectly enough’ to do so, he wrote and was joined by his youngsters, spouse, and pupCredit: Instagram/alroker
Al, 68, has been resting up at house recovering from a thirty day period-prolonged medical center stay to treat blood clots in his legs and lungs.
The adored weatherman off the monitor was in excellent spirits in new snaps on Instagram on Friday with his wife Deborah Roberts, and their two children – daughter Leila, 24, and son Nick, 20.
In one particular of the festive photos, he smiled vast while keeping up a York mint chocolate ornament.
In another, he joined his a few instant relatives associates and their cute pet dog underneath their significant tree – Al smiled in a everyday gray prime.
‘SO Thankful TO BE Very well ENOUGH’
“So thankful to be properly more than enough to enhance the Roker Family Christmas tree” he wrote along with the personal illustrations or photos.
Supporters decked the halls of Al’s opinions segment, thrilled to see him seeking pleased and healthy.
“This manufactured my evening! Observing you all with each other warms my heart. One day at a time with Al’s overall health journey back again! Slow and constant wins the race!” just one follower wrote.
A different gushed: “Extremely content for you and your household your health and fitness is your wealth.”
Most examine in Enjoyment
“Loving all those smiles!!” wrote TV’s Stephanie Abrams.
“Stunning relatives!! Glad you’re sensation much better Al!” penned a fourth.
“So pleased you happen to be house and carrying out improved. That online video of your coworkers singing was so sweet,” wrote a fifth.
The Tv star also has a daughter from a prior relationship.
SWEET Shock!
Previously this month Al gained a surprise from his Today show coworkers at his New York Town household.
When Al opened his front doorway with a cane in his hand, he turned emotional and had to wipe away tears.
He was greeted by a tearful Hoda Kotb as properly as Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager, and Dylan Dreyer.
All people wore Santa hats and serenaded him with Xmas Carols to cheer him up.
Al choked back his tears again tears as he tried to thank absolutely everyone for coming.
Finally, the longtime meteorologist composed himself and joked that they really should all go on America’s Acquired Expertise.
They sang Jingle Bells and a unique rendition of I’ll Be Dwelling For Christmas that changed the word “I am going to” with “Al” in honor of the host.
Al broke down all over again at the end of the clip.
AL’S Recovery
The Television set individuality has been in the hospital 2 times in the space of a thirty day period and spoke about his restoration when he built a virtual overall look on These days just lately.
“You reduce a certain amount of money of muscle mass for every 7 days you might be in the medical center and I was in the healthcare facility for four weeks,” he shared.
“So there is a sure amount of money of weak point. I am performing physical treatment each individual working day, and occupational therapy. I’ve got to get my energy back again.”
Al explained he had prepared a knee replacement in January but due to the fact he is even now recovering, he has experienced to press that surgery back again.
He continued: “But I really feel very good. I sense potent. Each and every day is a small far better than the last, and I built meal final night.
“I just really feel like you can find gonna be a minor little bit of a slog. But there are folks who have to offer with a great deal far more with a lot much less resources. I am extremely fortuitous and pretty blessed to have the means.”
It really is unclear when Al will be again on Television set at this time as enthusiasts have been wishing him nicely nonstop.
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Al – who skipped the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Working day Parade due to his health and fitness – embellished his Christmas tree with his relatives on SaturdayCredit rating: Instagram/alroker
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A bundle of Now stars a short while ago frequented his New York Metropolis dwellingCredit rating: Twitter
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Al was hospitalized for 4 weeks for blood clots in his legs and lungsCredit: NBC / Instagram
Al Roker is on the street to recovery — and he’s not by itself.
Since the Currently display weatherman very first disclosed that he was dealt with for blood clots in his leg and lungs in early November, he has experienced to miss out on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Working day Parade and the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting. But in a heartfelt surprise, Al’s fellow NBC co-anchors introduced the holiday break spirit right to his doorstep.
On December 12, Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager, Savannah Guthrie, Craig Melvin and the relaxation of the Right now show crew arrived at his New York Metropolis household carrying Santa hats and serenaded him with Xmas carols. The NBC meteorologist couldn’t help but be triumph over with emotion, shedding delighted tears in the process.
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“I’ve missed you all so, so really a lot, all these faces,” he stated to the group. “It just means the environment to me and to our loved ones. And my Deborah, who’s just been my rock. I thank you so significantly. I genuinely appreciated it. I like you a lot more than you’ll ever know.”
The sweet minute was afterwards shared on social media, and Al didn’t move up the opportunity to express his gratitude in many posts. “I am nevertheless blown absent by the love my spouse and children at @todayshow showed us this 7 days,” he captioned Instagram shots featuring his wife, Deborah Roberts, and their daughter Leila.
Reacting to the heartwarming tribute, These days fans showered him with loving and supportive messages in the responses portion. “We love you Al! We all want we could stand there singing to you! 💝💝💝,” a single particular person wrote. “That’s wonderful!!!! You are soooo beloved!!!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️,” a further added. “You ARE our most unique Xmas present Every single Working day! ❤️,” a unique follower explained.
As for when viewers can expect to see Al again at the information desk, it could possibly be a though for a longer period. At the minute, he’s carrying out actual physical and occupational treatment to assistance get his energy back. In advance of his holiday break shock, Al discovered that whilst his restoration has been “a rough slog,” he is not dropping hope.
“This has been the hardest a single nonetheless — and you know, I’ve had my honest share of surgeries,” he said on the show. “But I sense very good, I sense robust. And each day, I truly feel a small bit greater. It offers you a profound perception of gratitude for this outpouring of prayers and thanks. I’m a quite privileged human being.”
We just cannot hold out to see you back again on the air, Al!
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Selena is the associate amusement and information editor for Excellent Housekeeping, where she handles the most up-to-date on Tv, movies and superstars. In addition to crafting and editing enjoyment news, she also spotlights the Hispanic and Latinx neighborhood by way of her operate. She is a graduate of CUNY Hunter Higher education with a B.A. in journalism and inventive producing.
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The brown and white boxer puppy named “Gemma” couldn’t have been any cuter. Super lovable, 12 weeks old and he looked very intelligent in his picture. But before the day was done, he would end up ripping one big hole into a Michigan woman’s checkbook.
And break her heart.
Those big eyes can con you into doing anything — and don’t the scammers know it. It’s a warning worth sharing once again during the holiday season, as many people shop online for puppies and other pets.
As it so happens, the online seller amazingly has a litter of puppies available in time for Christmas. The trouble is you’re likely never going to see that dog — and you’ll be out a crateful of cash.
How one online puppy scam unfolded
“I’ve been looking for a boxer puppy. And I’ve been going online,” said Joan Reddout, of Vassar, Michigan, which is about 15 miles away from Frankenmuth.
She started looking in Michigan but the breeders she found here were selling show-quality purebred boxers and they were asking anywhere from $1,800 to $3,000 for their puppies.
“I can’t afford that,” said Reddout, 72, a former home health aide who hasn’t worked in the past year after a car accident and issues with her immune system.
“I just wanted a boxer puppy.”
Then in early October, she spotted someone selling boxers, known for their short, shiny coats and playful personalities, out of Billings, Montana. The puppies were American Kennel Club registered but they weren’t show line dogs with four-digit price tags. The puppies were socialized and raised with children.
The distance didn’t bother her.
“I had talked to people who had gotten puppies from out of state and they did fine,” she said.
When Reddout called the number listed, the seller just happened to have some puppies being shipped out later that day. If she could get him the money right away, “Gemma” soon could be flown to Saginaw, the nearest airport, and then be delivered to her home. She could have the puppy at her home that very night.
One of the email exchanges described the boxer, saying: “He’s attentive, lovable & gives kisses.”
The puppy was $600 and the shipping fee would be $155 — total $755.
The send-money-now pitch didn’t bother her.
The seller seemed sincere. He had shown interest in how she’d be able to take care of the dog. Did she have experience with dogs? Would she be able to walk the dog? How was the neighborhood?
Reddout admitted that she usually likes to go see a puppy in person. When dogs are sold online and being sent from another state, it’s often not possible. She would wait until she met the puppy and saw a bit of his personality to pick a new name for “Gemma.”
Everything seemed OK to the retiree who once raised boxers herself many years ago.
She has two older dogs, a Pekingese named Precious and a papillion named Tater. But she wanted a puppy with a larger presence to join the family. She divorced six years ago and has two adult children in New York.
Even so, the online seller was pushing to close that deal quickly.
“He didn’t want me to send a check. He had to have the money right away so he could pay for the puppy’s flight and everything,” Reddout said. Some emailed itineraries indicated flights on United Airlines and Delta.
The so-called seller initially asked her to send money via the Zelle app but she didn’t know how that worked. He suggested she buy Visa gift cards. She ended up going to the Dollar General to buy two Visa cards — one with $500 on it and the other with $255 on it.
She was asked to take a picture of the Visa cards, the front and the back, and then a picture of the receipt. And she emailed those photos to the seller.
“He didn’t want me to put his name on the back,” she said. “His name was Frank Thomas, at least that’s what he told me his name was.”
The man had a heavy accent, though, and she wondered if he was originally from India and then changed his name.
She spotted real trouble when someone else involved in the scam alerted her that a special, thermal electronic crate would be needed due to weather conditions. And she’d have to pay $799 upfront — and later get $700 refunded once the crate was returned.
“I said ‘I’m sorry. I don’t have that kind of money,’ ” she told me. “I said ‘I can come up with the $99 but the other $700 I can’t come up with.’ It took me a year to save up for the puppy to begin with.”
Later, they asked her to just pay an extra $500. But Reddout couldn’t do that either.
“He said ‘Can’t you put it on your credit card?’ ” she recalled. “I said ‘No, I’m on a limited income.’ “
She never did get the dog. She’s out the $755. She was promised by the man who called himself Frank Thomas that she could get $600 back. He needed that $155 to cover upfront shipping costs. Whatever. She cannot get a hold of him and hasn’t seen a dime of anything.
And she hasn’t been able to tell her friends or relatives the story of the scam, the first time anyone ripped her off. She’s too afraid that they’ll think it was her fault for sending money and not spotting the fraud.
Puppy scams tap into need for affection
Puppy scams are huge. And frankly, it’s one scam where I easily could imagine myself as a victim. We lost our dear corgi Phoenix Tiger, who would have turned 14 in January, back in October. As my son Matt wrote so eloquently, Phoenix “loved people. He touched the hearts of everyone he met. . . .He was my best friend on my worst days.”
Phoenix saw Matt through grade school, middle school, high school, college, grad school and his first job working, which happened for a few months to be out of our house during the pandemic.
Phoenix was an amazingly smart dog who helped me cook, including heading out to find me in another room when the oven buzzer went off. “Think we should get that?” he’d ask. He had a flair for wearing bow ties, showing kindness to small children and knowing how to work the room. (Longtime readers might recall the column I wrote in 2014 about when Phoenix chewed up some cash left on my son’s bed when he rushed off to a high school football game.)
Our family loved him dearly. The three of us shared his final moments at an emergency hospital in Novi. And I felt compelled to turn to my son before we had to put the corgi down and to say: “Matt, you know I love you more than the dog.” And Matt, wisely said: “Mom, there’s no need to lie right now.”
So I can only imagine how the scammers hit us where it hurts.
Not surprisingly, the crooks advertise breeds that are popular and promise a great price. Consumer watchdogs saw a major uptick in pet scam complaints during the pandemic, as people sought companionship and rationalized that they had more time alone at home to train a puppy.
The Michigan Department of Attorney General has received a total of 129 pet scam complaints since 2020.
A consumer in Commerce Township reported losing $700 via Cash App trying to buy a Siberian kitten online. But then a shipping company wanted an extra $1,500 for a special crate and the consumer knew that didn’t sound right at all. The consumer reported to the Michigan Attorney General that the family had gotten their hopes up but then everything fell apart and they felt heartbroken. They never received a refund or the kitten.
A Rochester Hills resident lost $650 in American Express gift cards trying to buy Astro the pit bull. The consumer was told not to tell the clerk at the store that the gift cards were being bought to pay for a dog because “they would charge me more for the gift cards.” The next morning, another $970 refundable payment was requested but the consumer did not pay it, suspecting fraud, according to information from the Attorney General’s office.
Pet scams made up 35{35112b74ca1a6bc4decb6697edde3f9edcc1b44915f2ccb9995df8df6b4364bc} of reports about online shopping scams made to the Better Business Bureau in 2021. The largest group of victims by age are those 25-35, followed by those 35-44. The average financial loss reported to BBB Scam Tracker was $1,088, according to a December 2021 BBB report.
Google took legal action in April against an operation using Gmail accounts and Google Voice accounts to impersonate sellers of bassett hounds and Maltipoo puppies. One victim, according to the court filing in the San Jose Northern District Court of California, lost $700 in electronic gift cards and never got the puppy. (As part of that scam, the delivery company suddenly needed an extra $1,500.) AARP had tipped Google off to the scam, reportedly run out of the Cameroon.
How one woman lost $925 on a flying squirrel
And it’s not just puppies.
“We’ve had every animal under the sun that someone has tried to procure as a pet be victimized,” said AARP fraud expert Amy Nofziger.
“Not a day goes by that we don’t get a report on some sort of pet scam.”
Consumers have complained of being scammed buying puppies, kittens, monkeys, parrots, raccoons, iguanas, and horses.
“We had a flying squirrel two weeks ago,” Nofziger said.
A flying squirrel?
The woman had two flying squirrels as pets but the female had died and she worried that the surviving male squirrel would get lonely. The problem is that she found the female on an exotic pets website, which was an imposter site managed by scammers.
She needed to put down a $200 deposit. She asked to use PayPal but she was told that she needed to use the Zelle app, Nofziger said, noting that peer-to-peer apps are increasingly popular with scammers who want instant cash.
Ultimately, more expenses needed to be covered — the scammers in these pet scams don’t ask for all that money upfront — and the woman ended up spending a total of $925. Then, the scammers wanted another $1,000 in shipping charges. She said no at that point.
Many times, Nofziger said extra charges can sound reasonable to a potential pet owner — fees to test for COVID, fees for a special certificate for the airlines, fees for a special crate. But it’s a way for scammers to get more money.
Nofziger speculated that some shoppers are going online now looking for more unusual pets, such as raccoons, with the hope of finding the next TikTok star. And the scammers know it. (The social media angle for racoons seems more likely than trying to recreate the roaring 1920s when Rebecca the raccoon was a presidential pet. “She was given to the Coolidge family in 1926 by a supporter from Mississippi, who suggested that the raccoon be served up for Thanksgiving dinner,” according to a White House history.)
The scammers try to make you feel that you’ve got a connection already with the pet in the photo.
As part of her research, Nofziger exchanged texts with a cat scammer in February to see their ploy. The scammers immediately sent her pictures. “Of course, he’s the cutest cat you’ve ever seen.” And the scammers used what Nofziger calls “emotionally affirming language.” The cat is described as being “so sweet.” The scammer texts her that the cat already loves you. And the scammer says “nannys” — yes, misspelled — would be there to take care of the cat until he reaches your home. The scammer wanted $700 in cryptocurrency for the “baby.”
“They use that language to get you hooked in,” Nofziger said.
Nofziger told me she’s amazed at how well versed the scammers are about the traits of a very specific breed or animal. The scammers do their homework to know everything about that type of cat or dog to manipulate you into believing that you’re talking with a professional breeder — and build up your dream of finding a loving pet.
Those puppy dog eyes will trick you
The deal might look real because the con artists will send pictures — and even videos — and then ask for a down payment, said Lauren Schalk, a spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Michigan.
The BBB’s “12 Scams of Christmas” includes pet scams, noting that many families will consider “adding a furry friend to their household this year.” But it’s best to request seeing a puppy or other pet in person before handing over any gift cards, payments via a banking app or bitcoin.
The thing is that the dogs in the photos aren’t really sitting around the house hounding the scammers to take them on a walk or toss them another peanut butter pretzel. Con artists just steal cute pictures of dogs and other pets from the internet. Crooks only need a domain name — not the actual dog — to engage in fraud.
It’s kind of like those romance scams. That hunk of a doctor in the photo isn’t the real guy texting you.
And like the love connection who is overseas and cannot go to dinner, the adorable puppy is out of state and cannot jump on your lap.
It’s terribly cruel to target someone who wants a companion. Maybe, they even lost a loved one or a beloved pet. For those who are honest, it can be hard to imagine that someone would steal an attractive photo to toy with someone’s emotions. But it happens, way too often.
Unfortunately, it’s best to be skeptical of any photo that you see online. Fake listings can appear on Craigslist or Facebook. Some scammers even try to pretend to be reputable breeders by stealing personal information from the breeders, according to an alert from the American Kennel Club.
A reputable breeder is going to make time to talk with you on the phone, not just insist on texting or emailing, said Brandi Hunter Munden, the AKC’s vice president for public relations and communications.
Talk with a few breeders to get an idea of the cost of a puppy for particular breed. “If the price is too good to be true, it usually is,” Munden said. The AKC Marketplace is one spot to find breeders. The AKC does not certify breeders.
When it comes to getting a healthy puppy, Munden said, any reputable breeder will have had the puppy examined and already have begun their vaccination cycle. Ask for paperwork. “If the breeder does not have vet records on the dog, you should reconsider purchasing the dog,” Munden said.
Follow up with your own vet and finish the vaccination cycle to ensure your puppy is fully protected. She adds that the puppy should not be around any unvaccinated dogs until they’re fully vaccinated at approximately 16 weeks to 18 weeks old.
Seeing the puppy in person is key. It’s usually, Munden said, in the best interest of the puppy for the new owner to go and pick up the puppy.
The Michigan Department of Attorney General says if you are unable to see a dog in person, see if the breeder is willing to do video chat. Or even “send you a photo or video with your name and the date written on a piece of paper next to the puppy. Be sure to do this before making any sort of deposit.”
Don’t pay all the money upfront until you meet the pet.
Know that customer testimonials can be fake, just like the pictures. If you spot the same text — or photo — on other websites, you might conclude that the breeder is likely a scammer.
Some red flags of puppy scams are similar to other scams: Sellers create a sense of urgency to buy now; they want payments in odd forms, like gift cards, bitcoin or Zelle; and they’re not really answering your questions. Never use Zelle or a money transfer service from your bank to buy a puppy. Try to use a credit card whenever possible.
Once you buy gift cards or send money via Zelle, the crooks will soon come up with other reasons for you to send more cash. Many of the puppy scams of late include last-minute, unexpected added medical or transportation costs, which only put more money in the pockets of the scammers.
Fortunately, Reddout, the Michigan retiree, didn’t lose another $799 in gift cards for that thermal crate. It didn’t make sense why the person delivering Gemma couldn’t just take that crate back without her making a big, unexpected payment upfront.
“I realized it was a scam when he wanted the $799 to ship the dog,” Reddout said.
