by Chiropter
Wed Aug 28, 2013 6:29 pm
Hello,
Recently I have been looking into purchasing an Congo African Grey Parrot. I have done my research: found a reputable breeder, toys, accessories all the essentials, and have "bird-proofed" my house. I have never owned any species of parrot or bird but I've worked at aviaries for almost 9 years now, while bird-sitting various other birds before then: Cockatoos, Cockatiels, Budgies, Amazon parrots, even a Macaw once (though he just sat and stared at me the entire time cursing about Super Mario). What turned my heart towards Greys is a long story but while volunteering at a local shelter for abandoned birds I met an old African Grey called Lococo and fell in love, only to watch him pass away shortly after. I've always remembered him, and now I am finally in the process of purchasing a Grey.
Well anyway, sorry for long story............................................. ....................................
Three months after I began my research, purchased a cage and so on, I found a website online that offered Congo African Greys for sale. I immediately dismissed the site as a poorly constructed scam. It popped up a few days later and I was curious I suppose since it offered cages for prices I could only dream of; probably proof that it was a scam. Well after reviewing the website I surmised that even though they appeared to be a scam in all areas I would contact them, and if they did not fufill even one of my criteria, I would dismiss them without a second thought.
After reviewing everything I'll list everything that stood out about this website as legitimate or as scam-like.
HERE IS THEIR WEBSITE; http://www.africangreyforsale.biz/
LEGITIMATE;
---I had a video call with them over Skype, I "saw" a Congo African Grey who seemed sociably enough, though it might have been another species of bird as it was dark.
---The owner appeared in a message thanking a top website designer known as Himalayan IT Solution, which seems unlikely for a scammer to do. Here is a link; http://www.himalayaninternetmarketing.c ... nials.html
---They have testimonials from customers, which of course could be faked but I have not been able to find the images--next to the "references"-- on any other site; I've used google image search along with a few other picture and website search engines, which adds slight credibility.
---They have cash on delivery option. Here as it says on their website;
"Q: Can I make payment after I have received the parrot?
R: Yes, you only release payment details after you have received your parrot.
We recommend using shipping escrow for payment."
---The pictures they have on their website are not stolen from other websites as far as I can tell.
---They explain why their parrots are so cheap. I've copied this from their website;
"Cost of living in Congo:
Do you know the average cost of living per day is Congo is less than $1 and with
$3, a family of 5 can have dinner in a good quality restaurant?
(2) Value of African greys in Congo:
Did you know that Congo African grey parrots are just like farm chickens in the
back yard? Here in Congo, the greys have almost no value except to people like
us who know what the worth in Europe and the Americas.
(3) Cost of breeding a grey in Congo:
The cost of breeding a Congo African grey for 6 months is average $50. It makes
a lot of profit for us to profit $250 per parrot. We are making average $25,000
every 3 months, that is $6,500 per month.
(4) Value of $ in Congo:
Did you know that a qualified medical practitioner does not earn up to $600 a
month here in Congo. To rent a home with 4 bed rooms, a living room and kitchen
is average $75 per month.
(5) Our philosophy:
Although the parrots have made us millionaires here in Congo, our goal is not to
become multi-millionaires, but to help parrot lovers own parrots without filing for
bankruptcy their bank accounts."
SCAM;
---Their located in Cameroon, Africa. Their address actually pops up in roots ancestry under;
"Bedayr, Abbas"
"Address 1286 Rue du Commerce, B.P. 15785 - Kinshasa, Congo
Originally From Ghassanieh, Saida
Born in Ghassanieh
Wife Khadija Houdroge
Children Hassan, Randa, Faten, Hachem, Fattouma, Salam, Samir
Father Mohamed Bedayr
Mother Ramziyeh Bedayr"
---They offer Congo African Greys for prices that are extremely cheap.
---They reference Congo African Greys as "farm chickens".
"Did you know that Congo African grey parrots are just like farm chickens in the
back yard? Here in Congo, the greys have almost no value except to people like
us who know what the worth in Europe and the Americas."
................................................................which could mean the care of their birds is limited to them stuffing a wild Congo African Grey into a box and shipping it to the U.S.
---Their pictures of African Greys shows the birds in less than suitable conditions.
---They recommend "Escrow" for shipping price. Wire transfer!
---Lots of misspellings, website pretty shabby. Its ironic as their old website actually looked quite nice. But they closed down their old website at http://www.congogreyparrots.com.
---Importation of exotic birds is illegal or usually comes with an enormous set of restrictions.
Basically I have two questions I want answered;
1) IS THIS WEBSITE A COMPLETE SCAM?
2) IS "ESCROW" ACTUALLY SAFE? I'd like to know for future use.
Recently I have been looking into purchasing an Congo African Grey Parrot. I have done my research: found a reputable breeder, toys, accessories all the essentials, and have "bird-proofed" my house. I have never owned any species of parrot or bird but I've worked at aviaries for almost 9 years now, while bird-sitting various other birds before then: Cockatoos, Cockatiels, Budgies, Amazon parrots, even a Macaw once (though he just sat and stared at me the entire time cursing about Super Mario). What turned my heart towards Greys is a long story but while volunteering at a local shelter for abandoned birds I met an old African Grey called Lococo and fell in love, only to watch him pass away shortly after. I've always remembered him, and now I am finally in the process of purchasing a Grey.
Well anyway, sorry for long story............................................. ....................................
Three months after I began my research, purchased a cage and so on, I found a website online that offered Congo African Greys for sale. I immediately dismissed the site as a poorly constructed scam. It popped up a few days later and I was curious I suppose since it offered cages for prices I could only dream of; probably proof that it was a scam. Well after reviewing the website I surmised that even though they appeared to be a scam in all areas I would contact them, and if they did not fufill even one of my criteria, I would dismiss them without a second thought.
After reviewing everything I'll list everything that stood out about this website as legitimate or as scam-like.
HERE IS THEIR WEBSITE; http://www.africangreyforsale.biz/
LEGITIMATE;
---I had a video call with them over Skype, I "saw" a Congo African Grey who seemed sociably enough, though it might have been another species of bird as it was dark.
---The owner appeared in a message thanking a top website designer known as Himalayan IT Solution, which seems unlikely for a scammer to do. Here is a link; http://www.himalayaninternetmarketing.c ... nials.html
---They have testimonials from customers, which of course could be faked but I have not been able to find the images--next to the "references"-- on any other site; I've used google image search along with a few other picture and website search engines, which adds slight credibility.
---They have cash on delivery option. Here as it says on their website;
"Q: Can I make payment after I have received the parrot?
R: Yes, you only release payment details after you have received your parrot.
We recommend using shipping escrow for payment."
---The pictures they have on their website are not stolen from other websites as far as I can tell.
---They explain why their parrots are so cheap. I've copied this from their website;
"Cost of living in Congo:
Do you know the average cost of living per day is Congo is less than $1 and with
$3, a family of 5 can have dinner in a good quality restaurant?
(2) Value of African greys in Congo:
Did you know that Congo African grey parrots are just like farm chickens in the
back yard? Here in Congo, the greys have almost no value except to people like
us who know what the worth in Europe and the Americas.
(3) Cost of breeding a grey in Congo:
The cost of breeding a Congo African grey for 6 months is average $50. It makes
a lot of profit for us to profit $250 per parrot. We are making average $25,000
every 3 months, that is $6,500 per month.
(4) Value of $ in Congo:
Did you know that a qualified medical practitioner does not earn up to $600 a
month here in Congo. To rent a home with 4 bed rooms, a living room and kitchen
is average $75 per month.
(5) Our philosophy:
Although the parrots have made us millionaires here in Congo, our goal is not to
become multi-millionaires, but to help parrot lovers own parrots without filing for
bankruptcy their bank accounts."
SCAM;
---Their located in Cameroon, Africa. Their address actually pops up in roots ancestry under;
"Bedayr, Abbas"
"Address 1286 Rue du Commerce, B.P. 15785 - Kinshasa, Congo
Originally From Ghassanieh, Saida
Born in Ghassanieh
Wife Khadija Houdroge
Children Hassan, Randa, Faten, Hachem, Fattouma, Salam, Samir
Father Mohamed Bedayr
Mother Ramziyeh Bedayr"
---They offer Congo African Greys for prices that are extremely cheap.
---They reference Congo African Greys as "farm chickens".
"Did you know that Congo African grey parrots are just like farm chickens in the
back yard? Here in Congo, the greys have almost no value except to people like
us who know what the worth in Europe and the Americas."
................................................................which could mean the care of their birds is limited to them stuffing a wild Congo African Grey into a box and shipping it to the U.S.
---Their pictures of African Greys shows the birds in less than suitable conditions.
---They recommend "Escrow" for shipping price. Wire transfer!
---Lots of misspellings, website pretty shabby. Its ironic as their old website actually looked quite nice. But they closed down their old website at http://www.congogreyparrots.com.
---Importation of exotic birds is illegal or usually comes with an enormous set of restrictions.
Basically I have two questions I want answered;
1) IS THIS WEBSITE A COMPLETE SCAM?
2) IS "ESCROW" ACTUALLY SAFE? I'd like to know for future use.
