Beware of scammers when buying a donkey

The DSV have received a number of reports recently of scammers trying to con people out of money by offering donkeys for sale or adoption. We have had to reject a number of adverts in our for sale section as a result, and urge members to be cautious when buying from strangers on-line.  Here are some great tips you might want to consider when looking to purchase (Click here for the article 7 horse for sale scams you need to know) as you can see from the link, it’s not just donkeys where people get caught out. 

Some of the key things worth considering is never pay a deposit on a donkey unseen. Don’t just rely on photos and video as evidence that they have the donkey, they can easily get those from the internet. If the seller is insisting on delivery only, it’s probably a scam. Try and source a donkey from a reputable and known breeder. Ask for references (such as contact details of their vet, farrier, dentist etc.) If the price is too good to be true, that should be a red flag and if your gut is telling you that something isn’t right, it probably isn’t.  Try and avoid conducting the sale through just email alone.

One example we recently became aware of is a Facebook Page (Molly Mini Donkey Farm) offering donkeys for sale. On investigation, many of the images being posted have actually been taken from other breeder’s Facebook pages and websites based in the US. (See images below). The Facebook page has been reported and hopefully will be removed soon.