Are You Being Scammed? Avoiding Avian Scam Aritists

There are many many honest bird breeders that truly care about their birds and to whom they sell their breeders, singles and babies to. Unfortunately there are also people who have entered the bird world who do not have a high set of standards. It is these people whom the buying public need to be aware of and keep a watch for as they look for their next pet or pair of breeders.

If the price is way to low there is probably a reason why. In the case of a breeder or a breeder pair it may be that the birds have been bred out and are no longer any good for breeding. There may be a health issue such as papiloma, or PDD. If the birds are in good health and are rare they are probably stolen especially if the person selling them doesn’t seem to know much about them. Ask the seller if he stands behind the viability of the birds if you have them checked.

If a person is selling a beloved pet it may be that everything is okay. In todays economy and our throw away society there are plenty of reasons that people re-home birds. But here again it might be a person that is collecting birds to resell to make a fast buck.

When you talk to a person before purchasing from them ask them about the birds that they raise. How knowledeable are they? Are they willing to answer all your questions? How are the birds kept? Are the cages large enough? What is in their food dish? Is the water clean? How do their birds respond to them? Do they have an avian vet? Except for birds that are breeding and are in a closed aviary will they let you see birds other than the one that you are buying?

Watch for excuses that don’t make sense. Ask the same question in different ways and see if the answer is the same or comes out different. Ask what their guarantee is. Ask for references. Get more than one. Get several and check them out. If you can’t get an answer or get thru to any of them there is a reason. GET A RECEIPT. If things go sour this is your only legal piece of paper that shows a transaction took place. If the bird has a band on it make sure it is on the receipt and both the your name and the sellers name is also on the receipt along with the name of the business.

If you need to re-home your bird PLEASE be careful. There are many people out there that advertise they will give your bird a forever home. Many of these people are collecting birds because they are hoarders and believe that they are doing a good deed. Others have the bird sold before they ever get it home. Most of the time these people come across as very sweet and honest. They will give you a very good story. Listen closely, ask very pointed questions. Get their name and Google it. Often there is a history if you look on line about them swindling people out of their birds or not making honest transactions.

Do not be fooled by a nice website. One of the worst scammers I have ever met had a very nice website. Be careful, read between the lines. The best way is to google the person and the website. If they have been scamming for a while you will find negative reports on them on the web.

It us up to you to protect yourself.

Thank you.

Fran Andersen, At Feather's End Avairay