Virtue Pets virtuepetshome.co.za is a Confirmed Scam

When going onto enternet platform on line an add pops up for Virtue Pets (virtuepetshome.co.za)

We have been scammed out of money for a pet by a lady using the name Mary Engelbrecht, clearly not the real name in hindsight.

   

They proclaim to be based in Upington and ship pets. Once the money for the pet is paid they follow up the next day with a message (all via W/app messages) to say that the courier will contact us via mail as they no longer use wooden crates to transport puppies in and that we need to pay the bill before further shipping will be done.

The so called courier company is called Express Courier SA. They then mail and requested a further R15700. Before we paid over the money we did some investigating at both banks they requested money to be paid into.

We were told that neither of the names correlated to the banking details and that both accounts are very new and to not pay any money over. We then messaged Virtue Pets that they are a scam company requesting our money back or we will lay charges, we were blocked immediately from all their contacts.

The bank suggested we lay criminal charges. On approaching SAPS to lay a criminal charge they said they can not assist as the money was paid over voluntary. 

We are a few thousand rand out of pocket and wish no others get scammed.  

Lesson learnt the hard way.