ACT Wildlife reveals shocking online Wombat scam you need to be aware of!
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When it comes to shopping online, there are plenty of scams to keep an eye out for.
This is why it’s important to be extra cautious when browsing sites like online marketplaces that offer a range of second-hand goods.
Believe it or not, some scammers will even go as far as offering unusual animals for sale!
Local wildlife organisation ACT Wildlife is Canberra’s wildlife care group. They recently shared a post on social media to warn people about a new online scam related to wombats.
The post was prompted by a message that Lindy Butcher received from a friend.
Lindy has rehabilitated and raised sick and injured wombats with ACT Wildlife for over 27 years, including eight years in her backyard.
'I just think they’re the most amazing animals,' Lindy says.
So she was shocked to find that a wombat under her care had been used to scam people.
The message asked why Tonka, the joey she had been caring for in her own backyard, had apparently been put up for sale in the UK.
The wombat's photo had been spotted on a Facebook group called 'Wombats Near Me for Sale or Adoption.'
The caption read, 'We all gain weight when we're on holiday. Tonka is no different but he looks [sic] so proud of his weight gain.'
Further investigation revealed that the scammers had taken photos and information from other animal-themed social media accounts.
'Once they’ve got a good following of people who like these images, they start selling merchandise and making money on our work,' Lindy explains.
Keeping native animals as pets in Australia is illegal, so any wombat-for-sale post should immediately alert would-be buyers to scamming. Unfortunately, though, it’s not that simple.
Most scammers use generic names like 'Wombat Lovers' or 'We Love Wombats' and try to give the impression they’re the carers of the animals.
Photos of the animals will also often list the location in a far-off place, such as from Australia to much further afield.
Cats and dogs are the usual bait in the pet-for-sale scam, but Lindy says the scammers also like to play on 'all the very interesting creatures people are fascinated by' such as sloths, pandas, tigers and sharks.
Thankfully, the tight-knit wombat conservation community were able to jump into action.
'We all know each other, so when the friend sent me that message, we were able to follow up from there and find other scams as well,' Lindy says.
'We’re actively seeking them out and trying to get them taken down.'
So keep your eyes peeled, members. If you come across a wombat for sale, it probably isn’t real.
Lindy’s top tip for spotting similar scams is to check the source of any animal photos you come across. Without a credit back or a clear attribution to the owner of the picture, it’s probably a scam.
'Give your support to the people who are doing the real care and rescue work on the ground,' she says.
It also pays to stop and think, too. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
Do you have any stories or tips to share about this scam or others? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
This is why it’s important to be extra cautious when browsing sites like online marketplaces that offer a range of second-hand goods.
Believe it or not, some scammers will even go as far as offering unusual animals for sale!
The post was prompted by a message that Lindy Butcher received from a friend.
Lindy has rehabilitated and raised sick and injured wombats with ACT Wildlife for over 27 years, including eight years in her backyard.
'I just think they’re the most amazing animals,' Lindy says.
So she was shocked to find that a wombat under her care had been used to scam people.
The message asked why Tonka, the joey she had been caring for in her own backyard, had apparently been put up for sale in the UK.
Scammers have taken to ‘selling’ live wombats and other exotic animals online. Credit: Instagram
The wombat's photo had been spotted on a Facebook group called 'Wombats Near Me for Sale or Adoption.'
The caption read, 'We all gain weight when we're on holiday. Tonka is no different but he looks [sic] so proud of his weight gain.'
Further investigation revealed that the scammers had taken photos and information from other animal-themed social media accounts.
Keeping native animals as pets in Australia is illegal, so any wombat-for-sale post should immediately alert would-be buyers to scamming. Unfortunately, though, it’s not that simple.
Most scammers use generic names like 'Wombat Lovers' or 'We Love Wombats' and try to give the impression they’re the carers of the animals.
Photos of the animals will also often list the location in a far-off place, such as from Australia to much further afield.
Cats and dogs are the usual bait in the pet-for-sale scam, but Lindy says the scammers also like to play on 'all the very interesting creatures people are fascinated by' such as sloths, pandas, tigers and sharks.
Thankfully, the tight-knit wombat conservation community were able to jump into action.
'We all know each other, so when the friend sent me that message, we were able to follow up from there and find other scams as well,' Lindy says.
'We’re actively seeking them out and trying to get them taken down.'
So keep your eyes peeled, members. If you come across a wombat for sale, it probably isn’t real.
'Give your support to the people who are doing the real care and rescue work on the ground,' she says.
It also pays to stop and think, too. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
Do you have any stories or tips to share about this scam or others? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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