MONKEY BUSINESS; NET CONMEN WILL SELL YOU A PUP Warning over exotic pet scam.(News)

Byline: KEITH FALKINER

LION cubs, tiger cubs and cute capuchin monkeys are just some of cuddly creatures being offered for sale on the internet - by scammers.

Crafty crooks are cashing in on an exotic pet craze by offering monkeys, lion and tiger cubs on popular Irish internet ad sites.

Conmen claim that for just a few hundred quid, ordinary punters can have their very own "King of the Jungle".

But gullible people who send their money by post to buy an exotic creature find the animal never arrives at their door.

Instead they are asked for more cash to cover "additional" fees invented by the scammers.

An Irish Sunday Mirror investigation has found scammers are operating openly on Irish free ad sites, where animals such as cute capuchin monkeys and tiger, lion and cheetah cubs can be bought for as little as EUR150 each.

The sellers claim to be based in counties Dublin, Offaly, Carlow, Cork and Kerry.

However when the Sunday Mirror made an enquiry about purchasing an animal, we were told by two different sellers - both of whom offered capuchin monkeys - that they were based in Spain and Cameroon respectively.

A woman in Spain, who had claimed she was based in Dublin in her ad, said a capuchin monkey would cost EUR200, including transportation.

She said: "I am looking for a good home and caring home for the monkeys because not enough time to spent [sic] with monkeys at home since I was posted to work in Spain.

"I work for the fight against HIV Aids and malaria that kill lot of people here OK. So I am out just to help because this is a voluntary job which does not have any salary, so I really need a good home that will care for my babies capuchin monkey OK."

The woman added that if we were to post her the money, she could send the monkeys "tomorrow".

The man from Cameroon offering to sell monkeys - who said he was based in Carlow - also claimed to be a doctor, working with people with malaria.

But gardai warned internet users they should not send money by post unless they know exactly who they are dealing with.

A spokesman said: "We are seeing an increasing number of these scams, mostly operating out of Africa, and people should be wary not to deal with them.

"They have various ways of trying to get people to part with their money and exotic animals is just another one of those methods."

Meanwhile, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has called for stronger laws on keeping exotic pets.

A spokesman said: "There are a number of very real risks associated with such unregulated growth in the numbers of such animals, not least a very real threat to public safety."

The new Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has told the Dail that a new Animal Health and Welfare Bill will make the law far more strict on exotic animals.

He said: "The Programme for Government 2011 includes a commitment to amend and strengthen animal welfare legislation.

"A draft Animal Health and Welfare Bill is in the course of preparation."

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