Help us stop fraud. If you receive a suspicious email or are the victim of a scam, email us and law enforcement right away.

Step 1: If you are the victim of a scam, please email us with as much information about your particular situation as possible.

Step 2: Forward any suspicious emails to us immediately at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Don't change the subject line or send it as an attachment because doing so could prevent us from identifying trends and preventing similar scams.

Step 3: File a complaint with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center to inform federal and state law enforcement agencies. We strongly recommend that you report fraud to local law enforcement as well.

LamaMarket.com investigates submitted reports in an effort to protect our customers against future fraud. We support law enforcement agencies in the prosecution of Internet criminals and work diligently to prevent fraud.

Watch Puppy Scam Fraud Example

The puppy scam first made headlines a year ago,
when animal owners who placed newspaper ads
to sell a pet would receive fake money orders. Now ...

 

Please be aware that LamaMarket.com does not

• Own, buy or sell llamas or alpacas listed on our website.
• Offer animal boarding or delivery services.
• Get involved in transactions between buyers and sellers.
• Ask you for personal or financial information via email.
• Require payment to enter a sweepstakes.

Beware of fraudulent escrow services

Remember these tips before you agree to use an escrow service

Before you buy or sell

Common-Sense Advice for Sellers
Common-Sense Advice for Buyers

Important resources

Internet fraud resources

We don't own, buy or sell llamas or alpacas listed on our site.

LamaMarket.com is an online animal listing service that connects llama or alpaca buyers with sellers. We are not llama or alpaca dealers. Any listing information about a particular llama or alpaca comes directly from the seller-not us.

If you receive an email that implies we're selling or buying a llama or alpaca, please report it to us and to law enforcement. It's most certainly a scam.

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We don't offer animal boarding or delivery services.

Any email that requests a deposit or payment for the delivery of a llama or alpaca being boarded by LamaMarket.com is a scam. LamaMarket.com doesn't board or deliver llama or alpacas. Simply put, we don't get involved in transactions between buyers and sellers (see more below).

There are many reputable transportation services that can make long-distance transactions easy. Just be sure to check out the services proposed on your own.

If a seller recommends a bogus delivery service, report the seller to us and to law enforcement.

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We don't get involved in transactions between buyers and sellers.

Don't respond to any email that appears to come from LamaMarket.com (for example, by displaying our logo) and urges you to complete the sale or purchase of a llama or alpaca listed on our site. Such emails are a sure sign of a scam.

Other signs of fraud are emails that:

• Claim the security of a transaction is guaranteed by LamaMarket.com.
• Imply we've verified information about a particular buyer, seller or listing.
• Describe a "preferred" or "pre-approved" buyer or seller program.

LamaMarket.com doesn't guarantee or endorse transactions, and we don't have preferred or pre-approved buyers or sellers. We'll never encourage you to buy any particular llama or alpaca listed on LamaMarket.com or to sell your llama or alpaca to any particular buyer. If you receive a suspicious email such as the ones described above, report it to us and to law enforcement.

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We don't ask you for personal or financial information via email.

Online fraud often begins with a spoof email requesting financial information. These spoof, or scam, emails often impersonate a reputable company such as LamaMarket.com by illegally displaying a company's name, logo or trademark.

The intent is to deceive customers into revealing information such as:

• Username
• Password
• Social security number
• Bank account number
• Bank routing number
• Credit card number

The only time we'll ever request your credit card information is when you're in the process of purchasing a service package on our website. We will not take down your listing because you don't provide account information. If you receive an email that asks for the kinds of information listed above, don't respond. Instead, report the email to us and to law enforcement.

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We don't require payment to enter a sweepstakes.

LamaMarket.com may offer promotional contests from time to time, but we'll never require payment to enter a sweepstakes or to claim a prize.

If you receive an email that claims we're holding a promotional contest or sweepstakes:

• Check our website or email us for accurate information. If you don't get confirmation from us that we're holding a contest, don't participate.
• Don't click any links embedded in email messages. A link may look correct, but the code behind it could take you to a different website. Copy and paste a link into your browser's address bar.

If you think you've received a fraudulent email involving a promotional contest, report the email to us and to law enforcement.

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Beware of fraudulent escrow services.

For a fee, an escrow service holds the buyer's payment until the seller has delivered the item purchased. Such a third-party service can protect both parties from fraud. However, scammers often set up fake escrow services. They claim an affiliation with well-known companies like LamaMarket.com and TRUSTe, for example, to create a sense of security.

But LamaMarket.com does not endorse any particular escrow service and TRUSTe does not operate an escrow service.

Remember these tips before you agree to use an escrow service:

• Avoid any service that implies an affiliation or partnership with LamaMarket.com.
• Avoid any service that claims to be operated by TRUSTe. TRUSTe doesn't operate an escrow service.
• Verify an escrow service's legitimacy by checking with state regulators.
• Research the escrow service
• Decline the transaction if the other party insists on using an escrow service that you’re not sure about.
• Use a search engine to open the website in a different browser-don’t click on a link the seller provides
• Dial the contact number listed
• Search for the company on the BBB website.

And once you find an escrow service you're comfortable with, be sure you understand:

• What conditions must be met before the payment is released to the seller.
• What the escrow service charges.
• Which party is expected to pay the fee.

If any escrow-related email or website implies an affiliation with us by displaying our logo or by other means, report it to us and law enforcement. Check our Internet fraud resources section for more advice on escrow services.

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Common-Sense Advice for Buyers

Buying a llama or alpaca you find online is a lot like buying a car through a classified ad in the newspaper. In either case, use your best judgment.

Know the llama or alpaca's market value

Be suspicious of a animal priced significantly below market value. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

 

Verify The animal's registration

Most animals that are listed for sale are registered with a registry such as International Lama Registry or Alpaca Registry Inc. Typically you have to be a member with the cooresponding registry to verify a registration number. Usually membership is a small fee, and will gain you access to their database. It is worth it. Besides, you would have to become a member if you actually buy the animal to maintain their registration.

 

Inspect the llama or alpaca

It is never recommended to buy an animal site-unseen. Always inspect an animal before you buy, so that you know what you are buying. If you are new to llamas or alpacas, do your homework or bring someone with you that is very familiar with these animals.

 

Health inspection

Be sure to have the animal's health inspected by a veternarian. This cost can sometimes be shared or even paid for by the seller. (Just Ask!)

 

Confirm contact information

Before you send payment, verify the seller's street address and phone number- an email address is not enough. ZIP codes, area codes and addresses should match up. Be wary if the seller is located overseas.

 

Use email wisely

Avoid sending sensitive personal or financial information (such as your social security number, credit card number or checking account number) to a seller via email. Remember that email communications are not secure and can be easily forwarded to others.

 

Get it in writing!

Ask the seller for a receipt and/or contract that states the terms of the sale. If they provide a "Guarantee", make sure that your contract has that guarantee included and broken down into details. don't get burned by a vague guarantee.

 

Carry Insurance

It is recommended that you carry insurance on your newly purchased llamas or alpacas for atleast one year. Sometimes, the sellers will actually pay for half the insurance as part of the deal. (Ask!)

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Common-Sense Advice for Sellers

Selling a llama or alpaca you find online is a lot like selling a car through a classified ad in the newspaper. In either case, use your best judgment.

Confirm contact information

Be particularly wary of buyers willing to purchase your llama or alpaca sight-unseen, especially buyers located overseas. Always verify the buyer's street address and phone number.

 

Secure at least a down payment first with a contract

Do not transfer the registration or even the animal until you have at least a down payment in hand along with a written contract that has all the details explained clearly with both seller and buyer signatures.

 

Verify that a certified check is genuine

Before you deposit a certified check, verify authenticity with the issuing bank-not just your bank. Make sure the account contains sufficient funds and the issuing bank guarantees payment on the check. It may take a week or more for the check to clear. It hasn't cleared just because your bank has accepted it and credited your account.

 

Beware of overpayment or other complicated payment schemes

Don't agree to any plan where the buyer asks to send a check for more than the sale price and requests that the seller refund the difference. And be suspicious of any buyer who proposes making payment through a friend or agent of the buyer.

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Internet Fraud Resources

Visit the sites below to learn more about Internet fraud.

Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC)

Internet Fraud Preventive Measures

 

Better Business Bureau (BBB)

Be a Smarter Consumer
Tips to Avoid Online Escrow Fraud

 

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Practical Tips to Help You Be on Guard Against Internet Fraud

 

Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

Fake Seals and Phony Numbers: How Fraudsters Try to Look Legit

 

California Department of Corporations

Top 10 Tips to Avoid Online Escrow Fraud