Safer Buying Online

The internet has been used for scams and fraud. Breedersales is committed to reducing your risk and is eager to encourage responsible buying and selling online. Please read and follow these tips carefully to ensure your experience with Breedersales is as safe as possible.

Communication

Breedersales may communicate with you by email throughout the buying and selling process. Customers should be aware that fraudulent individuals could misrepresent themselves as representatives of our company. Members should take the following precautions:

Never respond to emails asking for personal information such as your login or password.
Always make sure that emails from Breedersales have our company’s website URL @breedersales.com.

Selling

Protect yourself when selling:

Ask for a name and contact phone number from the customer; ring the number to check if it is legitimate.
Do not give out your personal details, such as your email, if you have not been able to contact the buyer.
If in doubt about a buyer do not rush into a meeting or a sale.

Buying

Protect yourself against fake advertisements:

All advertisements are approved by breedersales staff at the time of listing as a way of reducing fraud - we will contact the advertiser & or remove the advertisement if we suspect fraudulent behavior.
If you are unsure about a particular vendor and are unable to arrange an inspection of the animal/s we recommend you locate an agent in our directory and request an assessment.
Do not rush to buy if the advertisement seems too good to be true and be suspicious if animal/s is advertised at a vastly below market rate.
Find out whom you are dealing with: ask for a name and contact phone number; ring the number to check if it is legitimate.
Before you buy, check the animal is still listed on www.breedersales.com - if we suspect an advertisement we will suspend or withdraw it from display!
Never agree to deposit money in a bank account or via escrow unless completely sure the advertisement and seller are legitimate.
Never pay a stranger by electronic money transfer, such as Western Union.

Scams

A common scam is Phishing - attempting to criminally acquire sensitive information, such as usernames or passwords. In such a ploy, you will receive a fake email claiming to be from Breedersales instructing you to click on a link to "confirm your Breedersales username and password." Our company will never send you such an email requesting you to confirm your personal or login/password details.

Another example could be an apparently legitimate email enquiry from a "buyer" in relation to an animal for sale. The email will ask you to click a link to view and confirm the identity of your animal. On clicking the link you are sent to a fake web page that looks like a Breedersales page. This page then prompts you to login using your Breedersales login and password details. The site may then try to defraud you.

Note that phishing can also happen on the phone. If you have any doubts as to the legitimacy of an email or phone call, always contact the sender organisation directly.

Never provide login details or personal information.
Never enter personal information in a pop-up screen - phishers also use these to collect private details!
Always protect your computer with spam filters and up to date anti-virus and anti-spyware software.
Always act immediately if you've been scammed and notify the organisation that has been fraudulently misrepresented.

Protection

If you think you have seen a scam or have been scammed by a buyer or seller you should contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission:

by phone on 1300 302 502; or
by an online report by following the links on www.scamwatch.gov.au.

They can direct you to the best government agency depending on where you live and the type of scam.

You should also report the matter to Breedersales by contacting us on +61 38844 4883 or by email. You should always use this phone number or email rather than any phone number or email that appeared in any suspected scam email you have received.