28/01/2024
**Share this post** and never click on any of the links in the comments section unless posted by NKPR! I've noticed this happening more and more. We try to remove any of these comments, but it's easy to miss them, so please beware.
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Alright... let's talk about common parrot related scams and how to avoid them. I hear so many stories of people that have been scammed out of lots of money in hopes of adding their dream parrot to their homes. As we all know, parrots can be VERY expensive to purchase. Unfortunately, scammers are well aware of the high demand (especially for some specific breeds) and they take full advantage of this.
What are the best ways to avoid these scams?
**Do NOT click on links in comments. Scammers love to comment on Facebook posts, especially when the original post is about finding a home for a bird. They will often attach links to other websites or other pages.
**Do not pay money for a bird unless you are able to personally visit with the bird and the owner/shop/rescue that you are purchasing from! Ask their location and ask when you can visit the bird. Scammers will often avoid answering this question directly.
**Scammers will often have locations that are not local and will offer to ship the bird to you. Responsible breeders, rescues, etc. should not offer to ship a bird. Shipping is incredibly stressful on a bird! If the location is not local to you, be willing to drive to the location and pick the bird up. Arrange a date/time to pick the bird up. Do not exchange money until you are able to pick the bird up.
**NEVER EVER click on any website or pages linked in the comments on this page unless it is posted by us (Feathers Galore Inc.). If you are in another group or on another page, be VERY careful when someone posts a link for you to go to. I do my best to keep the spam/scammers off of the Feathers Galore page, but unfortunately it is not possible to do so 100% of the time. I do not allow posting of links to other pages/groups on the Feathers Galore page, so if you see them on this page please ignore them.
**Do your research on the seller, rescue, etc. Look at reviews, how long they have been in business, etc. I can't express this enough! If the page they are selling the bird from is only a couple days/weeks/months, they are likely not an established reputable business. Non-profits can be searched on the IRS webpage. And you can often look up businesses on local state/government pages to be sure they are a legitimately licensed business.
**If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If a breeder is trying to sell you an African Grey baby for $500, that is probably too good to be true. Know the value of the bird. This will be one of the first "red flags" that might make you question the likelihood of a scam. Scammers know how desired some breeds are and they will use that against you.
The best thing you can do to avoid scams is to question everything and do your research. If you feel like it is questionable or too good to be true, it probably is. Trust your gut. If unsure, reach out to someone you trust and have them confirm legitimacy with you.
