A Heartbreaking Scam
A cancer patient from Florida has revealed that she lost over $4,000 after falling victim to a scam that falsely advertised puppies online. Danielle Garcia-Culp, who has been battling the disease for four years, says she was tricked into buying a pet to help her cope with her illness.
Garcia-Culp, whose cancer has advanced to stage four, told News 6 that she saw an advertisement for an Australian Shepherd on Facebook. She described the dog’s eyes as “saying ‘I will love you forever,” and arranged for it to be delivered from Pensacola to her home in Umatilla.
As she waited for the dog to arrive, a delivery agent sent her a picture of what she believed to be her pet in a crate, along with a tracking number. Garcia-Culp also received a request for a $700 refundable deposit for the crate rental, followed by another request for a $1,500 deposit for pet insurance.
Eventually, she had paid out around $4,450 before realizing something was wrong. “I can only imagine somebody going through a similar situation I am, you know, and that puppy being almost like a lifeline and then it’s not real,” she said.
The Logistics Scam
News 6 uncovered that the delivery company involved, named Global Logistics Transport Solutions, was registered through the European-based company Hostinger. According to Hostinger, the company was part of a logistics scam.
“At the time of your outreach, we had not received any prior reports about this website through our official abuse reporting channels,” Gediminas Gasiulis, a Product Communications Manager at Hostinger, told News 6. “Following your inquiry and our internal investigation, we determined that the website in question was involved in a fraudulent ‘fake courier’ scheme – a type of logistics scam.”
Hostinger has since suspended the website, accusing it of violating its terms of service. When News 6 contacted the Facebook page where Garcia-Culp said she found the puppy, they received an automated response. Then, they received a reply which simply said: “Who?”
“She abandoned her pup at the delivery agency,” the person behind the page responded when given Garcia-Culp’s name. Meta told News 6 that it is looking into the outlet’s inquiry about the page.
A Fight for Support
Last month, Garcia-Culp launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $4,000. According to the campaign page, she lost her job at some point after receiving her stage-four cancer diagnosis and has struggled to find work since.
“Right now, I’m applying for disability, but that process can take months,” she wrote. “In the meantime, I’m struggling to cover my medical bills and basic living expenses. Every day is a challenge, but I know I’m not alone – there are so many kind people out there who want to help.”
The Importance of Awareness
This incident highlights the dangers of online scams, especially for vulnerable individuals. It also underscores the need for increased awareness and vigilance when dealing with unfamiliar websites or services.
For those interested in supporting Garcia-Culp, the GoFundMe campaign is a way to contribute to her cause. Her story serves as a reminder that even in times of personal struggle, there are always people willing to help.
