I'm new to the site and my first booking request felt a little odd to me. He requested to communicate via text immediately, tried to get a lot of personal info, and didn't have much information listed on his profile aside from basic info about a dog that was supposedly his. Is this a prevalent problem? Any advice on dealing with it is appreciated.
Just got the Uncle from Paris BS! Niece going by name Eleanor. Gavin Hamilton is Uncle’s name. English Bulldog is Eddy. Ask for personal info to send cashiers check . Does anyone know their end game?
I just received the same scenario "Uncle moving from Paris" I declined and reported it. Thank you to everyone who posts about these scams and my apologies go out to anyone who has been victimized by these types of people. I was scammed along time ago on FB marketplace for my Ipad and man did I kick myself for that (still do). It was a learning opportunity to not trust people as much as I used to. Stay alert my friends :)
Anything that makes you uncomfortable should be a red flag. I have only had two clients try that kind of stuff and I told them I wasn't interested and called support. They ask us to put our profiles on craigslist. That's where you are going to find the scammers.
I received a message from A Girl name was Brooke S. About her Uncle Ivan from Paris. The account was flagged and the text notified me that they got cancelled for address information. I wanted to see how far this would go and what information i could get from the scamThey sent a 4700 check the fed ex address was from Miami and the check was some hospice from Denver I'm not even in that state so i have reported them to the police and was also given information to report to financial investigations. They are working on finding tracking the check back to the source.
I got my first scam request last Thursday. A person named “Dani” needed IMMEDIATE care for his dog that he left at a friends house. Upon looking at his profile, I noticed that it was very vague. Barely any details about the pet. Not only that, he said the pet was a 8 month old, 26lb Lhasa Apso - huuuuge red flag - I have a vast knowledge of dog breeds and know that that breed reaches 15lbs fully grown. I played in to it just to see where it would go. He told me he needed my phone number because he couldn’t message me through the app. I told him that I couldn’t provide him my number as Rover had a strict policy. Then I tried to call him through Rover - he said he couldn’t answer because he was at work. He then told me to break my number up and send it through Rover, lol. Hard no. I kept trying to ask him questions about the dog, because legitimate dog owners LOVE their babies and will provide you with everything, he kept calling the dog a “he” then a “she”…another red flag and barely provided me with anything other than “she’s a nice dog”. When I asked about how he would be getting the dog to me (because he was out of town) he told me his “Utility team” would be dropping the dog off (I laughed because I was picturing a truck full of men dropping the dog off or the dog being airlifted in). He also told me that he couldn't pay through the app because he had credit card issues. He also kept trying to ask for personal information (which I provided none of). This guy just screamed “Nope!” so I reported him and Rover investigated/removed him from the site. Please be careful with this kind of stuff, fellow sitters! Look for red flags, even if the sitter seems legit - go through everytbing with a fine toothed comb.
I just got one about the "uncle relocating from Paris and paying $300/week to drop in once a day" too...ugh...
me too!!!!
There’s a scam going on where a potential “client” will message saying she’s trying to help her Uncle find a sitter as he’s moving in to town from abroad. She says that he doesn’t know how to use the app and to email him directly. I fell for this first step as it’s not uncommon for people to prefer using email or text instead of the app messaging. The “uncle” responded very oddly and upon googling rover scams, found alerts sharing the identical storyline/experience I had. I blocked him without responding but everyone should be aware. This just happened
I just received this same client request. I did reach out to the "uncle" but after his second response which included a kind of order for me to do his grocery shopping, I figured something was strange and googled rover. Com scams and found similar stories! Be careful out there!
They also will sometimes say it’s their boss. I got one of those
DO NOT GO OFF THE APP. This is a very common scam. If someone asks you to text off the app to discuss arrangements and they try to pressure you, that is a red flag. Decline the job. I had the same exact scam happen that was written above. A woman used the app saying her uncle was moving here from Paris and wants me to text him to make arrangements. Immediately I thought why doesn’t he use the app but unfortunately I did text him. He wanted to pay me $250 a week to watch his dog MWF for one hour and it was supposed to be ongoing. This is all a lie. Then he wanted me to buy dog food… after he sent me a check. He went on and on and I blocked him. I talked to the police because I was afraid someone would go meet him and get raped. They told me these people don’t live in America and they will send more money than you are asking for and ask you to deposit it and it will bounce. It happened to a photographer I know. Make sure you book the job and then do the meet and greet. Bring someone with you if you are uncomfortable because being in someone’s house alone can also be dangerous. They are most likely a true customer if they have given their credit card information. Also, do not give out personal information about yourself. Where you live… I live in a very safe community so my guard was down. Now I’m reconsidering doing this job. I am not watching dogs at night anymore or staying overnight. The world is full of people trying to make a quick dollar. Just be safe!
Just had a girl named Mary with a not complete info card that told me to email her uncle who is moving from Paris and would pay $300 weekly to watch his dog Eddy. Then they asked for my address and other info. Definitely a scam.
OMG! I just got this one! GERRR... I hate scammers and what is the purpose of the scamming? So annoying.
I received that request as well.
I received this request too. Thought it was to good to be true. They have a dog named Eddie and offered me $300. A week. His name is Gavin has a wife and son. Wanted my bank info. That’s when my guard went up!
I got a version of this. Someone asking for her boss to do multiple walks everyday but wanted to communicate only through email. When I asked questions they said “I’ll get back to you”. Then Rover marked it as a scam. I’m so sick of dishonest jerks trying to scam people, it’s such garbage.
This is great to know. I never thought this could be a problem. Thank you for sharing.
I just have someone currently pending. Says he needs a quick answer, he is in Dubai, he can only pay by check because his bank isn’t working and now is saying he needs his dog food paid for that is over $1000.
Someone recently just messaged me and told me to text them. He said he was moving from Paris and that his employer would be sending me a check with my payment and bonuses. He offered to pay me way over what was my normal rate and asked me to purchase an insane amount of food.He sent me a check for
over $4000. He was very persistent about me depositing the check. I realized it was probably a scam before it sent through. But be careful!
Happened to me as well. So frustrating and upsetting as I'm a student really in need of money. Rover seriously needs to do something about this.
I had the uncle is relocating from Paris today as well. So aggravating. Why are they doing this? I am really lost because I don’t know what they can get out of it.
just got the same story. Uncle from Paris
I just got the same "uncle from Paris" story! Glad I came here to check! This is frustrating
This person just wrote me today with the same story. There "Uncle from Paris is moving to Alaska". So crappy and I'm so glad I jumped on here to see if it was legit which it was definitely not. The person that wrote me on Rover was a Sarah T and the name of the uncle was Francis Madanda.
I am going through this same Sister/Aunt story from Paris and buying food... I've given them my address and basic info! I am so curious what they are getting out of it! And if anything could come back to me... This is crazy! I am new to rover and I am so glad i checked on here before it goes further
I think its Money Laundering...
Got a request for a Monday Tuesday Wednesday service for her uncle from dublin. Relocating to Charlestown Maryland . Watch out
Yes I got a request a few days ago about a girl’s uncle moving to PA from Dublin. Asking about caring for 2 huskies 3x a week for $250 weekly. I requested a phone call and he said he only spoke French but his English was perfect over text. Go with your gut! Several things strange about his messages.
I got the same 3x a week for $250 for two huskies as well, just today!
Wanted to text/email. This person was moving here (had my local area code) and unable to do a meet and greet. They wanted to pay me right away with a cashiers check and buy stuff for their dog. Went along with it longer than I should of since it was my first scam.
Just got a scam message from a Hilma saying she’s the niece of a guy from Paris moving to CA. Asked me to take care of their Scottish fold cat 3 times a week for $250. Said their employer would give me a check to get items for them. Said his name was Edward Thuram & even sent me a photo of cat!
I just got uncle moving from Dublin to Ann Arbor. The client lives in Minnesota and she asked me to text her uncle directly. $250/week.
I just got a message for someone for her uncle moving from Paris to Woodbridge, VA and to take care of his ragdoll cat 3x a week for 250 a week. I was suspicious so I came here to look it up. Shame because that's good money.