A Texas woman was convicted of stealing US$2,000 (RM8,754) from a San Jose couple in what turned out to be an international Pomeranian puppy scam.
Elizabeth Montes, 44, of San Antonio, was convicted of felony conspiracy and theft and faces six months in county jail for her part in an online deal to deliver a “cute teacup Pomeranian named Jake”, to the couple, according to a press release issued Tuesday by the District Attorney of Santa Clara County, which prosecuted the case.
As it turned out, Jake did not exist. The web site that promised to deliver him was traced by investigators to Cameroon, as part of an ongoing alleged scam.
As the American conduit, Montes opened accounts at various online banks and transferred funds for puppies purchased through websites like skylightpomeranian.com and Trans-Pet Express, prosecutors said.
Bank records uncovered during the investigation revealed Montes to be involved in fund transfers of some 75 victims, none of whom had received their puppies as promised, according to the DA’s office.
“Con artists all over the world are using love and loneliness during Covid to steal people’s money,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said, in a statement. “We are finding the crooks. We are prosecuting the crooks. You pay for Jake, you get Jake.”
The case began in April, 2020, when the couple sent US$600 (RM2,626) to purchase Jake through Trans-Pet Express. They next received a request for an additional US$1,400 (RM6,127) to avoid having the puppy placed in 14-day Covid-19 quarantine.
That seemed reasonable so they wired the funds, prosecutors said. Only when they got a third request, for US$1,300 (RM5,690) to pay for a permit did the couple get wise and report it to police.
In April, 2021, a warrant was issued for Montes’ arrest. She was located in Texas at the time.
Facing extradition, she turned herself in at the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office on Dec 10, 2020. She was released on her own recognizance and pleaded guilty on March 14, prosecutors said.
The case was handled by the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigations Unit. Montes is scheduled for sentencing on Oct 11. – San Francisco Chronicle/Tribune News Service