hedgehogparadise.com

Reached out with hedgehog inquiry via the 'Contact Us' page on their very believable website: HedgehogParadise.com. They have blogs, FAQs, a health guarantee, appeared to be US- based, and posted reviews. They responded via professional email template from [email protected] with a detailed email about them and a short, not-detailed questionnaire 'to ensure their pets go to good homes with financial means' as well as pictures and info of available hedgehogs. We answered, as well as asked payment process details for a particular pet we had interest. They responded in email again, but this time not from a professional template (lots of errors and syntax difference from first email) and without a contact number listed. We already had red flags. We knew for sure it was a scam when the only option to purchase/ adopt was a cash app or wire transfer and when the cadence flowed more international versus domestic to US. Thankfully we stopped correspondence before any funds or in-depth PII was shared. [BBB Scam Type: Online Purchase] [Business: Hedgehog Paradise] [Location: ID, USA - 83669]

Business Name Used: Hedgehog Paradise Platform/Website: www.hedgehogparadise.com Payment Method Requested: Chime (personal account) Summary of Incident I engaged with an individual representing themselves as a business operating under the name “Hedgehog Paradise,” advertising the sale of a hedgehog named “Cooper.” The interaction raised multiple fraud indicators, and I am submitting this report to document a suspected scam and warn other consumers. Details of the Interaction • The individual claimed to be selling a hedgehog and requested payment exclusively through Chime. • Payment was requested to a personal Chime account under the name Edna Miles, which does not match the alleged business name. • No alternative payment methods with buyer protection were offered. • Veterinary records were not provided in advance and were stated to only be available upon delivery of the animal. • Requests for verifiable proof of ownership (such as a live video or date-specific photo) were avoided. • Photos provided appeared inconsistent in setting and presentation, suggesting they may not have been taken by the seller. • The seller requested a payment confirmation screenshot, which is a common tactic in irreversible payment scams. Website Concerns Upon reviewing the business website: • There was no verifiable business address, license number, or breeder registration. • No veterinarian or clinic information was listed. • The website content appeared generic and lacked standard consumer protections or refund policies. Outcome No payment was sent. After identifying multiple inconsistencies and scam indicators, I discontinued the interaction. I believe this operation is attempting to obtain irreversible payments from consumers by misrepresenting itself as a legitimate breeder. Consumer Impact This type of activity poses a financial risk to consumers, particularly those unfamiliar with online payment scams or i [BBB Scam Type: Online Purchase] [Business: Hedgehog Paradise] [Location: AZ,