It’s bananas! Beware of Canton-based monkey adoption scam

CANTON, Ohio (WJW) — The Better Business Bureau is warning the public about a reportedly fake Northeast Ohio monkey adoption business that’s scamming people out of their money.

The BBB said it received two complaints in April for “General Monkeys for Adoption,” which uses a Canton address for its business.

One victim told the BBB they noticed a Facebook advertisement reading “monkeys for sale,” linking back to a website.

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According to the BBB, the victim was led to buy a $150 money card before setting up a pickup time at the Canton address. The scammer then asked for more money for a permit and adoption papers, but the victim declined.

“A partial refund was to be provided after purchasing a gift card,” the BBB said in a press release. “The consumer never received delivery of the monkey or a refund.”

Through their investigation, the BBB learned that “General Monkeys for Adoption” wasn’t registered with the Ohio Secretary of State. Investigators also couldn’t find proof of licensing for the sale of exotic animals.

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Through a reverse image search, the BBB also found that photos on the website matched ones found on similar adoption sites, “none of which appear legitimate.”

The BBB said it reached out to “General Monkeys for Adoption” but hasn’t heard back.

To avoid falling for pet-related scams, the BBB suggests following these tips:

• Avoid buying a pet without seeing it in person first.

• Only send money to people you trust or have met in person.

• Research the business and its prices. If things seem too good to be true, they probably are.

• Check the BBB before making a purchase to make sure its a reputable business.

• Do a reverse photo search to see if the same photos show up on multiple websites.

You can report scams or learn more about them here.

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