Sharon Fowler hoped a litter of puppies she put up for sale would all find good homes.

She never expected, however, the responses her advertisement would generate.

Her puppies, a breed called the Chinese Crested, generally is as a hairless dog that looks like it forgot its coat. The lap dogs make great companions, she said, especially for someone who is typically allergic to canines.

Yet almost every call and e-mail she has received in recent days has raised multiple red flags, according to consumer experts. And while some of the red flags were extremely obvious, some are downright troubling.

At least three of the calls and offers Fowler received were made through telephone relay operators speaking on behalf of a presumably deaf person on the other end of the line.

All of the people are offering to send checks far more than the asking price of the dogs, with explanations that the excess money should be wired somewhere else.

Consumer experts have been receiving an increasing number of complaints that scam artists have been using otherwise valid and needed relay assistance for the deaf to both hide their identities and help mask their ploys.

"It's a shame (the relay system is) being compromised," said Alice Brooks, a spokeswoman for South Carolina Consumer Affairs.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires access to relay systems so deaf people, and those with hearing difficulties or speech impediments, have equal access to telephone service. According to Federal Communication Commission documents, relay operators must faithfully relay a conversation and not intervene in the communications.

While consumer agencies like the Council of Better Business Bureaus recognize abuses of the relay systems as a real problem, the extent to which they're being abused isn't really known.

"Scammers who perpetuate fraud by phone, e-mail or other modes of communication seem to be prolific, persistent and creative," wrote Rosaline Hayes Crawford, director of the Law and Advocacy Center of the National Association of the Deaf, in response to questions about the situation.

"We are concerned about any misuse of relay services by people who pretend to be deaf or hard of hearing," she wrote.

The National Association of the Deaf is working with regulators to eliminate such abuses, which not only hurts businesses and consumers but also those who truly need relay systems to communicate.

"We are also concerned because many businesses are refusing to accept any calls made through any relay services; denying equal access to people who are deaf or hard of hearing," Crawford wrote.

The scam Fowler finds herself fending off is somewhat of a new variation.

"Usually, it's the opposite," said Brooks.

Puppy scams more often work with someone placing a fake advertisement for a rare or beloved breed, such as English Bulldogs, and then requiring more and more payments from a prospective purchaser before they will ship the dog, which never existed, Brooks said. For instance, after receiving payment for the dog, the scam artist might then demand payment for a crate, then a microchip, then shots, and so on.

The situation with Fowler, on the other hand, has the earmarks of an otherwise classic overpayment scam, consumer experts said.

The first inquiry and offer of purchase that Fowler received sounded convincing enough, Fowler said. The purported deaf woman on the other end of the relay line wanted pictures and knew how to pick the best of the litter.

But Fowler subsequently received another inquiry, purportedly from another person in another location, who worded everything almost exactly the same. Her suspicions continued to deepen as she began comparing phone numbers and addresses that didn't match up.

More recently, one of those callers wanted to send Fowler a check for $3,000, far in excess of the asking price, with a request that she wire the excess money to another location.

"They always want it wired," Brooks said of scam artists and overpayment scams. "It's difficult to trace and guaranteed cash on the opposite end. Of course the check (they send) always is not real, but the bank will hold it for 14 or more days (before determining that its fake)."

Any money you wire back would come directly from your own bank account.

Your first line of defense is that no legitimate person or business will offer to pay more than your asking price, Brooks said.

The FCC has specific recommendations for businesses that do business by phone, because they can't refuse calls from relay operators under Americans with Disabilities Act rules.

Alison Preszler, a spokeswoman for the Council of Better Business Bureaus, advises consumers that, "If it sounds fishy, go with your gut."

The FCC, the Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureaus and South Carolina Consumer Affairs all have information on their Web sites about fraud and scam. You also can call Consumer Affairs at 1-800-922-1594 for advice about such solicitations.

Luckily, Fowler hasn't fallen victim.

"I just want people to be aware of this," she said.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Informations about Internet Scams: Fraudwatchers.org - Fake Bank Killing: aa419.org

Guidance about Love Scams: Internet-Love-Scams.org - Discussion about Pyramid-/Ponzi-schemes, HYIPs et al: Cattyshaq.com