The person who called the police, Xiao Wang, told the police that he was usually interested in pet snakes and often watched other people's daily lives with snakes online. So he posted a message on Xiaohongshu (a Chinese social media platform) asking to buy a pet snake, thinking of getting one to try it out.
Not long after, a "seller" contacted her. This seller claimed to be from a reptile pet studio and immediately asked Wang to add him on WeChat to contact her, recommending specific breeds and providing prices.
Xiao Wang said that she later took a fancy to a "Blizzard" corn snake, which is one of the most popular pet snakes in the community. Moreover, the price was very cheap, only 589 yuan, so she immediately placed an order via WeChat red envelope.
Several days passed, but the seller still hadn't shipped the item. When Xiao Wang pressed for details, the seller claimed the supplier was out of stock and that she needed to pay an additional 88 yuan. Wanting her desired "pet" to arrive quickly, Xiao Wang transferred another 88 yuan. Unexpectedly, as soon as the money arrived, the seller blocked her.
"my country implements a classification and grading system for the protection of wild animals. Illegally trading more than one Class I or Class II protected animal may result in criminal penalties."
According to the police officers handling the case, exotic pets like the one Xiao Wang bought are difficult to purchase on e-commerce platforms. They are mostly traded through social platforms within the "circle" or offline channels. The sellers are mostly individuals, and there may be involvement of protected animals. Therefore, without supervision, it is very easy to be deceived and to cross the legal line.
Meanwhile, some people keep exotic pets out of curiosity or to follow trends, without understanding their characteristics. If these pets fail to meet their expectations, they will abandon them. Some abandoned exotic pets may pose a danger to others, while others, being invasive species, may threaten the local ecological balance.
Police remind pet enthusiasts to legally own pets obtained through legitimate means and to choose reputable platforms for transactions. If engaging in private transactions, it is advisable to use an intermediary for payment to ensure the safety of funds and avoid financial losses.
