NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10436422

Thousands of Japanese have been swindled in a scam in which they were sold Australian and British sheep and told they were poodles.

Flocks of sheep were imported to Japan and then sold by a company called Poodles as Pets, marketed as fashionable accessories, available at $1,600 each.

That is a snip compared to a real poodle which retails for twice that much in Japan.

The scam was uncovered when Japanese moviestar Maiko Kawamaki went on a talk-show and wondered why her new pet would not bark or eat dog food.
She was crestfallen when told it was a sheep.

Then hundreds of other women got in touch with police to say they feared their new "poodle" was also a sheep.

One couple said they became suspicious when they took their "dog" to have its claws trimmed and were told it had hooves.

Japanese police believe there could be 2,000 people affected by the scam, which operated in Sapporo and capitalised on the fact that sheep are rare in Japan, so many do not know what they look like.

One couple said they became suspicious when they took their "dog" to have its claws trimmed and were told it had hooves.
Normally, this is the part where'd I say something clever or sarcastic, but I don't think there is anything more that can or need be said at this juncture.

wtf. wow.

Too b-a-a-a-a-d. What else is there to say?
:headbang:
:upyours:
:gundge:
:mp5:

Im just jealous I didn't think of it :(

Too b-a-a-a-a-d. What else is there to say?

... er... many lonely Japanese men are now happy.?

Too b-a-a-a-a-d. What else is there to say?

:headbang:
:upyours:
:gundge:
:mp5:

Im just jealous I didn't think of it :(

I am sure there are a great many poodle owners in Japan flocking to the vets right about now. No one likes to have the wool pulled over their eyes.

This thread is a winner for its shear amusement value.

Edit: I bet the crooks are on the lamb now.

Edit: I bet the crooks are on the lamb now.as well they should be. they really fleeced their victims.

Ok, how far down the Pun Hole can we take this? :p

All I can say right now is that I find no mention of this on any Japanese media outlet.

as well they should be. they really fleeced their victims.

Ok, how far down the Pun Hole can we take this? :p

Eh, what ewe gonna do?

as well they should be. they really fleeced their victims.

Ok, how far down the Pun Hole can we take this? :p

Who have been left looking as sheepish as their poodles.

Just a little further it seems

I can understand them not knowing what a sheep looks like, but if poodles are so sought after, how can they not know what THEY look like?

Not surpriseing. I wouldn't admit to having a population that stupid either.
Are you kidding? The Japanese media LIVES for this kind of thing. It allows them to escape reporting actual news.

I'll keep my eyes open, but I'm thinking the Kiwis are celebrating April Fools a bit late.

All I can say right now is that I find no mention of this on any Japanese media outlet.

Not surpriseing. I wouldn't admit to having a population that stupid either.

*I probably shoudn't have used all my puns in one post*

Are you kidding? The Japanese media LIVES for this kind of thing. It allows them to escape reporting actual news.

I'll keep my eyes open, but I'm thinking the Kiwis are celebrating April Fools a bit late.

Either way, it's still the funniest thing I've read all day.

Hahaha thats awesome.

But then we have sheep walking down the streets here, so we know what they're like.

This is not funny. I divorced my goat to marry a nice poodle and ended up with another gassy ruminant.

I don't buy it. Japanese aren't that naiive nor dumb to think a bloody big sheep is a poodle.
Hope it is true, though. Cause it's funny as hell thinking of all those Japanese trying to take their sheep for a walk.

I don't buy it. Japanese aren't that naiive nor dumb to think a bloody big sheep is a poodle.
Hope it is true, though. Cause it's funny as hell thinking of all those Japanese trying to take their sheep for a walk.
I've traced the article back to The Sun, which leads me to believe that, no, it's not true. But I'll keep checking.

I've traced the article back to The Sun, which leads me to believe that, no, it's not true. But I'll keep checking.
Ah...the Sun. That sterling piece of investigative journalism. A Beacon for truth, honesty, integrity and determination in journalistic endeavours the world over.

Ah...the Sun. That sterling piece of investigative journalism. A Beacon for truth, honesty, intergrity and determination in journalistic endeavours the world over.
And apparently the Japanese are confused about this too. I found a few blog posts asking if anyone saw anything remotely like it so...

Well, the NZ Herald has a bit of a reputation to print crap without bothering to check it's authenicity first. So I'm not at all surprised to find them being sucked into this.
When did it come out in the Sun, praytell?
April 1, by any chance?

Only paper in the World that makes the Sun look remotely like a respectable journal of valid information would be the Weekly World News. And it's a close thing there, too.

The scam was uncovered when Japanese moviestar Maiko Kawamaki went on a talk-show and wondered why her new pet would not bark or eat dog food.

Especially when they can't even be bothered to check the name.

Maiko Kawakami (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0442799/)

they don't look or sound a like so they must be really dum to think a sheep is a poodle

Hoax (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=263447)

The Sun reported that because sheep were rare in Japan, people there were not able to distinguish between a sheep and a poodle.

But sheep have been bred in Sapporo for many years. In 1848, an American farmer named Edwin Dun came to Sapporo to set up a sheep farm.

Near to the hi-tech Sapporo Dome Sports Stadium is a hill called Hitsukigaoka, which means "sheep hill".

Stewepid Sun

Well, the NZ Herald has a bit of a reputation to print crap without bothering to check it's authenicity first. So I'm not at all surprised to find them being sucked into this.
When did it come out in the Sun, praytell?
April 1, by any chance?

Only paper in the World that makes the Sun look remotely like a respectable journal of valid information would be the Weekly World News. And it's a close thing there, too.
Nope, April 26th.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007190295,00.html

Well, the NZ Herald has a bit of a reputation to print crap without bothering to check it's authenicity first. So I'm not at all surprised to find them being sucked into this.
When did it come out in the Sun, praytell?
April 1, by any chance?

Only paper in the World that makes the Sun look remotely like a respectable journal of valid information would be the Weekly World News. And it's a close thing there, too.

You mean the Barrel of Laughs?

Hoax (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=263447)
That's what I figured. Orientalism strikes again!

I am sure there are a great many poodle owners in Japan flocking to the vets right about now. No one likes to have the wool pulled over their eyes.

This thread is a winner for its shear amusement value.

Edit: I bet the crooks are on the lamb now.

If i wasn't gay, i'd say i love you!

Hoax (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=263447)



Stewepid Sun

Yeah, that's what I thought. When my wife first read me the post I said it sounded like one of those "Ha Ha! Foreigners are so stupid!" urban legends.

I love it :D , it's a shame it seems to be a hoax. :(

This is the greatest thing ever! 2000 times $1600 is $3.2 milion! And the best part is that the only people who got swindled are people willing to pay $1600 for a frickin' poodle.

Am I the only one who hopes the clever con artist escapes unscathed? Or am I the wacko?

Edit: Tabloid Story! Blast! :mad:

...still, it makes one wonder what one could sell to rich dummies in foreign lands, doesn't it?

Nope, April 26th.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007190295,00.html

You've gotta love the picture on that page. :p

Ah well. If only this were true. It's a fantastic story.

...still, it makes one wonder what one could sell to rich dummies in foreign lands, doesn't it?

Indeed it does (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Ferguson)...

In the early 1920s, a fast-talking Scotsman named Arthur Ferguson found out that he could obtain a tidy profit by selling Americans visiting London such items as Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square (for the sum of 6,000 pounds), Big Ben (1,000 pounds for a down payment), and Buckingham Palace (2,000 pounds for a down payment).

I love this bit, more for the 'realised America was the land of opportunity' than for the White House sale.

It finally dawned on Ferguson that America was indeed the land of opportunity, and so he emigrated there in 1925. He sold the White House to a rancher on the installment plan for yearly payments of $100,000 USD,

Hoax (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=263447)

Stewepid Sun

Yep, it's just come up on our late news here. Oh well, there are stories that are good, and good stories. :)

Yep, it's just come up on our late news here. Oh well, there are stories that are good, and good stories. :)

Ahh New Zealand...



How does a NZ'er find sheep in long grass?

Very comfortable :p



Apologies for the gross stereotyping.

Ahh New Zealand...



How does a NZ'er find sheep in long grass?

Very comfortable :p

Apologies for the gross stereotyping.

Only natural fibres for us.

http://www.schnews.org.uk/images/569-pot-noodle-sm.jpg

...still, it makes one wonder what one could sell to rich dummies in foreign lands, doesn't it?
Water.

just for completeness, here's a NZ news report on it:
http://www.tv3.co.nz/Home/Video/tabid/112/articleID/25957/Default.aspx?articleID=25957

Water.

not just any water, but blingTM water:

http://www.blingh2o.com/

yours @ just $60US for a 750ml bottle. whooo...

not just any water, but blingTM water:

http://www.blingh2o.com/

yours @ just $60US for a 750ml bottle. whooo...

:eek: OMG! It Must Be Mine!!! :eek:

I bet they feel stupid about having the wool pooled over their eyes. They probably have mutton on the culprit.

Sounds like a shaggy dog story to me....

:eek: OMG! It Must Be Mine!!! :eek:
most definitely. Look at the website - bling comes straight from that woman's butt. And apparently Paris Hilton gives it to her dog. So it must be good!

Sounds like a shaggy dog story to me....

and I am right....

http://www.snopes.com/critters/lurkers/poodlesheep.asp