To you, this is the golden pot at the end of the rainbow. Don’t let your search for a furry friend be sidelined by a scammer – make sure the seller and the puppy are the real deal. One of the quickest ways to identify puppy scams is using seller's posted photos to see if they were published elsewhere. I recently took up blogging as a way to share some of my knowledge and educate dog lovers on how best to care for their precious animals. Who wouldn’t want such a special friend to live with us longer? Report such numbers to the right authorities to stop the scammer from duping more buyers. If no such number appear on cellphone company records, it is burner number. If all you get are fluffy, non-specific answers, that is a red flag. Contact your bank immediately so they can protect your account. This can happen any time, but you'll often see it during the holidays when people are more emotional about finding a new family pet. The website must have the right encryption (SSL) to ensure financial transactions through the site are safe. Talk to other dog owners. Puppy scams. How to Spot an Online Dating Scammer. The same applies to the UK, New Zealand, Australia or other English-speaking countries. Always check if the phone number given is registered to a trusted user. Fraudsters generally use pictures of real puppies from other ads or Facebook posts, and you can use Google's reverse image search to check if that photo has been posted anywhere else. A quick online search lands you on this captivating photo; an adorable little mutt whose gorgeous eyes immediately connect with you. Final Thoughts I will also be sending you some basic guidelines to you ,so that you follow as soon as the puppy arrives.I will send the puppy along with some Avoid internet purchases unless you can travel to meet the dog. This is a great time for you to make sure that the pup fits into your lifestyle, and it's also a sign of a reputable seller. Are the puppy photos posted anywhere else? Fake ones will not do that. Let them know that this advertiser is a scammer, give them the email address of the scammer, and ask them to remove the ad(s) and to blacklist this person. When the victim has picked out the pet they want, the scammer asks them to pay a deposit, followed by funds supposedly for insurance, vaccinations and delivery. While some reputable breeders do in fact sell dogs they feel are not “show-worthy” at a discount, those dogs will be typically neutered. This is a baited hook, making you feel more secure so you pay the extra fees. The phone call is forwarded to another number where the scammer really is. All rights reserved. Hi readers, thanks for visiting my blog. Scammers will post an ad offering a pedigree pet for a really cheap price or sometimes even free. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also estimates that only 10% of victims will file a report. A puppy for sale scammer can use a burner phone to dupe unsuspecting buyers. A woman found an online ad to adopt a puppy from a family for free and she'd only have to pay for shipping, which she did, but the costs kept increasing (extra payment for faster shipping, dog's health insurance, etc.) With the reputable breeder, the price you are quoted will be guaranteed, any “extras” itemized before the deposit and clearly spelled out in writing. It is important to first do your research before getting a puppy. German Shepherd Training: Top tips on getting the best results from your dog! The AKC collects information and enacts inspections of breeders throughout the country. Criminals can create a single puppy scam website like shop-puppy.com in minutes For the cost of a $10 domain name and hosting, a criminal can copy a website and host it within minutes. But if you're set on buying a puppy of a specific breed or age, note that online puppy scams have been increasing over the last few years. The last thing you want is taking home a puppy with Parvo. What do you know about the litter? The UK is renowned to be a nation of animal lovers, and understandably, the breeding, buying and selling of many types of pets within the UK is big business. Report a Scam/Fake Facebook Page and have it removed! So how do you protect yourself from being scammed when buying a puppy or adult dog online? Some people like the glossy look of a short-haired dog. Everything feels right and you cannot contain your excitement as you hit the checkout button. Especially if the deal is too good to be true; and it usually is! Report such numbers to the right authorities to stop the scammer from duping more buyers. Be sure to take a copy of the emails with all the telephone numbers, names, email addresses, etc. Avoid such scammers at all cost. Any image that looks overly-edited or pixelated should raise question marks. Puppy Scammer List 2021: We aim to publish a list of the latest puppy scammer websites. © Copyright 2018 by Adam Jones. Luckily, the anatomy of how offenders organise pet scams is fairly simple and there are some early warning signs to spot them. Be wary of any seller. If the number is rarely picked or goes to voicemail, that’s your cue to move along. Expect to spend $200 to $1000 for a purebred puppy. Online Dating Advice. Did you know that 80% of online puppy ads are likely to be a scam? Thus, even though the number of complaints was nearly 40,000 in 2017, there are likely many more puppy scams taking place every day. You can talk to vets while also asking for their input on regional dog sellers that they recommend. When we spot a wolf, we call him out and herd the sheep back to a safe distance. Everybody agrees that adopting a rescue dog from a shelter is always more praiseworthy. How do you spot a puppy scammer? If the seller is hesitant, then they are trying to scam you. 10 Signs of Puppy Scams (And How to Avoid Being Tricked), Addison’s Disease in Dogs: The Guide for Pet Owners, 10 Key Differences Between Wolves and Dogs, Swimmer Puppy Syndrome: How to Help Your Dog, The Science-based Guide for Feeding Athletic Dogs, TOP #123: Ridesharing for Dogs and Their Owners, TOP #120: How to Pick Mentally Stimulating Toys for Dogs, TOP #119: How to Restrain Dogs in Cars to Keep Them Safe, Recipe: Beef Stew for Dogs with A Sensitive Stomach, Recipe: High Fiber Dog Treats with Oat Bran, Recipe: Grain Free Dog Treats with Coconut Flour, How Do Dogs Get Parvo and How to Prevent It, 5 Reasons To Start Making Dog Food At Home, Giveaway: Spruce Grab & Go Leash Bag ($30+ Value), Review: PetFusion Outdoor Pet Waste Disposal, Review: Hyper Pet K9 Kannon Tennis Ball Launcher, 13 Best Hunting Dogs You Should Know About, Puppy Blues: What To Do If You’re Overwhelmed With Your Puppy, Giveaway: Dog Walking Supplies Package ($80+ Value), Tito’s Handmade Vodka Shows Their Love for Dogs, Seventeen of the Healthiest Medium and Small Dog Breeds, 10 Surprisingly Dangerous Dog Breeds if Not Trained Properly. Some towns do not allow this breed, and the breeder should know this, and they will need to research you before selling to you. Reputable breeders typically do not sell different breeds and only focus on one, but a scammer may sell different breeds. If the scammer stole the puppies from a legit puppy for sale site, the last thing they want is you smoking out their hideout. If you think your account details or PIN have been stolen. They will also keep emailing you back about additional costs, such as quicker/safer shipping, etc. Some of these backyard breeders will even give you the dogs for free if you pay for shipment. Note that airports require picking up live animals on site, with appropriate documentation. Reputable breeders typically have waiting lists and far more professional means for advertising. For anybody wanting to buy pure breeds, this is a great starting place for finding a safe seller. Scammers often target people in their late teens and twenties; At least 80% of online pets sales ads and websites are fake; Western Union and MoneyGram are the primary outlets used by fraudsters; Most victims are from the U.S., Canada and Australia; U.S. states with most scams are California, Texas, Florida and New York; Most scammers are from Cameroon, West Africa; The average amount victims lose is $300, but in some cases it was up to $5,000; Most popular breeds are the ones most likely to be found on these fake ads (e.g. If you don't have one already, you are going to need a veterinarian anyway. The only communication with scammers will be through email or text messages, both of which can go through proxy servers to hide true identifications. If there is something wrong with your pup, they will always help with what you need, or will accept the dog back for a full refund. As for your further training of the puppy I will send you a puppy training booklet to help you. You are not likely to suspect anything amiss when you are offered a ‘healthy-looking’ puppy with all its medical papers in ‘order’. An alleged online puppy scam duping potential pet owners out of thousands of dollars has been busted by dogged detectives. Scammers advertise a puppy or kitten for sale in the classifieds either in newspapers or online, usually providing an email address as a contact point. The price can be higher if the dog is vaccinated and has been feeding on a high-quality diet. If you transferred money to the scammer in the last 24 hours. However, even if someone does agree to speak over the phone, that does not indicate that it's not a scam. There is a death in the family, loss of a job, or moving to a place that doesn't take pets. When most people think of vodka, dogs are among the last things that come to mind, but Tito’s Handmade Vodka is an exception to... Italy is well loved for their fashion sense, food and wine. And it’s even easier to find a good breeder when you know what questions to ask. Buying a puppy can be a complex process, but adding an adorable new member to your family is well worth it. Puppy breeding has long provided irresponsible and illegal breeders to get rich with little regard to the welfare of a mother and her puppies, but with a sharp increase in demand and a struggling UK market, puppy imports from other countries are now satisfying the public desire for new pets. Do not fall for these scams. There are dozens of sites that have pets-for-sale listings and according to the above study, 80% of them are scams. Word of mouth is a powerful tool. Find out how many years of experience they have breeding puppies. My name is Alice Sparkle, I have been a practicing veterinary nurse for the last 12 years and in my spare time I love looking after my dog Mercy. You can also check online organizations like the American Kennel Club to see if the puppies are registered. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. The study also includes real stories of scammed people: Most puppy sale frauds are done over the internet because online animal sales are still unregulated. I just wanted to introduce myself so that you can put a face to my blog. Sometimes this is true, but unless you have a way of verifying it, remain wary. In the ad or website, if you see claims of the dog still being breed-worthy for future pups, there's a good chance you've just found a dog selling scam. Some breeders do this but not all of them. Scammers prey upon individuals and families who just want to give a dog a good home. Ask specific questions about their dog-buying experience. You visit a reputable newspaper or online classifieds website. Before you report a scam, there are steps you can take to protect yourself from things getting worse. You want to have a payment method that is traceable, so that if need be you can dispute the purchase. Other scammers will tell you it is okay to pay in gift cards so you cannot trace them. The same applies to the UK, New Zealand, Australia or other English-speaking countries. This site explains more about the whole process. If the photo is used on another website or websites, then you are dealing with a scam. So if the seller on the other end is harassing you for upfront payment, drop them. Some sellers will want you to make a down payment before collecting the puppies. A puppy for sale scammer can use a burner phone to dupe unsuspecting buyers. A fake breeder will not have such information; however, this information can be falsified. Sometimes people think that just because references were provided, that everything is on the up and up. If you are going to be a puppy, let it be a healthy one with no history of sickness or other health-related concerns. These payment websites also have your transaction details saved in case you have to register a complaint later. Credit cards are best for this, and you can easily issue a chargeback if you get scammed. This is why you should never take online puppy ads at face value. As with emails, save the originals. Sometimes the “seller” will promise a partial refund of insurance or shipping costs upon the dog's safe delivery. How these scams work. Here are a few things you should know before buying or adopting a puppy online. They insist on communicating via email or any other channel that will not reveal their face or voice. If neither of these is an option, here are some tips on avoiding Facebook or Craigslist puppy scams. Because they will often work on dogs sold from such places, they are a great resource of information. They are not only beautiful and highly intelligent; they are also extremely perceptive. A cute photo of an angelic-looking Chihuahua you cannot say no to. It’s simple. You fall in love with the picture, contact the scammer and begin to talk to them about purchasing the adorable little puppy. Hopeful pet owners conned out of almost $300,000 in coronavirus puppy scam. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Only make your payments on a safe and secure website. 11:42am May 18, 2020. On the other hand, we do not want you to go through the frustrations of dealing with a puppy for sale scammer. So, your German Shepherd has mastered the art of […], There are lots of good reasons to work on keeping your […], Bringing your furbaby home for the first time is an […], Approximately 44 percent of all households have a dog […], One of the most rewarding things in life is becoming […]. One person sent money to a breeder of Huskies, but never got the puppies. 5. Facebook and Craiglist puppy scams are on the rise as more people wish to buy purebred dogs online. Also, a purebred puppy is likely to be more expensive compared to a mixed breed. Some scammers will not leave any contacts at all. US Department of Agriculture (USDA) are working on regulating this are through their Retail Pet Store Rule, but it is yet to be enacted. The story as to why a person is selling or re-homing their pup or adult dog becomes more complex and heart-wrenching as it evolves. I hope you enjoy my site and if you have any questions about caring for or looking after your dogs (Or other pets) then please feel free to get in touch with me - I love to help and I love to share my knowledge. The ad may include a picture of a very cute kitten or puppy and claim that it … Visit a professional vet clinic to have the medical records verified. Use those references and call them up. The photos are usually taken in the puppy’s natural environment either playing or sleeping. All Rights Reserved. A good breeder will not be in a hurry to sell their puppies. Here's how to spot a fake breeder/seller and what to do. 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