Fraud alert: Internet puppy purchase scams rising(BPT) - That cold, wet nose. Those adorable little paws. The undeniable sweet scent of puppy breath. You havea soft spot for dogs and have your eye on a rare breed.
After months of looking, you see an online advertisement with the perfect puppy. The seller doesn't live in yourarea though (could be a different state or even a different country). You send them an email and they seem niceenough. You decide to take the leap and put money down on your new dog.
The seller states they don’t take checks or credit cards and requests a money transfer. After paying for thepuppy, the seller requests additional fees for vaccination and safe transportation. You send more money without
hesitation because you want a healthy puppy arriving safely to your home as soon as possible.
You wait for your new pup's arrival and nothing happens. You try to contact the seller and get no response. The
puppy you were so excited to receive never arrives and you realize you have become a victim of a scam. The
criminal tricked you out of a lot of money, which stings just as bad as not getting the dog.
Avoiding fraud
Law enforcement and fraud organizations get reports of puppy scams like this across the country. People
become emotionally invested in getting the dog of their dreams, which causes them to put their guard down andcriminals take advantage of this vulnerability. If you are considering purchasing a puppy online, it’s importantto proceed with caution.
Requests money transfers
Western Union is a great way to send money to family and friends, but should not be used for sending money toan individual for any type of online purchase. Additionally, never send a money transfer to someone you havenot met in-person.
Offers cheap and quick shipment
A fraudster may offer to ship a puppy from an international location to your doorstep for $250 or $350. The
International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (www.IPATA.org) says generally it costs more to ship
a puppy internationally than it does for a person to fly; and there are other expenses, such as kennels, aveterinarian, etc. You can never expect to pay only $250-$350 for an international shipment. If the seller saysthey will ship the pet within 24 hours of payment, don't move forward with the purchase. This fast of ashipment is impossible due to the time it takes to get an import license (if overseas) and veterinary healthcertificates.
Asks for more money or makes threats
If you send money and then a "problem" occurs, beware. IPATA notes a person might say additional funds areneeded for a crate, insurance, health inspection, etc. If you don't pay, they may threaten legal charges for animalabandonment. Don't fall victim. This is just another way to get you to send more money.
Avoids providing background information
If the person is claiming to be a breeder, ask for breeder registration information and verify it, suggests Embrace
Pet Insurance. If they don't provide it or make up excuses, walk away.
Avoids offering references
Just like any other good business, references should be available for clients should they want them. Request
these from the seller and call them to verify other people's experiences. If they don't have any, don't make thepurchase.
Only sends a few photos
If you only receive a few photos of the animal, it's a red flag. Ask for more photos and request them to be takenwith a specific item, such as a tennis ball or recent newspaper, suggests Embrace Pet Insurance.
A caring persona
Remember, criminals are savvy and can be very convincing. They will ask questions in order to appear like they
are concerned about where the puppy will go. IPATA says they may even call the puppy their "baby" or "child"and send you guidelines for care.
Don't be tricked by a caring persona. Do your due diligence. Check the background of a seller with theAmerican Kennel Club (www.akc.org). If you can't see a puppy in person, make sure you research extensively
and proceed with caution for any online purchase.
For more information about online fraud and how scammers are constantly changing their tactics, visit
wu.com/fraudawareness.