Consumer complaint received 2021-02-04
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Mobile or digital wallet
Issue: Fraud or scam — 
Company: Early Warning Services, LLC (PA)

I was supposedly buying a XXXX XXXX  puppy from a breeder in Iowa. I had saved up around {$700.00} for buying a puppy, not a very big budget but I hoped I'd be able to find something in that price range. The puppy was supposedly {$650.00} and that includes the cost of shipping. His phone number was from Iowa, and they gave me a website and a contract, it all looked real. The people I was buying from asked if I could send the money on zelle, an app I had never used before. Thinking this app was much like XXXX or XXXX, I agreed. I downloaded the app to find out that I needed to use my XXXX app, and send the zelle through there. After I sent the first payment, a " deposit '' to hold the puppy for me, everything seemed like it was going well. They then sent a contract to me, in regards to the puppy 's health, and a guarantee of it. After I signed the contract digitally they then said the rest of the payment was due. I then sent the remaining {$350.00} to the guy. Both these payments took place on XX/XX/2021. The told me the puppy would be shipped out, and delivered the same day, XX/XX/2021. I was elated. Around XXXX on the 2nd, I received a phone call from the " shipping company '' saying that the carrier the puppy was being shipped in was not suitable for the weather, and I'd need to rent a crate from them for {$98.00}, and also pay for insurance for the puppy, another {$300.00} something, totaling around {$500.00}. He also told me that 95 % of the cost of the insurance would be refunded to me upon the puppy 's delivery. I grew a bit suspicious at this point. I even said this feels like a scam. I'm so mad I didn't listen to my gut. I told the man I didn't have that kind of money. He told me I needed to pay them, or the puppy could die. That if I didn't upgrade the crate or get the insurance they couldn't guarantee the puppy 's safety. I panicked. The thought of this puppy dying in transit was horrifying. But I didn't have that much money. I told the man on the phone that the seller was supposed to handle shipping costs, that he should contact them. He told me that I was the legal owner of the animal, so I was the one that had to handle it. He said I could talk to the seller and try to work something out with them, and once I did to call back ASAP so there would be no delays in shipment. Panicking, I got in contact with the seller. They told me that this " wasn't shipping '' and that I should be responsible for the payment. I told them I didn't have that much money. They told me they only had {$180.00} to contribute. Defeated, I asked my boyfriend if I could borrow a couple hundred from him, and told him I'd pay him back immediately when the money was returned to me. He gave me the money to send to them. The seller told me that they had sent the shipping company the {$180.00}, and that I should just send the remainder to them to send over to the company as well. I was confused, and I tried calling the shipping company again. Unfortunately the guy was very hard to understand, and I could only make out half of what he was saying. He told me the sellers were taking care of it and I should continue talking to them, along with some other things I couldn't make out. I tried asking questions but was quickly shut down, and then he hung up on me. Defeated yet again, I reached back out to the seller. They told me I needed to either zelle them the money again, or send it to them via bitcoin. I of course didn't have any bitcoin, and didn't want to send anyone any money in what I KNEW was untraceable and could not be connected back to them. They gave me a different zelle from the original one I had sent money to. I reluctantly sent the money over totaling my loss at {$940.00}, telling myself once I had the puppy in my arms it would all be worth it. Later that night, when the puppy was supposed to be arriving at my apartment, I was contacted by the seller who told me no one was available to make deliveries at that time of night, and that she'd be delivered the next morning. My heart sank. I clung to hope, and waited until the next morning. Once XXXX rolled around, and still no word from anyone, I reached out to the seller with no response. I then called the shipping company, and got through to them after my second phone call. They told me the puppy was currently being held in XXXX, and that she'd be in my state, Pennsylvania, by XXXX that night, today, XX/XX/2021. After telling me this, he was once again very dismissive and didn't want to answer my questions. He hung up again before I had gotten all my answers. At this point my suspicion was immense, but I was still in a bit of denial. I told myself I'd reach out to the shipping company again later, and this time I'd get definite answers. Well I tried calling them several times, and could not get through to them. Finally I accepted the facts. I got scammed. They took all my money, some of my boyfriend 's money, and we would never see that puppy. After crying for a bit at my foolishness, I tried contacting my bank and zelle because I thought they would be able to do something. They told me there was nothing they could do for me, that all I could do was file a claim in small claims court. I can't even do that. I don't even have the money to pay for the fee to file a claim. I thought zelle was traceable. I thought there'd be a trail of where and who the money went to, and if something happened I'd be safe and secure, or at the very least they'd be able to find the person who did this. They can't. There's nothing I can do now except ask for help, and spread the word of what happened to me. I've attached multiple screenshots of the money transfers, the contract, both the " breeder '' and " shipping company 's '' websites, as well as some screenshots of messages between the seller and I. Thank you for taking the time to look into this.