Puppy Scams
June 15, 2020
Scammers are targeting people looking to add a new puppy to their family during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Better Business Bureau report.
The report said the deadly virus has given scammers an excuse to ask for money before the customer is able to see the dog they’re looking to buy.
“Make sure that you actually see the pet you are purchasing because if you buy the pig in the poke, just based on someone’s word, you may be left in a tough situation,” West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said.
Officials are used to seeing these scams during the holiday season when people are looking to quickly purchase a pet as a present, but reports have increased greatly since the pandemic began.
“Scammers frequently take advantage of the news to find new avenues for targeting victims,” BBB president and CEO Frank Cilona said. “The uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, along with some quarantined families’ decision to adopt a pet sight unseen, has created fertile ground for fraudsters.”
One person targeted by scammers is Jeannie Clark, who went looking for a new service dog for her disabled husband on Facebook. She found a breeder that said it had Teacup Cockapoo and Cabapoo puppies and contacted them through Facebook Messenger.
Clark found the scammer’s answers to her questions surprising after they said they used a veterinarian in New York, despite claiming to be based in South Charleston.
“He said, ‘well why are you asking me all of these questions,’ and I said, ‘because I need to make sure you are legitimate, to make sure the puppy is healthy,'” Clark said. “He said, ‘oh you can believe me, I am totally legitimate.'”
Even more red flags were raised when Clark asked for a photo of the parents and was sent a stock photo of a St. Bernard. Clark said she kept pushing for answers and the supposed breeder became defensive, claiming they could get her the puppy within four to five hours if they were sent $450.
“It made me really angry that this can happen to someone else, especially my friend,” Clark said about someone she knows who lost $500 in one of these scams earlier this year. “They paid the money through Cash App which lots of times if you pay through an agency or something you feel a little more secure that you might be able to get your puppy back if something was to happen.”
BBB’s report said at least 80 percent of the sponsored advertising links that appear in an Internet search for pets may be fraudulent.
Clark ended up finding a legitimate breeder in the area through the recommendation of a trusted vet. She said that breeder let her visit with the puppy before handing over any money.
“If people see situations where there is fraud going on or they see something online, you should let our office know,” Morrisey said. “Contact our office, file a complaint, because then we will interact with Facebook and the other social media channels in an effort to clean that up.”
“At the end of the day, the best thing people can do is do their research,” Morrisey continued. “Go online and make sure there is accurate documentation, only work with a reputable entity, a reputable breeder.”
Morrisey said the best option is to visit your local animal shelter where you can see pets in need of a loving home that have been fully vetted.
Most Recent News
Former Victoria man’s diabetic alert dog helps him get back to life
June 2, 2021
When Luke Hengen’s diabetes worsened in his early twenties, it stripped him of the outdoor activities where the country kid felt at home. Countless wilderness adventures and years of hard-fought football games took a toll on his body, to the point where he could no longer sense when his blood sugar was too high or […]Students Get Therapy Dog
January 8, 2021
When middle school students return to class on Jan. 11, they’ll find a new face at the door: Daisy. Daisy is a therapy dog and the personal pet of Rob Kreger, principal of the Rock L. Butler Middle School. The five-year-old golden retriever is not a school pet or mascot, but rather a working dog […]Therapy Dogtor
January 8, 2021
Last March, Caroline Benzel, a third-year medical student, began to notice the stress and discomfort her nurse friends were feeling from the pressures of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. “[Personal protective equipment] can be really rough on the skin,” Benzel, 31, tells PEOPLE. Benzel and her 3-year-old Rottweiler, Loki (who’s also a therapy dog) hatched a […]Therapy Dog Pups
January 8, 2021
When Stanley the miniature fox terrier’s owner passed away, the little dog started a ‘paw-some’ new role – bringing puppy love to some of the Gold Coast’s oldest residents. After Carinity Cedarbrook Diversional Therapist Julianne Staff adopted Stanley, he began visiting the aged care community at Mudgeeraba as a therapy dog. Therapy dogs help to […]Puppy Cams
January 7, 2021
A nonprofit is providing an unusual form of therapy for those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic – puppy cams! “You spend five minutes with a puppy and try not to smile,” said registered nurse Robin Lingg Lagrone. Lingg Lagrone says watching little furballs wag their tails and prance on their paws helps […]Pet Committee
January 7, 2021
When Moore County’s school doors were abruptly closed earlier in 2020, two- and four-legged volunteers from the Moore County Citizens’ Pet Responsibility Committee (PRC) were in their 12th year of presenting a six-session Pet Responsibility Education Program for fourth-graders. The PRC quickly shifted gears and placed its program materials online as part of a home […]The Right Rescue Dog
January 7, 2021
If your New Year’s resolution is to add a canine family member, good for you. Somewhere out there is the perfect puppy or adult dog for your family. You have a lot of things to think about when you begin to look for that new family member, puppy or dog? Large or small? Purebred or […]Police Dog Attack
January 7, 2021
A resolution headed to the Duluth City Council on Monday could put to rest a lawsuit filed by Teri Lynn Ehlers, an employee of the Patch Motel, who was bitten by a Duluth police dog named Oakley. Former Duluth Police Officer Marc Johnson was a registered guest of the Warroad establishment May 28, 2018, when […]PAWS With A Cause
January 7, 2021
Pebble Hill Plantation and the Thomas County Public Library are pleased to announce the upcoming Enlightening Bites program, “PAWS With a Cause,” on Friday, January 8, 2021 at noon in the Flipper Room of the Library. The program is being presented by Jeri Anderson, field representative. Anderson is recently retired from the City of Monticello, […]Police Canine Team
January 7, 2021
Kingston Police revealed in a news release late Wednesday afternoon that they’ve been keeping a four-legged secret for roughly three months. The force announced it added a second canine unit, with the arrival of police service dog Dak this past October. He is working with Const. Jeff Dickson, while police service dog Bask is working […]
