Better Business Bureau Warns Against Waltham Puppy Scam

WALTHAM, MA — The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers of ongoing puppy scams, with recent complaints about "Divine Franchise Home," located in Waltham, MA and Spartanburg, SC.

According to BBB, the website of the supposed French bulldog breeder, divinefrenchieshome.com, includes pictures of puppies claiming to be American Kennel Club registered and boasts popular reviews. However, one consumer reported losing $4,300 and another lost $1,350 after sending money to the business.

The red flag becomes obvious when looking at the shipping and delivery information, said BBB. According to former complaints, the breeder requires a specific amount of money to be sent through through Zelle, Venmo, Google Pay, ApplePay or PayPal to a "Harry Jones." On some occasions, the company messages again to collect fees for things like a crate, shipping, and insurance, and no further notifications are received after the payment is made.

Through further investigation, BBB discovered the website matches another puppy website, poeticfrenchbulldogshome.com, with a business address in Alexandria, VA. The "about us," section, phone number, and all available puppy photos are identical.

In addition, BBB said Google reviews were posted by Spartanburg residents Lawson Barry and Matthew Kucinski, stating it's a scam and urging people to stop showing up at this address as it is a private residence and not a business. Another Google review was posted by Waltham resident Sandra Sousa, stating to stop using her home address.

Here are BBB's recommends for avoiding becoming a victim of a pet scam:

• Do your research. Check online complaints and customer reviews before you make the purchase.
• Don’t buy a pet without seeing it in person. If that isn't possible, request a live video call to view the animal, meet the breeder, and evaluate the facility.
• Conduct a reverse image search of the picture of the pet you are considering. If the same picture appears on multiple websites, it’s likely a fraud.
• Avoid wiring money, or using a cash app or gift card. These payment methods offer no way to get your money back if you are the victim of fraud.
• Get a sense of a fair price for the breed you are considering.

For more red flags and pet scam prevention tips, click here. Scams can be reported via the BBB Scam Tracker.