Puppy Scams: They're Real and They're Terrible; Don't Get Ripped Off When Pet Shopping

OHIO - It's the worst type of scam - one that involves puppies. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said that several consumers have reported losing hundreds of dollars trying to buy a puppy online in recent weeks.

“Some ‘sellers’ who advertise online are con artists,” DeWine said. “They post a picture of a cute puppy and tell you to wire money for a crate or insurance. Then they take your money without delivering anything in return. People expect to receive a cute puppy, and instead they get nothing.”

The scams don't end at canines though. Be careful buying kittens or any other animal you and your family may be interested in this season.

DeWine says that the average pet scam occurs when shoppers go looking for pets online. The veil of digital communication makes requests for wire payments seem more commonplace. Frequently, the requests seek hundreds of dollars in advance payment. When a shopper makes that initial payment, it opens the floodgates to further requests for advance payment - sometimes requesting money for transportation, insurance, shots, etc. - and shoppers will get nothing in return. In cases where shoppers actually get their pet, DeWine says they will sometimes get sickly dogs or pets that have not been certified with the American Kennel Club.

To avoid scams, DeWine recommended the following in a statement:

• Do your research. The American Kennel Club offers several tools to research both breeds and breeders. You can check out their tools here. In general, if you're dealing with an online breeder, approach the situation with a healthy grain of skepticism.
• Always meet your pet before you buy it. This is especially true when you're dealing with someone online that wants advance payment, for any reason, for your pet. You can reverse image search the pet you're thinking about bringing home via a reverse image search on Google. Once you get a chance to go out to the breeder, ask to see their certification (if they claimed to have it) and ask about your pet's shots.
• Beware 'too good to be true' offers. Sellers that want money in advance of you getting the pet should be approached with heavy skepticism.

You can also skip all the hassle and adopt a pet from your local animal shelter. Chances are you're going to bring home a warm, fuzzy (or feathered) new member of your family that you'll love as much as any picture of a pet you see online.

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