Thinking about giving a puppy for a holiday gift? After you read this, your bark may turn to balk because puppy scams are spiking again.
When ConsumerAffairs took a look at Google search terms trends, the possibilities are sure there. Searches for “puppy for sale” show there’s a lot of interest in non-standard breeds such as cavapoos, schnoodles, Aussie doodles, and vizslas.
More concerning, however, might be the increase for Craigslist searches. While Craigslist officially banned the sale of companion animals, unscrupulous breeders and dealers have found a way around that ban by using the term “rehoming” and are selling animals who are stolen, ill, or that don’t even exist.
Scammers can get creative, too. One ConsumerAffairs reviewer said they nearly got scammed in a “Nigerian puppy scam” from a minister who had to give up his precious pup because it wasn’t a good fit for his missionary work in Africa. Another reviewer claimed that they couldn’t even trust the AKC’s Marketplace because scammers have burrowed in there, as well.
Prepare to lose your shirt!
The Special Reports Team at Veterinarians.org found that leading up to the 2023 holidays, Americans have lost over $1 million to puppy scams resulting from more than a thousand puppy scam reports.
The top states for puppy scams and the amount of money lost look like this:
California– $89,248
Texas– $55,955
Florida– $49,510
New York– $39,238
Pennsylvania– $34,089
Arizona– $30,699
Georgia– $28,939
Virginia– $28,115
Indiana– $26,232
North Carolina– $25,196
Massachusetts– $24,613
Ohio– $21,699
Illinois– $21,660
Maryland– $21,000
Connecticut– $17,050
How to Identify a Puppy Scam: 5 Warning Signs
Between what ConsumerAffairs has found from our reporting on puppy scams and what Veterinarians.org’s research team offers, there are some clear-as-the-lick-on-the-face warning signs you can use to keep your puppy pennies safe:
"Sorry, no photo available." The seller claims that you will not be able to see the puppy in person before adoption and/or is unable to provide you with multiple pictures/videos of the puppy up for adoption.
One tip they offer to help spot this scam is to use Google’s reverse image search tool or TinEye to upload the picture of their chosen puppy and identify if the picture is actually coming from a stock photo site and/or appears on numerous other fraudulent websites, which can help in determining whether or not the puppy actually exists.
Another defense is to request that the breeder take a picture with the puppy that includes a piece of paper in the frame with the individual’s name written on it and a specific date.
"Zelle me money." The seller asks for payment upfront through Western Union, MoneyGram, a digital money app like Zelle or Cash App, or via a gift card.
Yep, just like other scammers, money apps are golden money retrievers for puppy scammers, too. Pay with credit card or you could be kissing your money goodbye.
Climate-controlled crates. The seller or a third party asks for follow-up payments to cover additional items such as a climate-controlled crate for shipping, vaccinations, or transportation insurance/life insurance.
“In many cases, fraudulent emails will claim the shipping costs/crate rental fees will be refunded upon the puppy’s delivery,” the researchers said. “However, they never are. Such emails may also threaten individuals with criminal charges of animal abandonment/abuse if fees remain unpaid, a common fear tactic scammers employ to demand additional money.”
Who's your daddy? The breeder’s website offers no information about the sire or dam (father/mother) of the litter, and/or the breeder can’t provide proof of health records or AKC Certification. Note: There’s no guarantee, but you might be able to work with the AKC to identify whether or not a registration/certification is legit or not.
Purebred or pure bunk? In the case of purebred breeds, the puppy in question is being offered at a significantly steep discount when compared with the average price for a puppy of its breed.
Before you take any leap of faith, do some research. Look at the price ranges for puppies or get out your pen and paper and write down all the different prices you see for the breed you want. If you see any pooch being offered for more than 30% off, you might want to keep looking.
Also, does someone's use of “purebred” actually mean purebred? For those interested in a purebred pup, you can bet that scammers have that angle covered, too. Veteranarians.org recommends that outside of truly reputable sellers, it’s estimated that anywhere from 20-30% of the dogs in shelters are purebred as well.
“There are also numerous breed-specific rescue groups available across the nation. The AKC Rescue Network, for instance, consists of over 400 such groups,” the researchers recommended. “Additionally, individuals can search for breeder associations or clubs, such as the Golden Retriever Club of America, Poodle Club of America, etc., to find reputable breeders affiliated with the American Kennel Club.”
Is the site for real? Puppy scammers tend to play to the search terms that people use to find a dog. For example, BeaglePuppiesForSaleNearMe.company.com. Before you go all in with a certain company, see if the website you’re considering buying from is the real deal. TheDailyScam offers a comprehensive list of fake puppy seller sites.
Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images
Posted: 2023-12-04 15:05:28