Adorable Puppies Used To Scam $15K Out Of New Yorkers This Year

NEW YORK CITY – Adorable puppies being used as bait by heartless scammers who pose as breeders and tempt their victims with photos of cuteness.

The con has notched up 29 victims in the NYC area this year who have been scammed out of more than $15,000, according to figures kept by the Better Business Bureau. An average $520 is lost per case, with one victim handing over $2,395.

The con-artists trick people out of their money by posting websites or online ads claiming to be breeders and offering puppies for sale. Buyers are asked to wire money to buy the pets – and then extra costs are added for shipping crates and insurance, the Better Business Bureau said.

Of course, once the money is paid the animal never arrives

“Adorable pets like puppies can really pull your heartstrings,” said Claire Rosenzweig, President and CEO of the BBB Serving Metropolitan New York.

“In the excitement of shopping for a pet as a holiday surprise, it’s easy to miss the step of checking out the seller – but it’s really vital to do that research, so your surprise won’t become a terrible disappointment.”

Nationally, the bureau has received more than 16,500 complaints of puppy scams, it says.

Buyers also complained of high shipping costs, animals having health problems and not receiving proper documentation.

The bureau gives the following advice to potential owners:

• Check out the seller and the pet. Be cautious if the seller is unfamiliar or a stranger offering the pet through the internet. Look for an established, reputable breeder with solid credentials. Organizations such as the American Kennel Club offer referral resources. If possible, inspect the pet yourself by arranging to meet with the prospective seller in person.
• Never wire money to people or companies you don’t know. Once the money is wired, it is gone for good. The same goes for prepaid debit cards, gift cards, or digital payment systems that make it hard or impossible to retrieve your funds. Always use a credit card in case you need to dispute the charges. If anyone asks you to pay for anything with a gift card, you may be dealing with fraud.
• Do an internet image search using the picture of the pet you are considering. If the same picture appears on multiple websites, you may be dealing with a fraud. You also can search for text from ads or testimonials to see if the seller copied them from another site.
• Research prices for the breed you are interested in adopting or purchasing. If someone advertises a purebred dog for free or at a deeply discounted price, you could be dealing with a fraudulent offer. If they state that they register their dogs with a specific organization or registry, confirm by contacting the registry or organization directly.
• Search the internet for scam information. Do a Google search with the seller’s name or web address and “scam” to see if consumers are posting reports that a website is bogus.
• If you have been a victim or see a puppy scam, report it to BBB Scam TrackerSM. Victims should also file a police report.