Animal Lovers Warned About Scam
Consumer Direct East Midlands says dog-lovers are being conned out of large sums of money for puppies which don't exist.
The con artists place online adverts, via legitimate websites, for pedigree puppies available for 'adoption' or offer puppies free to a good home, as long as the prospective owner agrees to pay for transport costs.
Via an exchange of emails, the scammers request the funds be sent by money transfer and claim they will arrange to have the puppy delivered to you upon receipt. But once the consumer parts with their money, the con artist then request a further payment to cover insurance and inoculation fees which need to be paid for before delivery.
Consumers end up paying hundreds of pounds before finding out that no puppy is going to be delivered.
Sara Barry, Consumer Direct East Midlands Manager says, 'Although these adverts can seem genuine, and however cute the pictures might be, I would advise people not to buy a pet on impulse and to choose a reputable local breeder so that you can see the animal in person.
To avoid falling victim to these types of scam, make sure you know who you are dealing with - always independently confirm a seller's name, address and telephone number. Never rely just on an email address as a method of contact.'
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