Are you thinking about adding a puppy to your family for Christmas?
First, do your homework to avoid a broken heart from a puppy scam!
With the holiday season, pet scams become more prevalent in the hopes of attracting and defrauding unsuspecting and emotional buyers for a new puppy, kitty or other pet.
According to the Better Business Bureau, online puppy scams rose sharply in 2020 to the tune of almost 4,000 pet fraud complaints in just the United States and Canada!
Keep reading to learn how to avoid puppy scams with our nine tips below.
Watch the video, “Scam Stories: Buying Your Pet Online” here.
Beware of Online Puppy Scams: 6 Tips
Searching online for a new puppy? Experts warn you are more likely than not to encounter a puppy scam!
So how do you avoid being taken advantage of online when searching for a new dog or pet?
- Never buy a new pet sight unseen. If you can’t meet in person, use a tool like Zoom to virtually meet the owner and the pet first! Or ask for videos of the puppies and pictures of the parents and past puppies.
- Avoid common puppy scam websites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Also be careful of online classified ads (including Google’s search results!) and even social media platforms where no vetting is done. Also, be suspicious of spelling and grammatical errors!
- Only use a protected form of payment (like a credit card, PayPal and Venmo) when purchasing a pet for buyer protection. Many scammers cannot process credit cards and may ask for alternative methods of payments like gift cards or prepaid debit cards. A reputable pet seller will never ask for payments like that. Avoid sending payments through wire transfers, Zelle or CashApp or other apps where your payment may not be protected.
- Never accept an online listing, website or sad story at face value. It’s easy to throw up a professional-looking website with fake addresses and reviews! Also, be wary of “sponsored links.” Scammers understand that boosted online listings lure users into believing they are legitimate. A study by the BBB in 2017 found that 80% of all sponsored search links may be fraudulent!
- Be wary of sudden demands for more money or the sudden addition of new charges for transport, medical costs, pet insurance or “climate-controlled crates.” These are all potential red flags, so buyer beware!
- Even if a transaction was not completed, but if the seller has your credit card number, contact the credit card company to prevent potential fraud.
Click here to read the 2017 Study by the Better Business Bureau,
“Puppy Scams: How Fake Online Pet Sellers Steal from Unsuspecting Pet Buyers.”
Avoid Puppy Scams: 3 Additional Tips
- Whether you’re buying online or in person, beware of someone who offers a purebred dog for free or at a steeply discounted price. It could be a scam. Also be suspicious if the seller is unwilling to meet in person or speak on the phone.
- Do a reverse online image search of any photos you receive. Many scammers will steal and use real images from legitimate websites and pass them off as their own for a puppy that may not exist!
- Check the PetScams’ Puppy Scammer List to check if the seller is listed. As of October 2021, they detail 23,000 illegitimate pet websites! Just a quick search could protect your wallet and emotions!
Puppy Scams: Few Final Notes
- Not all people selling adorable puppies and kitties are scammers even on Facebook and Craigslist. But avoid being lured into false security by a fancy website or heartwarming images.
- Always do your research and understand all the policies regarding deposits and payments! If you have questions, ask! Legitimate breeders will be happy to answer all your questions upfront.
- Finally, never be rushed into a purchase to ensure the best possible outcome for you, your family and the puppy you want to add to your family!
ARKANSAS BEAR CREEK GOLDENS AND DOODLES
Mini F1b Labradoodles Available for Deposit!
We are a small and reputable family breeder located in the heart of the Ozarks in Northern Arkansas and are dedicated to finding the perfect addition to your family.
All our puppies come with a health guarantee against genetic and congenital disorders for their first 12 months of age.
Please text or call us at 870-404-0127 or 870-404-1189 or use our Contact Form here for more information about upcoming litters.
