Puppy scams are happening a lot these days, and many dog lovers have become victims of such scams. There are many scammers out there, and if you are not careful, you could get ripped off big time. In these days of the Corona pandemic, the demand for pets (especially dogs and cats) has grown because people want to escape their loneliness. In online puppy scams, the buyer pays the money but never receives the puppy.
Listed below are 10 red flags that will protect you from puppy scams. You will know that the online seller tantalizing you with cute puppy pictures is likely a scammer.
1) High pedigree puppies available at too-good-to-be-true discounts. Good breeds are expensive and if a discount is too much, then it is likely a scam. The scammer, in the name of offering discount, will take your money and you will never hear from them again. Even if the seller is indeed selling the pups, they could be products of a puppy mill and are likely to be badly bred and diseased. Avoid purchasing low-quality puppies.
2) The seller posts or sends you puppy pictures that are stock photos listed on sites like Unsplash.com, istock.com, pixabay.com, shutterstock.com, etc. If on the seller’s website, you see multiple photos, check the background of the photos. If the background is radically different, the seller is most likely a scammer. Many scammers also steal photos from genuine websites. It is always better to check. Purchasing a puppy is an emotional decision, but do not let your emotions get you fooled by cute puppy pictures. Do not get emotional if you see a photo of a puppy that resembles your dog that you loved very much and has passed on. Scammers prey on your emotions.
3) The seller insists on communicating through text messages and emails only—they avoid talking on phone and also avoid video calls. A genuine seller will not hesitate to talk on phone or video calls. Basically, they avoid showing their faces to their potential victims. Another reason they avoid video calls is that they will be expected to show the puppies which they do not have.
4) In cases where the seller gives out their mobile number, they ask for payment through Western Unions, Google Pay, Zelle, gift cards, etc. If you pay through these channels, you cannot raise a dispute and never recover your money. After receiving payment, the scammer will no longer respond to your calls unless they want to milk your further for more money). Always insist on paying through credit cards, paypal where you can at least raise a dispute or register a case with the police.
5) The seller insists on closing the sale fast.
6) A scammer, in many cases, is unlikely to be knowledgeable about the breed. Test the seller with some probing questions on the breed and if they fumble or avoid, you know they are not genuine.
7) The first question a scammer is likely to ask you, is, “Where are you located?” They ask this because they never want physical contact with you (many puppy buyers rightfully insist on seeing the puppies and the parents before making a purchase). Therefore, if you tell the seller your location, they will always say they are in a different location far away from you—this is to discourage you from meeting them. Many scammers are located in another country.
8) The seller, upon taking the first payment instalment, will ask for more money such as insurance fee, special Corona crate or Corona insurance, registration charges, change of ownership, city permit and so on.
9) Sometimes the seller may send you videos or photos of their home and tell you that they breed the puppies in home like conditions. Ask the seller how many dogs they have. If they say many dogs, there is reason to be suspicious because in many countries like the USA, it is illegal to keep pets above a stipulated number. Check out with the city’s authorities.
10) Many scammers set up fake websites (setting up a fake website is not difficult). Even if the address is genuine, you can be sure that the scammer does not live there. If there is no address on the site, then this is a positive red flag.
The best advice is to NEVER buy a puppy online. It is always best to visit a breeder and inspect the puppies and their parents. Also, insist on some papers even if it costs you a little more. This will ensure you are getting a healthy pup from a genuine breeder. There are many breeders who though not outright scammers, sell poorly bred puppies that are malnourished, diseased, or are of a mixed breed. Always try to find out the credentials of the seller and check out if they are registered with your country’s/city’s kennel club. If you live in the USA, you should know that most genuine breeders are registered with the American Kennel Club. It is best to educate yourself on the price range of genuinely bred puppies of various breeds so that you do not fall for online puppy scams.
Article Author – Manish Jaitly
Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash
I am a dog lover and creator of this site. I am also the author of ‘Keep Sleeping Keep Missing- if only you knew’ (available on Amazon, Flipkart, Kobo, Google Store, etc.).
