A shocking number of Americans are falling for online puppy scams.
The Better Business Bureau said it received thousands of reports of puppy scams last year, totaling more than $1 million in losses, according to veterinarians.org.
The BBB warned consumers in December about the scams and said that about 80% of sponsored pet advertisements online are possibly fake. The scams most commonly reported to the BBB began on sites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, it said.
“Those searching for an animal to adopt, therefore, should exercise extreme caution when utilizing such sites, keeping the aforementioned warning signs in mind at all times when interacting with sellers,” veterinarians.org wrote.
Katherine Smith, a grandmother from North Carolina, said she lost her life savings to a Facebook Marketplace scam while trying to buy a Yorkshire terrier for her grandson, according to ABC News. Smith told the outlet she sent the scammer $5,000 in gift cards.
“This was going to be for him, for him to have something to hang on to,” Smith said of her grandson, who she is raising after he lost his mother.
To spot puppy adoption scams, the Federal Trade Commission recommends sticking with local animal shelters, reverse image searching photos of the animal you’re trying to adopt, conducting in-person visits, and taking note of strange payment requests — like only accepting payment through gift cards.
“Legit rescues, shelters, and breeders alike want to make sure you and your new pet are a good match. They’ll encourage an in-person or video meeting,” the FTC says. “If they don’t want you to visit, video chat, or even talk by phone, move on to someone else.”
The prevalence of puppy scams online has led to an official crackdown. Perpetrators can now face steep penalties when caught.
The Illinois Attorney General’s office, for instance, charged one man with 16 different felonies related to an online puppy scam in January. The man faces theft, wire fraud, burglary, and forgery charges. The attorney general’s office said he faces up to 80 years in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors said the alleged victims tried to purchase puppies through online advertisements but never received them. The scammer used fake IDs and forged signatures to collect the money from transfer services inside retail stores, they said.
“I encourage consumers to thoroughly research online sellers and be wary of sending payments through nontraditional methods, such as money transfers and peer-to-peer payment services,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in the statement. “Today’s charges are the result of collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations and our retail partners. I would like to thank them for their work to hold this alleged scammer accountable.”
