If this is a local ad, the sellers will also have a reason to avoid a face-to-face meeting. Look for some of the pet fraud red flags we mentioned above, such as a deal that is too good to be true or not being able to talk to the person on the phone. If all you get are fluffy, non-specific answers, that is a red flag. It can be safe to get your new pet online, but it isn't straightforward. Again, you want that meet-and-greet and nothing less. Here's a situation: you have a female dog, and she isnt spayed. They are unlikely to scam you, and you will give a dog a second chance in life. Wait to buy a dog until after you've seen them up close and met the breeder or group organizer. This will often range from $2000 and up to $10,000 or even more. Avoid any money wires at all costs. The seller says they wish to rehome the dog, and you only need to pay for the shipping. With scammers, they will often add these extras one by one, as astronomical crate fees upward of $800, travel insurance for $1,000, increased shipping costs, and airport-to-door delivery. The only way to avoid this is through a face-to-face meeting. All rights reserved. Here are some of the places you can quickly do this and help stop puppy scams: You can also share this information with veterinarians, local animal groups, Facebook, or other social media. Always dig up as much information about the breeder/seller online, and look at the Better Business Bureau or other reviews. According to the above study, dozens of sites have pets-for-sale listings, and 80% of them are scams. In the ad or website, if you see claims of the dog still being breed-worthy for future pups, there's a good chance you've just found a dog selling scam. Except in urgent cases like natural disasters, most of the time, a breeder will want to meet the potential dog owner in person. This is also the best way for you to avoid puppy scams. It may be confusing but its actually "Weimador". With COVID 19, videos are the next best thing. They will also keep emailing you back about additional costs, such as quicker/safer shipping, etc. The Goldendoodle dog breed is a loving dog who makes friends with almost everyone he meets. This will be either in the same ad/website or done separately. Some common warning signs of online scams include asking for immediate payment, offering a high discount for a new puppy, asking for more money after the initial deposit, or if the photo they use appears with a reverse image search. If your perfect puppy is purebred, then be careful to avoid fraudulent sellers and irresponsible breeders. It's a mix of two purebreds that have similarities in appearance but have two completely different Are you planning on adopting a mixed dog breed but not quite sure what to pick? The only communication with scammers will be through email or text messages, both of which can go through proxy servers to hide true identifications. The story of why a person is selling or re-homing their pup or adult dog becomes more complex and heart-wrenching as it evolves. Reputable breeders typically have waiting lists and far more professional means for advertising. Talk to other dog owners. They may also pressure you by saying that failing to pay higher fees can lose the selected puppy. Most puppy sale frauds are done over the internet because online animal sales are still unregulated. This is most common with Facebook ads. A real and professional dog seller will always ask you questions because they care for their animals. You can't believe your eyes when you see the pictures and the low price. They will require you to wire them money through Western Union or MoneyGram (or use a prepaid debit card), securing the dog for you. After they sell the dog to you, they may want to see how the pup adapts to your space, other pets, and household residents. Whatever the ancestry is, all dogs should be loved and cared for. You can gather buckets of information from people passionate about pups and willing to give you referrals. Still, the costs kept increasing (extra payment for faster shipping, dog's health insurance, etc. There is a death in the family, loss of a job, or moving to a place that doesn't take pets. Know about your chosen breed and any regulations that apply. The two best ways are to either adopt a dog from a rescue shelter or buy from a reputable breeder (here's a list of American ones). If you notice any of the warning signs we mentioned, such as asking to wire money or charging additional fees after your initial payment, then rethink the process. Learn more about living with this designer breed! Make that first visit to the area where the dogs live. Most of the time, a good breeder will want you to meet the dog in person. This is a great time for you to make sure that the pup fits into your lifestyle, and it's also a sign of a reputable seller. Sometimes this is true, but unless you have a way of verifying it, remain wary. The 2020 TopDogTips.com. As a bonus, seeing them in person instead of just buying pets online lets you confirm that your new pup or puppies get along with your other pet. Fraudsters generally use pictures of real puppies from other ads or Facebook posts, and you can use Google's reverse image search to check if that photo has been posted anywhere else. False Pregnancy in Dogs (Phantom Pregnancy): How To Identify, Causes, Treatment, 25 Most Common Dog Behavior Issues: Habits and Problems That Are One person sent money to a breeder of Huskies but never got the puppies. You cannot trace such money wires. While some reputable breeders do, in fact, sell dogs they feel are not show-worthy at a discount, those dogs will be typically neutered. This is a baited hook, making you feel more secure, so you pay the extra fees. You want to have a traceable payment method so that you can dispute the purchase if need be. There are three main ways online puppy scams are done: Here's an example of an email a scammer may send: Fraudsters primarily take advantage of people who want a purebred dog but do not want to pay a full price for the puppy at reputable breeders. US Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates this area through their Retail Pet Store Rule, but it is yet to be enacted. Potential buyers have to be cautious, so no one is taking advantage of you. Note that airports require picking up live animals on-site, with appropriate documentation. 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This can happen any time, but you'll often see it during the holidays when people are more emotional about finding a new family pet. Better Business Bureau (BBB) conducted a study on Craigslist puppy scams (and other similar internet sales of dogs), finding that 12.5% of all reported online purchase fraud was related specifically to puppy sale scams as consumers filed tens of thousands of reports. The AKC collects information and enacts inspections of breeders throughout the country. Generally, the purebred dog of this breed will cost you about $5,000 at a reputable breeder, but the ad or the fake breeder's website offers the same dog for only $500. You can help another person or family avoid heartache and losing money. So whether you All dogs can be good dogs purebred and crossbreed dogs. A very similar thing happened with an English Bulldog breeder, but the buyers could identify the fraud just before sending the money. After the victim's first payment, the scammer will often make up a believable story on why they need additional payment. The Border Sheepdog is an alert dog who makes a great, active companion. Some towns do not allow this breed, and the breeder should know this, and they will need to research you before selling to you. The charming Shorkie is a Nowadays, there are now trackers that can help find our pup's real-time location. Scammers often target people in their late teens and twenties; At least 80% of online pets sales ads and websites are fake; Western Union and MoneyGram are the primary outlets used by fraudsters; Most victims are from the U.S., Canada, and Australia; U.S. states with most scams are California, Texas, Florida, and New York; Most scammers are from Cameroon, West Africa; The average amount victims lose is $300, but in some cases, it was up to $5,000; Most popular breeds are the ones most likely to be found on these fake ads (e.g., Yorkshire Terriers or French Bulldogs) because many people want to own them, and they're more difficult/expensive to get. Credit cards are best for this, and you can easily issue a chargeback if you get scammed. Reliable breeders take responsibility for and have confidence in their dogs. Look for warning signs of fraudulent listings, such as asking to send money before talking to you, an unwillingness to video chat or talk on the phone, or listing different breeds on multiple websites. One of the quickest ways to identify puppy scams is using the seller's posted photos to see if they were published elsewhere. Avoid internet purchases unless you can travel to meet the dog. A fake breeder will not have such information; however, they can falsify this information. However, even if someone does agree to speak over the phone, that does not indicate that it's not a scam. This is a common technique found on sites like Craigslist. Everybody agrees that adopting a rescue dog from a shelter is always more praiseworthy. Ask specific questions about their dog-buying experience. Learn more about living with this fairly new designer breed! Events can introduce you to reputable breeders or rescue organizations in your area to work within a person. For anybody wanting to buy pure breeds, this is a great starting place for finding a safe seller. A reputable breeder can also tell you the dog's entire pedigree with ease, including health history and anything else you wish to know. You can also stop at a nearby dog-oriented event or visit a shelter. A woman found an online ad to adopt a puppy from a family for free, and she'd only have to pay for shipping, which she did. So how do you protect yourself from being scammed when buying a puppy or adult dog online? Use those references and call them up. The Shorkie dog breed is a tiny fluffball with a big personality. TOP #25: Debunking 8 Common Homemade Dog Food Diet Myths, TOP #26: Who Benefits from Homemade Dog Food the Most. Learn more about living with this designer breed! With the reputable breeder, the price you are quoted will be guaranteed, any extras itemized before the deposit and clearly spelled out in writing. Sometimes people think that just because they provided references, that everything is on the up and up. TOP #32: Is Homemade Dog Food As Healthy As We Think It Is? Reputable breeders typically do not sell different breeds and only focus on one, but a scammer may sell different breeds. The farce will continue for as long as possible. You can reduce your risk by asking for video conferencing to see the dog and meet the person virtually. Sometimes the seller will promise a partial refund of insurance or shipping costs upon the dog's safe delivery. Some breeders do this but not all of them. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. If neither of these is an option, here are some tips on avoiding Facebook or Craigslist puppy scams. Because they will often work on dogs sold from such places, they are a great resource of information. Word of mouth is a powerful tool. See how clean it is, how professional does it seem. They offer the same breed dog for ten times less. For example, take Pit Bulls. But you can search their email address to see if they posted any other ads with separate breeds. You can talk to vets while also asking for their input on regional dog sellers that they recommend. If you believe that you have encountered a puppy or adult dog buying scam, please report it. She hasnt had any unsupervised contact with uncastrated male dogs. While most people think of the Greyhound when thinking of Fastest Dog Breeds, there are other breeds that are also pretty quick. If you don't have one already, you are going to need a veterinarian anyway. To help you avoid falling victim to a puppy scam, or another type of pet scam, we gathered some quick information in a convenient Q&A format. This site explains more about the whole process. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also estimates that only 10% of victims will file a report. But if you're set on buying a puppy of a specific breed or age, note that online puppy scams have been increasing over the last few years. The absolutely best way to get a puppy is to stop by your local shelter. Just remember that a lot of people post pets online to scam people. Fake breeder's website, which you find from an online search; Facebook puppy scams where fraudsters disguised as real people post a sale of a dog for whom they wish to find a new home.. If there is something wrong with your pup, they will always help with what you need or accept the dog back for a full refund. Families want Domesticated dogs today are much better today than 10,000 years ago at behaving the way humans wish for them to behave. Or even worse they will claim to report you to the FBI for animal abuse because you failing to pay puts the dog in danger. 10 Signs of Puppy Scams (And How to Avoid Being Tricked), Cortisol In Dogs and Cats: Is It Important, Kennel Cough in Dogs: 9 Treatments Kennel Cough in Dogs (Based on Science), Dog Tail Docking: 5 Dangers of This Procedure (Based on Science). The best way to avoid pet scammers is to educate yourself about potential warning signs of a pet scam. ), and she kept paying until Delta Airline informed her she'd been scammed. Thus, even though the number of complaints was nearly 40,000 in 2017, there are likely many more puppy scams taking place every day. Homemade Dog Food vs Commercial Brands: Whats Better for Dogs? From a shelter Better Business Bureau or other reviews the Goldendoodle dog breed is a local ad, sellers! They provided references, that everything is on the up and up references, that is a fluffball... 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