Most people who have a love for pets have done so since they were children. Even adults love pets, and most people have a dog or cat at some point in their lives as a companion. Unfortunately, there are pet scammers who are quick to use people’s love of animals to cheat them.
Puppy mills are held by several con artists around the world. Sellers receive these animals from brokers through shipping. Internet ads are then put up by the sellers, attracting buyers who take their word for it.
When they’re advertising on the internet there’s usually a picture of a very cute or pretty animal. The puppy is always touted as a purebred with championship abilities, and an extremely high price tag. The purchase always requires money up front. Unfortunately, when the animal arrives, if it arrives at all, it is not the same animal at all.
Another downside with these pet scammers is the guarantee they give that the animal has had its shots and is in perfect physical condition. Many of the buyers who fell for this game got a puppy that was sick and/or died soon after. Buying from any source that is not certified is not a good idea.
In many cases the pet purchaser sends the money for an animal pictured on the Internet. In reality, there is no animal at all and the money is gone. People have lost hundreds and thousands of dollars in this way as purebred champions are very expensive. Stay aware of this potential problem and always take the time to check with a service such as http://phone-records-search.com/606/433/ to verify the person who calls you is truly who they say they are.
There is one variant of the pet scam that claims that the dog has to be shipped from out of the country, and asks for money to cover shipping. Needless to say, once the money is paid, the animals never show up. The buyer is left with no options for the return of the their money.
There are a lot of detailed stories told by pet scammers to engender sympathy. Sob stories abound about pets who were abandoned and are just looking for a good home, which you might provide. People overseas who have to give up their pet for various reasons are also a current story. Of course, all of these situations require money up front.
Being aware of who you are buying the pet from to start with is the best defense for not being scammed. As a buyer, you have the right to see what you’re buying ahead of time, and even the pet’s parents, if possible. Trying to purchase from an unknown here or overseas is just looking for trouble. Reputable breeders are known by other people, and it should be easy to check them out. Also, you should be seeing red flags anytime someone requests money be paid before you see what you’re buying.