Catching a furry: how scammers profit from the desire of New Yorkers to buy a puppy

New York State Police have warned residents of an increase in pet fraud. Many victims lost hundreds of dollars, writes NBC New York.

Puppies are always in high demand among New Yorkers, and during the pandemic, the number of people who want to get a furry friend has increased significantly. Claire Rosenzweig, president and chief executive officer of the Better Business Bureau of New York (BBB), warned that as demand rises, so does fraud.

“There was literally an explosion. Scam selling puppies has been around for many years, but it has never been as high as it is now, ”said Rosenzweig.

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In 2020, more than 4 pet fraud reports were reported in the US and Canada. In November alone, 000 cases of fraud were recorded - a sharp increase compared to the same period in 337, when only 2019 such cases were recorded.

The New York State Police explained that the criminals follow a standard pattern: place a fake advertisement for the sale of a puppy, take a bail from the buyer and disappear.

“Being contacted only through text messages and immediately asking for money without specifying other details is a clear sign of fraud,” said Brandi Hunter, vice president of public affairs and communications for the American Kennel Club. She clarified that a dog breeder always asks many questions before selling a puppy, trying to understand if he is sending a dog to a responsible owner. Hunter also recommends that you be realistic about your bids.

“During a pandemic, the demand for dogs is high. Therefore, if you see a price that is too good to be true, it means one of two things: either the puppy has a dubious pedigree, or there is no such puppy at all and this is a scam, ”said Hunter.

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BBB representatives shared tips, how not to become a victim of such a scam:

• Reverse search the images of the puppy in the ad for sale. This will help you find out how many times the image of this pet appeared on the Internet and who was the author of all the ads with him.
• Video chat with the seller to see him and the dog.
• Try to negotiate the purchase of a puppy without sending a deposit.
• Check the selling company on scam tracking website.