Online Canine Con Game-Caution!

April 22, 2007 · Filed Under Dog Articles 

An article recently appeared in the AARP Bulletin (April 2007) under their Scam Alert. Today, more and more dog buyers are relying on the Internet to find and purchase their family pets. There are many legitimate breeders who advertise via their own websites. However, buyers must be cautious before parting with their money. Nothing is more disconcerting than paying for something you never received because you’ve been scammed. Somehow, it seems even more hurtful when it’s a warm, fuzzy living creature that you never get to hold in your arms.

The AARP article tells of a person who made contact with a “breeder” and was sent a picture and information about available pups. Once she made a selection she was told to wire the $1,000 price to the seller. Subsequently, over the next few days, the seller requested the buyer wire an additional $600 for required shipping crate and paperwork. That done, you can guess the rest… the pup never showed up and the website disappeared. The buyer never got her money back.

Buyer diligence should extend as well to rescue groups and other pets, in addition to dogs. Always make sure a legitimate health certificate, signed by a licensed veterinarian accompanies the pet you are purchasing. Health certificates are generally required by the airlines and to cross state lines, so there should be every reason to expect one to accompany your pet. Puppies should have their initials shots and be wormed. Rabies vaccinations are usually required in dogs over the age of 4 months.

Some things you can do to protect yourself when you purchase online:

  • Make sure the seller has a working phone number posted on the site. Check it against online telephone directories.
  • Do NOT wire money. Once it’s left your hands it’s gone. There is much greater safety in a credit card where you are covered by fraud protection.
  • Request a photo of your purchase with some form of dated proof such as a newspaper headline or just a date written large enough to read in the photo.

Most of these people who defraud the public are experienced thieves. They are difficult to catch and they have the knowledge of how long they can safely leave their sites up and when to fold and run. When they shut down, they immediately set up a new website with a new name, generally using stolen credit cards to pay for the new site. If you have been caught in a scam like this you should contact local law enforcement, your state attorney general, and even the BBB. Unfortunately, the chances of recovering your lost funds are small. The best protection is to be proactive.

If you would like to read the article in the AARP Bulletin, here is the direct link:

http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/consumer/scam_alert_canine_con.html. We value your opinions and if you have comments, your own experiences or additional advice to prevent this fraud, we welcome your post.

We would love to have you visit our website at www.FurAndFlora.com where we carry a great selection of pet and garden supplies.

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