When Angela [Name changed to protect privacy] lost her beloved chihuahua Tessa at the age of 17, her heart was empty. She wanted to find a new chihuahua, and she looked to a chihuahua adopting and rehoming group for answers.
She read many happy reviews about a particular person in the group, Nikki, a man who claimed to live near her and had 4 puppies available. Angela requested the puppy she liked, and was immediately pressured to put down a deposit. The requests for money came from a Philippines address—something Angela found suspicious.
He eventually gave her a US based address, and against her own instincts she put down a hefty deposit. The man kept trying to shake her down for more money, saying he needed food or to pay for the fees for the puppy, until eventually she said show her the puppy or no deal. That’s when he ghosted her.
Unfortunately, Angela’s story is all too common. It just takes one success to keep scammers going. They swarm Facebook’s dog pages, praying on unsuspecting viewers, and simply make new accounts when old ones are banned.
How to Avoid a Puppy Scammer
The BBB reported over 10,000 scam complaints pouring in over the last three years. If you’ve ever been taken in by a puppy scam, you’re not alone. There are ways to spot a puppy scam however. If you see one of these red flags, the puppy you are admiring may well be a scam:
- Stock photos
A real breeder has their puppies right there to take fresh, new pictures of. Those pictures aren’t always going to be carefully posed, beautifully shot photos either. If the pictures of the puppy look like stock photos or there are duplicates of the photo on other websites or groups, it’s probably a scam.
- Email communications only
Many scammers live overseas. Since an overseas phone number is obviously different, they may try and hide this by avoiding phone calls. If your breeder or rescue doesn’t want to have a phone conversation with you, it could be a scam.
- Strange payment methods
Is the payment method only used in a foreign country? One you’re not exporting the dog from? Do they want payment in giftcards? These are all signs that something is up.
- Deposits before Talks
Legitimate breeders care about their pups. They want to tell you about the dog. A great breeder wants to show you the application. They want to find out if you are a good enough human for their puppy. If all they care about is the cash, they’re a scam.
- It’s Too Good to be True
Great breeders have a wait list. They may only have a couple litters a year, and their next litter might not be until 9 months from now. You may not get your turn in that litter. They’re usually not conveniently available the exact second your shopping for a puppy.
The price is also a good indicator of ‘too good to be true.’ A quality chihuahua puppy can cost into the thousands. If you see a chihuahua available right now, with an adorable professional photo, for just $500—it’s definitely a scam.
What To Do If You’ve Been Scammed
Puppy scammers are good at what they do. They are taking advantage of your hopes and dreams, and there is no shame in it if you were fooled. You should take steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Your first step should be to file a complaint with your state’s FTC. Chances are if you’ve been scammed, other people have too. Your information on the person, even if it’s not that much, may be the key in helping them put the scammer behind bars.
Your next step should be to work with the company that you sent your cash through. If it’s a gift card, let the company that issued the card know right away. If it is paypal, your bank, or some other company, they should have steps on their website to follow.
Getting scammed is terrible, especially when dreams of puppy breath are dashed in the process. We hope this article helps keep our beloved readers from getting scammed. We also want to let you know that there are tons of beautiful chihuahuas in need of homes that may be available in your state. They may not be puppies, but they sure do want to come home with you!
Check out https://www.petfinder.com to see if your potential friend is out there, ready to snuggle up tight tonight.
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