Pet Scams Part 2: Puppies

It's been a while, but I'm back with part 2 :)

Purebred puppies are EXPENSIVE, hundreds, even more than a thousand dollars for one. Just as with the Macaws, there are online scams involving puppies.

From my research, there are several "red flags" that suggest that an add for a puppy may be a scam, as well as the ones already mentioned about Macaws

One of the most common puppy scams is when the puppy is listed online, often free or for a low cost. The catch? You just have to "pay for shipping". These puppies are often in Africa, especially in Cameroon, though they may be said to be located in the US. It is simple to get someone to send you money for a puppy or for shipping, and then not send them the animal.

If the add is on Craigslist and contains a phone number, try doing an internet search for it. I did that once, and found that a puppy seller supposedly living in my hometown was actually from France.

A cute puppy picture doesn't mean that the add is legitimate, for scammers often use stock photos. I saw one puppy that was to be shipped from Arizona (one warning sign, since it was on a Missouri Craigslist), but the picture showed a puppy in front of a jungle or a rain forest.

By far the safest approach to getting a puppy, if you aren't getting it from a breeder or shelter, is to NEVER buy a puppy, or any animal, that has to be shipped to you. And be cautious about getting a puppy, especially a purebred and expensive one, off Craigslist.