Dog lovers scammed by fake ad

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The victims are then asked to pay a further $1,500 for a crate to ship the puppy, on the premise the money will be refunded to them.

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Hundreds of people have been conned in Canada and the United States, according to the BBB.

“Since the start of the year, BBB has received 626 reports across North America and 18 in Canada about online puppy scams, with victims losing as much as $5,200. For 2018, BBB received 1,313 reports across North America and 33 from Canada,” according to a release from the BBB. “In the current digital age, it is no surprise that the first step in many people’s search for a new pet begins with the internet. However, even the most careful online search is likely to put a consumer in contact with a potential thief.”

The bureau said a number of experts believe at least 80 per cent of the sponsored advertising links that appear in an internet search for pets may be fraudulent.

Online pet selling scams almost always begin with a fake website and stolen photos, often taken from a legitimate site.

The bureau stressed “many of the pets marketed online do not exist.”

The Better Business Bureau has issued some tips for those looking for a pet:

1. Do not buy a pet without seeing it in person. Arrange to meet directly with the prospective seller. There is no good way to be sure you are not dealing with a fraud if you have no direct in-person contact with the seller.
2. Do an internet search for the picture of the pet you are considering. If the same picture appears on multiple websites, you may be dealing with a fraud. You also can search for text in the ads or testimonials to see if the seller copied it from another site.
3. Never pay a stranger with a money order, gift card, Interac e-transfer or through Western Union or Moneygram. Once payments are made using these methods, it is unlikely you will get the money back.
4. Always use a credit card in case you need to dispute the charges.