WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | Scammers find more ways to prey on pet lovers
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Last week we reported about two puppy scams that are going around the Internet. Those scams are based in a claim to have a dog for sale. The victim sends the payment, but the animal is never delivered or never even existed.
After hearing that report, some viewers sent in other puppy scams that are out there. These scams could be for any type of pet, not just puppies.
Websites like Petfinder.com offer classifieds for lost and found animals and ones that need to be adopted. Scammers will answer the ad saying they'll give the pet a good home, but will need a payment to have the cat or dog shipped. Petfinder.com reports in many instances, the scammer will suggest a financial transaction to obtain funds.
Another pet-related scam is simply a spam e-mail. In many cases, the message is poorly written with broken English offering a healthy purebred puppy at a deeply discounted price. As always, never respond to an unsolicited ad you may receive by e-mail.
Another way scammers are ripping off pet-lovers is to sell animals that are sick or have forged paperwork. When buying a pet, online or otherwise, ask for references and check them thoroughly. And when possible, deal with a local breeder with a physical address you can go back to if problems arise.
