by Kevin Zimmermann
UNDATED (WHBL) – Most people know that you can’t trust everything you read on the internet, but the Better Business Bureau is warning that one class of online advertising is a scam as much as 80% of the time. That number belongs to pet scams – online puppy sales in particular. Their frequency has been exploding and thousands of people have fallen victim. It usually involves pets sold for either a low price or even free.
Western Union or MoneyGram is the vehicle of choice for payment, and the victim is expecting delivery from a remote location. Once shipping is paid, additional charges – such as for a crate – are added. Supposed airport delays will add more fees and the scam progresses until the victim realizes they’ve been taken for a ride and that the supposed pet doesn’t exist.
The BBB says that a few simple steps can help avoid this. Always inspect a pet in-person before exchanging any money and, if an online purchase is made, pay only with a credit card. And if you think you’ve been scammed, you can file a complaint at Petscams.com or contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP.
