Online criminals spent the holiday shopping season stealing big bucks from people who thought they were buying a puppy.
The best way to avoid a scam is: do your research on the internet but never purchase a pet online.
Caitlin Driscoll with the Better Business Bureau says: meet the breeder in person. Legit breeders will welcome a visit.
“It should always be a red flag if they continue to make excuses [and] if they try to send you prerecorded pictures or videos of the pet instead of make some type of in person arrangement,” said Driscoll.
She says since online pet marketing relies on pictures, do a reverse image search. If the same photo is on other websites, it's a scam.
Another rip off warning sign is a breeder who asks you to make an untraceable payment.
“Venmo, cash, any type of prepaid gift card or debit card; don’t pay, make sure you try to use credit card if possible,” Driscoll explained.
She suggests researching and comparing prices for specific breeds. It's a rip off warning sign if a deep discount is offered. If a price looks too good to be true, it is.
Pet scams accounted for over $2 million in losses in 2022, making around 18% of all online scams.
Be sure to listen live and follow KDKA NewsRadio on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and updates. You can download the Audacy App here.