BBB of Middle TN and Southern KY Warns consumers to Beware of Puppy Scams This Holiday Season
Puppy scams remain consistently profitable for scammers during the holiday season. If a furry friend is added to your last-minute Christmas list, Better Business Bureau encourages you to be vigilant when making quick decisions.
“Many individuals are planning to surprise loved ones with a pet for Christmas, but this plan may not work if they are not careful,” said Robyn Householder, president & CEO of Better Business Bureau Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. “Puppy scams continue to be one of the top scams American families face.”
Pet scams historically make up a quarter of all online shopping frauds reported to BBB and are on track to be about 18% this year.
Puppy scammers lure people in with fake websites and promises of cute puppies. Yorkies, Dachshunds, and French Bulldogs make up nearly 30% of all puppy scams, according to 2022 BBB Scam Tracker reports. Consumers also mentioned additional breeds on Scam Tracker, which means buyers should be cautious when shopping for any breed online.
Purchasing a pet can be an emotionally charged experience, so BBB is providing four tips to consumers. First, visit and inspect the pet by arranging to meet with the prospective seller in person. Most legitimate breeders welcome the visit. Secondly, never send money via wire transfer to people or companies you don’t know and trust. Thirdly, visit BBB.org and find out if there is a listing of the business or the breeder on the website. Finally, shop locally. Consider visiting the local animal shelter. Many shelters are looking for fosters to help relieve animal stress and reduce overcrowding at their facilities.
Always report suspected fraud to the BBB by filing a complaint using BBB.org/Scamtracker. Also, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov or call 877-FTC-Help. Contact your card issuer even if the transaction was not completed. Monitor your statements and if you suspect fraud, ask for a refund. Also, visit https://petscams.com/report-pet-scam-websites/. The website tracks complaints, catalogs puppy scammers, and endeavors to get fraudulent pet sales websites taken down.
