If you're looking to add a cute, adorable little puppy to your family, take note! The Better Business Bureau is warning people: there has been an increase in online puppy sale scams this year. Through September 30th, there were nearly 4,000 scams reported, which is double the amount from 2019 (data courtesy of the BBB). Last month, there were 337 complaints reported to the BBB, which is +300 more than the number reported in November 2019.
The BBB has also reported that puppies (especially Yorkies or French Bulldogs) are the most common scams out there, but roughly 12% of the scams are for kittens and cats. Scammers are using the pandemic as an excuse to not meet with potential buyers in person and they request the money through payment apps like Zelle or CashApp, promising to send the dogs via climate-controlled crates.
The best advice for potential puppy parents: insist on a video conference before making the purchase. Most scammers will not agree to a video call. But better yet: adopt, don't shop or trying finding a puppy at a local rescue!