The South Simcoe Police Service is urging people to be careful when buying pets online after an Innisfil woman reported a “puppy scam”.
The woman saw an ad on Facebook Marketplace for goldendoodle puppies, which led to a website with puppies for sale.
“The website appeared legitimate, so the woman paid a deposit for a puppy,” police said in a news release. “The scammer then started asking for additional payments for fees such as registration and shipping permit. When the demands for more money keep coming, the woman realizes it’s a scam. The buyer did not receive his puppy and lost hundreds of dollars.
Police issued the following advice:
- Never pay for a pet without seeing it first
- Try to see the pet in person, but if not, ask for a video call
- Google the company/seller name and the word “scam” or “complaint” to see if there are any scam alerts
- Never pay with Bitcoin, wire transfer or gift cards because once that money is gone it’s almost impossible to get it back
- Consider adopting pets from your local shelter or local reputable breeder
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