WASHINGTON — Scammers are targeting people looking to buy a new pet online during the pandemic and it’s costing people thousands of dollars in some cases.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) said complaints about online pet scams have skyrocketed in 2020, with almost four thousand cases reported.
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Ann Marie Parisi of New York said she fell for one of those scams when looking to adopt a Yorkie puppy.
“They really tugged at our heart strings,” Parisi said. “They’ve got these pictures of this beautiful little girl that we absolutely fell in love with.”
The cost was $750 for the dog and another $1,850 for the crate which supposedly included a refundable deposit.
2020 is quickly winding down. Scams targeting the public continue to increase. Now more than ever, consumers should take extra measures to protect their personal information. #ShopSafe #ShopSmarthttps://t.co/Hs5IfNdPNg
— BBB (@bbb_us) December 19, 2020
After filling out extensive paper work, Parisi paid the money.
But when Parisi was on the way to the airport to pick up the puppy, she received urgent messages saying the dog wasn’t able to board the plane.
“At that point, I absolutely knew there was no dog,” Parisi said.
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The BBB is advising anyone looking to buy a pet to make sure you can see the dog in person first.
If you absolutely can’t meet the dog in person, the BBB said you should require the seller to do video calls so you can make sure the pet really exists.
You can also search the image online to see if it’s been used in any other ads for pets.
“The scammers are professionals,” said Steve Baker, an international investigations specialist for the BBB. “They’re organized criminals. They’re really good at this stuff and they make it sound very believable.”
Parisi also had one other level of protection for herself: her Venmo account was connected to a credit card, not her bank account.
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So, luckily she was able to get her account credited back the $2,600 and she is now warning others not to fall for online scammers.
“These people have found a way to prey on people’s hearts,” Parisi said.
Cox Media Group
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