Demand for dogs and puppies has skyrocketed since the start of the pandemic for a host of reasons, including furry four-legged friends bought to calm nerves and stave off loneliness during the global health crisis. Their names—and photos—were precious: a miniature Chihuahua named Snow White, a larger Chihuahua named Bentley, a Dachshund named Pansy, a Shih Tzu named Teresa.
The fluff balls were promoted for sale on the internet and many cases with sad and painful results.
First things first, define which dog or puppy you are interested in, I mean its breed in terms of its characteristics, care, food, exercise and others related to the pet. Take into account spaces where it will be in the house, the time you have to attend to it, walk it, play. Each dog often has a different demand for activity and you also have to analyze yourself in which you can accompany it, I mean to exercise, go out, walk. If you live in an apartment it is different than if you live in the country or the city, as well as if you live alone or with your family. Find a Puppie If you are searching the internet for a new puppy for your family, you will always run the risk of being scammed if you do not deal with serious and responsible providers. The best way is to deal with breeders who can present references, and ! Check them out too! Either through comments from previous customers who write and make a call too. The effort is minimal with the trouble that you could save yourself. A study by the Better Business Bureau (BBB, Business Ethics Office - in English -) calculated that at least 80% of the web sites pointing out where to buy a puppy are fake, with advertisements for fake animals available, that is, with photos fake non-existent animals for delivery. Scammers appeal to the good feelings of people who want to have a puppy or puppy and surprise them with pictures of cute pets that require a new home. These generally include puppies, large dogs, small dogs, cats of various breeds, and other animals, however any type of pet that people seek for themselves can be part of these hoaxes, from cats to older dogs to birds, horses, and exotic pets.
People knowledgeable in the field of animal husbandry and also in cybercrime suspect that the criminals who carry out these scams are gangs that operate in a West African country: Cameroon. Bandits sometimes pose as dog breeders and use deceptive websites powered by stolen images of puppies offering popular breeds at deep discounts. They also post on networks or online marketplaces, such as Craigslist, posing as pet owners who have been forced—by financial or personal circumstances—to give up their beloved kitten or puppy for “free” adoption to a loving family willing to cover shipping costs. If you do answer, they'll ask you very detailed questions about your home situation and your experience with dogs or the pet they're offering, but the only question they're really interested in is whether you'll make payment as requested. They will then refer you to the website of a shipping company (fake, too) to track the progress of shipping your pet, which will then be delayed or delayed by using tricks to get more money, such as insurance for the animal or a special pet carrier.
These ads might ask for a reasonable payment for the pet, say $300, or the ad might say that the pet will be given to someone who will take good care of it for free – if you pay the shipping costs.
Scammers are betting that your emotional investment in the anticipated pet will motivate you to continue making payments of hundreds—the more time spent, the greater your willingness to think the pet is suffering—or even thousands of dollars.
They would not like you to suspect deception, if you manifest it: they will state that the animal will die or they will accuse you of abandoning animals (which is a crime, but does not apply in this case.
Do not fall in the trap. When looking for your puppy, shelter or organization that works in the upbringing and delivery of puppies with a recognized track record. go to a shelter or organization that works in the upbringing and delivery of puppies with a recognized track record.Beware of deceit
The sale price of the desired puppy is well below what that breed would normally cost. The person offering the animal insists on sending it and rejects offers to pick up the pet personally. The emails from the seller and the shipping company have spelling and grammar mistakes. Search Google for those companies or those URLs.
The seller requires payment to be made by wire transfer (via Western Union or MoneyGram, for example), or prepaid debit card. gift card The shipment is delayed by demands that you send more money for, for example, insurance, pet food, veterinary care or a special cage. Research how much reputable breeders charge for the breed you're interested in before you buy. Be wary of big discounts or unjustified low prices. Make one of the specific pet you are considering buying or adopting. Also, copy the text from the sales site or ad and paste it into a search engine. If you find the same images or the same text on multiple sites on the internet, it is most likely a scammer. reverse image search. Do a search on the seller's email address and website to see if any reports have been filed regarding that person, and look for the seller's name on watch lists of potential scammers. Consider getting your puppy from a place that is responsible and ethical in its actions. Don't buy or adopt animals unless you can meet them in person. Don't buy or adopt animals unless you can meet them in person. Don't be fooled by authentic looking websites. Scammers steal photos, videos, and testimonials from legitimate pet sites and create detailed web pages for fake shipping companies. Don't deal with an advertiser or seller who doesn't provide a phone number or who only communicates via text or email. Don't deal with someone who doesn't accept credit card payments, which gives you greater protection in case of fraud or dispute. Do not believe threats that the animal will suffer or that you will face criminal charges if you do not continue to send money. It is always a thousand times dealing with a source on the internet backed by the presence of different providers, serious and with a reputation for being in the market for a while that reflects their knowledge and responsibility.