Jackson County woman scammed out of thousands trying to purchase English bulldog
The cost for a English bulldog puppy can average about $4,000 and some go much higher. But a Jackson County sheriff’s deputy recently reported a woman who attempted to purchase one for $650 ended up losing thousands in a scam.
The woman, who has a Winder route address, told the officer that she lost $3,646 in an attempt to purchase the puppy from a website she found that was based in Arkansas.
A breeder, who identified herself as Lisa and sells bulldog puppies on Puppies.com, told the Banner-Herald that the $650 price should have alerted the person that the advertisement was a scam. She said she has dealt with several people who were victimized by puppy scams.
In this case, the woman also paid a $200 shipping fee, a $996 crate charge, and $1,800 for COVID vaccinations.
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Only when the scammers demanded $2,600 more for an airport fee did she realize she was caught in a scam, according to the report. She also told the officer she tried to call the breeders in a final attempt to get her dog, but the number was not working.
The American Kennel Club reported on its website that scammers often find ways to pose as reputable breeders by stealing information from legitimate sites.
Some “red flags” to watch for is the seller doesn’t want to communicate by phone and instead handles business by e-mail, according to the AKC. They also use stock photos for dogs or copy photos from legitimate sites.
Also, the scammer might ask for payment by gift cards or the use of apps, which is a sure sign the site is a scam.
The AKC recommends the buyer research the price for dogs. It noted that purebred dogs sold at deeply discounted prices are typically frauds.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Jackson County woman falls victim to bulldog puppy scam
