Attorney General warns about Puppy Scams

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has been receiving calls of a puppy scam.

A person will search online for an animal they want. They’ll see a picture of the animal contact the breeder and the breeder will then charge that person for the adoption and shipping fee. After the person wire transfers the breeder money they will not get the animal in return.

“Of course it’s not a real breeder at all the puppy doesn’t even exist,” Attorney General Mike DeWine said. “They just put a picture up and what they want you to do is to wire transfer them money and of course once that money is wired to them you can never get it back.”

DeWine said people on average are loosing $650 on this scam and some have even lost up to $3,000.

“We started really seeing it about two years ago in the [Ohio Attorney General’s Office] and these scam artists they kind of go from one scam to the other, but they all have this in common,” DeWine said. “They want you to send them money. Anybody who buys anything online, ask for a reference. Be able to talk to people who this supposed breeder has sold puppies to before.”

Besides researching the breeder and references, DeWine said to visit the animal and the breeder before buying and ask for the animals medical paperwork. For more information or to report a scam call the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, (800) 282-0515.