The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is warning people to be very careful when buying a pet online. The announcement comes after DATCP was informed of multiple cases where scammers stole money from people trying to buy a pet on the internet.
Scammers will post pictures of a puppy or kitten for sale that looks legitimate so people think it’s real. A red flag is if they happen to be close to where you live. Once a person reaches out to them about purchasing the pet, the scammer will explain how they’ve just sold the last one. They’ll then proceed to offer information on a different seller who happens to be further away that could help out. Scammers do this because it prevents the buyer from ever meeting the animal in person prior to purchase.
When the buyer reaches out to the second person selling the pet and agrees to buy the animal, they’ll ask for payment with a money transfer app or something similar that’s non-refundable and impossible to trace. The scammer might try to get more money from the buyer after the initial transaction with the excuse that they need transportation fees, licenses, or even permits. It’s as simple as that. By the time the seller starts questioning things or asks for their money back, the seller simply ghosts them.
“Wisconsin consumers have lost thousands of dollars to these scams in recent months,” reports DATCP’s Administrator, Lara Sutherlin. “We urge people to use caution when making purchases from online marketplaces and to contact the Consumer Protection Hotline at (800)422-7128 if they have been a victim of a scam.”
DATCP has some tips to prevent this from happening to anyone else.
- Verify the Business: Just do a quick Google search to see if the company is legit or not. You may want to try adding the word “scam” or “fraud” to the search and see what comes up. Don’t send money or give any personal info until you know for sure that it’s not a scam.
- Ask for the Name and Location of Their Vet: If the seller gives you this info, search for the vet online and contact the office phone number that’s listed in your search.
- Do NOT Pay Upfront: This should be a no-brainer. This makes it way too easy for scammers to take your money and disappear. If you end up paying online, make sure you pay with a credit card because they’re a lot safer than a cash app, or a money wire because those can be untraceable.
- Slow Down and Double-Check: Scammers love when you make split-second decisions. They might try to tell you they have someone else interested in the pet so you quickly pay them without thinking it over. It never hurts to double-check their story or talk to someone about it beforehand. If it is real and the animal happens to be gone when you’re ready to buy it, don’t worry because there will be another puppy out there for you.
All in all, if it seems sketchy, it probably is. Once you have a red flag in your head, make sure you do some research and verify that it’s a legit sale before doing anything else.
