EPS says do your research after puppy scam reported
Posted November 24, 2020 12:41 pm.
EDMONTON – The Edmonton Police Service is warning people in the market for a new pet to be cautious of a puppy scam making the rounds.
Police were first called in May when a couple looking to get a puppy tried to purchase a dog from a breeder.
The couple believed the scammer was a legitimate breeder and was in contact with them about purchasing a pup.
An agreement was reached and the couple e-transferred the breeder money to cover the cost of the dog and the travel required to get the dog to Edmonton.
The following day, the breeder said the couple needed to send more money to cover the cost of vaccines and a new crate that were needed before the puppy could travel, which the couple agreed to pay.
The breeder contacted the couple again, requesting several thousand dollars more to cover pet travel insurance, which they claimed would be refunded once the puppy had arrived.
The couple got suspicious and that’s when they reached out to EPS.
“Unfortunately, this is only one of many reports,” said Acting Detective Dana Gehring with the EPS Cyber Crimes Investigations Unit.
“As more citizens add furry friends to their families during the pandemic, fraudsters have found a way to take advantage of them.”
Over the past year or so, the EPS has had 17 complaints of puppy fraud, and while each case was different they all followed fraud patterns.
People were scammed out of over $40,000 since Oct. 2019.
If you’re looking to add a new pet to the family, EPS says make sure you’re doing your research.
