Consumer Alert Issued in Oklahoma Regarding Internet-Based Puppy Scams

Puppy scams were recently targeting residents of Oklahoma that has prompted Central Oklahoma's Better Business Bureau to issue one consumer alert.

According to BBB's officials, they got many scam reports, complaints and calls about pet scams getting executed online which were the works of many companies asserting their business base as Oklahoma. Newsok.com posted this, December 19, 2016.

Those victimized with the scams at first did online search for "dog breeders" who dealt with certain breeds alternatively "dogs for sale." They were subsequently led onto one scammer's site, with the scammer and victim exchanging messages over the Internet till at last the victim agreed to pay.

Officials stated that a few people made a payment of almost $1,000 to get puppies but didn't ever receive them. An investigation by BBB disclosed that some websites showed photographs of puppies which were taken from other online sites. Sean Rose, Spokesman for BBB stated that many people got defrauded twice, the second instance at the time website operators linked them to shipping companies which asked for extra payments for transporting the pups.

Following BBB's investigation, four websites are now made inoperable. These are Sam's Goldens, Platinum Yorkies, Duncan Paws and Empire Goldens. Besides, the agency has spotted a minimum of ten firms associated with the scams causing victims to lose a total of nearly $10,000.

The officials suggested that consumers can verify if a puppy deal they make is a fraud by right-clicking the photo of a puppy followed with highlighting "Search Google for this image." If the photo's several images appear on other Internet sites then it is a scam.

President and CEO (chief executive officer) Kitt Letcher of BBB explains that tracking such a scam is difficult because when the scammers realize that their victims are trapped, they close the particular site and create another fresh one in totally a separate name, feel, appearance etc.

The BBB is urging consumers for eschewing purchasing pets online; ensure the credentials of a shelter/breeder are genuine; ask for showing the parents of a puppy; make sure pedigrees are alright, as well as ask to provide the pup's medical records.

» SPAMfighter News - 12/26/2016