Online dog scam catches victim
A local dog lover searching online to buy a puppy for his wife was recently scammed out of $560 after he wire transferred cash to a thief who did a doggone good job of creating a fraudulent website claiming to sell some very “splendid Chihuahuas.”
The victim, who was lured in by the pooch’s pictures and reasonable payment for the pet, realized he had been duped when the scammer requested he send an additional $870 to cover shipping insurance. By the time the victim caught on that he had purchased a phantom pet, his money was gone, the conman disappeared and the companion he paid for never arrived.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office warns residents that buying an animal online can be a tricky and sometimes costly transaction and encourages they follow the following tips to avoid being scammed:
– Fraudulent websites: Do not be fooled by beautiful websites of tail wagging puppies or other pets for sale. Anyone can design a website showing photos of cute and cuddly animals by using stock photos or stealing legitimate photos from other websites. If possible, do a reverse image search of the photo to see if it appears elsewhere online. To do this, right click on the photo and select “copy image location,” “copy image address” or go to “properties” to copy the image’s location on the Internet. Paste the link into a search engine and select the option that allows you to search by image. If the same picture shows up in an older listing, it is probably a scam.
– Shady communication: Generally, the “seller/scammer” will only conduct business via email or text and cannot provide details of their location and such. Ask questions!
– Payment:?Do not use a money transfer service or a prepaid reloadable card as doing so is like sending cash; once you send it, you cannot get it back.
– Alternatives: Consider adopting a pet from one of our local shelters. There are plenty of animals waiting to be loved by you.
If you have been a victim of this online scam, it is important to report it. You can contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office fraud line at (239) 258-3287 or visit: www.ic3.gov and www.ftc.gov.
Source: Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Online dog scam catches victim
A local dog lover searching online to buy a puppy for his wife was recently scammed out of $560 after he wire transferred cash to a thief who did a doggone good job of creating a fraudulent website claiming to sell some very “splendid Chihuahuas.”
The victim, who was lured in by the pooch’s pictures and reasonable payment for the pet, realized he had been duped when the scammer requested he send an additional $870 to cover shipping insurance. By the time the victim caught on that he had purchased a phantom pet, his money was gone, the conman disappeared and the companion he paid for never arrived.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office warns residents that buying an animal online can be a tricky and sometimes costly transaction and encourages they follow the following tips to avoid being scammed:
– Fraudulent websites: Do not be fooled by beautiful websites of tail wagging puppies or other pets for sale. Anyone can design a website showing photos of cute and cuddly animals by using stock photos or stealing legitimate photos from other websites. If possible, do a reverse image search of the photo to see if it appears elsewhere online. To do this, right click on the photo and select “copy image location,” “copy image address” or go to “properties” to copy the image’s location on the Internet. Paste the link into a search engine and select the option that allows you to search by image. If the same picture shows up in an older listing, it is probably a scam.
– Shady communication: Generally, the “seller/scammer” will only conduct business via email or text and cannot provide details of their location and such. Ask questions!
– Payment:?Do not use a money transfer service or a prepaid reloadable card as doing so is like sending cash; once you send it, you cannot get it back.
– Alternatives: Consider adopting a pet from one of our local shelters. There are plenty of animals waiting to be loved by you.
If you have been a victim of this online scam, it is important to report it. You can contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office fraud line at (239) 258-3287 or visit: www.ic3.gov and www.ftc.gov.
Source: Lee County Sheriff’s Office
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