(HURON COUNTY, ON) – Huron County OPP would like to inform citizens of a scam that is trending upwards in Ontario. No recent cases of the puppy scam have been reported to police in Huron County, however the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) reports the scam is active throughout Ontario and elsewhere.
How does it work? The scammers usually place advertisements on free online sales sites like Craigslist, Kijiji and community web pages. Sometimes the scammers will place ads in standard newspapers and on the radio. The advertisements are for purebred dogs offered at bargain rates well below normal market prices. Sometimes the scammer will get creative and will indicate in the advertisement that they must leave Canada to work on a church mission in Africa or South America. In order to do so they must sell their dog to fulfill their commitment of helping people less fortunate. Sometimes the scammers simply want to give the animals away free of charge.
If you fall victim to their trickery and respond to the ad they will then request funds be wired to them using a money transfer service. You send the cash believing you are going to get a deal on a beautiful dog however you end up with nothing. The scammers will then inform you the dog is on the way but you must first pay some additional fees such as: Transportation delivery fees, out of country taxes, and verification of vaccination fees. Additional emails will follow until you finally realize you have been scammed. The CAFC reports most of the money is transferred to West African nations including Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon.
If you are shopping for a pet do not be enticed by a ridiculous low price. Purebred animals are in high demand and can be very expensive. Does it make sense for someone to be selling them at a huge discount or giving them away for free? Don’t be rushed into making a decision and don’t be fooled by stories that are designed to play with your emotions. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true it usually is. Purchasing from a known reputable business will be much safer than buying from an unknown person in a foreign country.
To learn more about common scams you can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca