People from across Australia have lost thousands of dollars in an online puppy scam
Fraudsters, claiming to be from the Northern Territory, have stolen tens of thousands of dollars in a nationwide online puppy scam that targets people in self-isolation. HOW TO RECOGNISE THE SCAM
Moreton
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Police say online criminals are targeting people searching for a pawfect new companion during COVID-19 lockdowns and self-isolation – costing victims around Australia thousands of dollars.
Caboolture Police Senior Constable Jo Arthur said there had been a number of online shopping scams since the COVID-19 outbreak, ranging from face masks to puppies.
“Offenders are pretending to be breeders located in the Northern Territory and targeting interstate buyers, using the remoteness of the territory and inability to physically inspect the puppies to enable this fraud,” Sen Const. Arthur said.
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While she was not able to provide exact prices Sen Const. Arthur said no puppy had been listed for less than $2000.
Six cases had been reported to the Caboolture Criminal Investigation Branch between December 2019 and March 2020.
But Sen Const. Arthur said other cases had been reported around Australia.
“Police investigations have found that the money is unknowingly being paid to an offshore account,” she said.
“Various websites and emails are being used and then removed from the internet.
“They are made to look like a business email and appear very legitimate on the surface.
“Investigations reveal that offences have been reported across the country and are not limited to one specific breed of dog.”
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Sen Const. Arthur urged people to be wary of anyone asking you to send money.
“It can be very difficult to get it back, if at all,” she said.
Sen Const. Arthur said people should check the courier company being used to transport the animal is legitimate and actually shipping the dog.
“There also are a number of ways to search the photos sent to you of the dog, such as using the website http://www.tineye.com, to see if they appear elsewhere other than the website attempting to sell you a puppy,” she said.
“If so, this is a good indication that you are being scammed.
“Always get a veterinarian report on any animal before you consider buying it.
“Finally, you are always going to be better off buying a pet that you can see in person prior to buying the pet.”
The Financial and Cyber Crime Group are reminding Queenslanders to maintain in control when shopping online by ensuring the product website is legitimate, and researching the website online prior to making any purchases.
If a website does not participate with a secure payment service such as Paypal or a credit card transaction, or is offering greater discounts for direct deposit, it is most likely a scam.
Usually the criminal is after your finances and your personal identification information.
Northern Territory Police suggest that you check that the breeder is reputable through the trusted dog breeder websites.
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