Call for vigilance amid soaring number of pet scams
Trudy Harper had already bought toys for the puppy she had paid for, before being left shattered when she realised it was all a scam. Sadly, she’s not alone.
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A leading animal welfare charity is calling for vigilance when buying or adopting a pet, following reports of widespread pet scam activity.
The renewed call from Companion Animal Network Australia (Australia CAN) comes amid Scamwatch’ Scams Awareness Week (November 7 to 11).
Scamwatch, led by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), has partnered with Australia CAN and Puppy Scam Awareness Australia (PSAA) to help animal lovers identify and avoid pet scams that continue to cause heartbreak and anger.
According to the ACCC’s July 2022 Scamwatch report, pet scams increased in 2020 as a result of lockdowns but despite restrictions easing, Scamwatch continued to see pet scam reports increase by 48 per cent in 2021, receiving 3332 pet scam reports with over $4 million in reported losses.
RELATED: Aussies to lose $4 billion to online scammers in 2022
Puppy scam victim Trudy Harper said she was scammed out of $3800, after believing she was purchasing a teacup chihuahua off Facebook Marketplace.
“I found the ad on Facebook, so I texted him and he showed me a picture of the parents and so I paid $1000,” she said.
“And then he says ‘I need to get a climate control carrier’ and that cost $800.”
Ms Harper said she received other texts from the scammer like ‘I’ve had a car accident, the pups okay, but he’s in the vet and the vet wants money before I can take him out’.
But when Ms Harper was asked to send money for the courier that’s when she knew something was wrong.
“I sent them half the money they wanted and then I said ‘I haven’t got any more, when am I getting get my pup’ and then I just didn’t hear anything,” she said.
“I then found the Puppy Scam group on Facebook and told them what happened, and they found out (the scammer) came from overseas in Africa. They weren’t even here in Australia”.
Ms Harper not only didn’t receive her puppy, she was unable to recover any of her lost funds from the scam.
“I felt so silly and gullible. We had his name picked out, we already bought toys and I was just devastated” she said.
“It’s just disgusting what these scammers are doing to people”.
With the help of Puppy Scam Awareness Australia (PSAA), Ms Harper has since been gifted a six-month old miniature dachshund puppy named Nelson, from a breeder.
Australia CAN CEO Trish Ennis said scams can often be “difficult” to identify as “scammers are professional crooks”.
“With scammers continually developing new ways to fool people, pet lovers need to increase their vigilance in checking for those little clues that can alert us that something is a scam,” she said.
Scamwatch has received reports about a wide range of animals including snakes, goats and ferrets but the most common pets used in scams were puppies and kittens.
“Pet scammers will generally advertise on fake websites, social media or classified sites. Scammers may also act as a rescue group,” Ms Ennis said.
“People won’t be able to see the pet and after it’s paid for, victims will be asked for more money because of a range of issues involving transport, illness or need for vaccines. Scammers go to a lot of effort to convince people that the pet is being delivered.”
Puppy Scam Awareness Australia founder Sandy Trujillo said “we don’t just report scammers, we shut down their online presence immediately, and help victims try and get their money back”.
Since 2021, more than 600 Australian fraudulent bank accounts, 3000 websites and over 5000 social media pages, groups and profiles have been reported to PSAA.
PSAA recently launched a Breeders and Pet Transport Directory to help validate and help protect businesses from scammers stealing their intellectual property.
“Most breeders are now dubious of strangers coming over and stealing their pups,” Ms Trujillo said.
How to spot a pet scam:
https://australiacan.org.au/pet-projects/puppy-scams/
For tips to avoid fake websites and a list of fraudulent websites visit: www.puppyscamawarenessaustralia.com.au
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