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Call for vigilance as pet scams soar
By Samantha Scott & Georgia Clelland
Animal welfare charity Companion Animal Network Australia (Australia CAN) is calling for vigilance when buying or adopting a pet, following reports of widespread pet scam activity.
According to the July 2022 Scamwatch report, pet scams increased by 48 per cent in 2021, receiving 3332 reports with more than $4 million in reported losses.
Puppy scam victim Trudy Harper said she was scammed out of $3800, after believing she was buying a teacup chihuahua off Facebook Marketplace.
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TRUDY HARPERPet scam victim
I found the ad on Facebook, so I texted him and he showed me a picture of the parents and so I paid $1000. And then he says ‘I need to get a climate control carrier’ and that cost $800.
She received other texts from the scammer but when Ms Harper was asked to send money for the courier, that’s when she knew something was wrong.
She neither got her pup nor her money back. But with the help of Puppy Scam Awareness Australia (PSAA), she has since been gifted a miniature dachshund named Nelson.
Australia CAN CEO Trish Ennis said scams can often be difficult to identify and warned that scammers may also act as a rescue group.
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TRISH ENNISAustralia CAN CEO 
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.
PSAA founder Sandy Trujillo said the group doesn’t just report scammers, "we shut down their online presence, and help victims try and get their money back”.
Since 2021, more than 600 Australian fraudulent bank accounts, 3000 websites and more than 5000 social media pages, groups and profiles have been reported to PSAA.
Swipe up for tips on how to spot a pet scam
Producer: Veathika Jain																																								

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/web-stories/free/the-courier-mail/call-for-vigilance-as-pet-scams-soar