Charlotte, NC – National Puppy Day is March 23, and consumers can expect a nearly constant stream of cute puppy pictures across most social media platforms celebrating everyone’s furry best friends. After seeing these pictures, some consumers may decide that it’s time for a (or another) dog of their own and will begin searching for a canine companion. However, it’s essential to exercise caution when shopping online for the perfect pet. BBB Scam Tracker often receives reports of online purchase scams for pets.

Even though puppies are the most common type of animal used in a pet scam, BBB also receives reports of fraudulent sellers advertising the sale of kittens, reptiles, and birds that have yet to be received. In most cases, consumers only recognize they are interacting with a scammer once they start arranging for the transportation of the animal after purchase.

A consumer recently reported to BBB Scam Tracker that she lost $1,400 when attempting to buy a teacup poodle that was listed online for $850. After making the initial down payment of $350 for the puppy and $200 for shots, the consumer was asked for the remaining balance of $300 a few days before the puppy would be shipped. The consumer refused to pay the requested $300 remaining and instead paid $150; however, a few days later was told she’d need to pay an additional $700 to rent the pet delivery crate, which would be 98% refundable once the transaction was complete, or $800 to purchase the delivery crate. After paying for the crate, she received an email that requested an additional $1,500 for a toll fee and vaccinations. This is when the consumer knew she had been scammed.

Even though it’s hard to resist an adorable face and a decent deal, there are a few ways to avoid being put in the doghouse:

• Visit the seller in person. Responsible breeders and reputable rescues are happy to offer you a tour and let you see the available puppies in person.

• Check references. Read online reviews and talk to other people who have purchased pets from the place you are considering, making sure the seller is trustworthy. Visit BBB.org to read reviews and find BBB Accredited breeders near you.

• Look for website warning signs. Fake puppy sale sites look legitimate because they steal content from other websites. An easy way to spot a duplicate site is to copy a line of text from the website and paste it into a search engine. You can also do a reverse image search of the photo of the puppy by using images.google.com to see if the photos are stolen from somewhere else. Read BBB’s tip on 6 things to look for when shopping online.

• Select on-site. Rather than relying on pictures to pick your perfect pet and waiting for a breeder to send them to you, visit the site and make your choice in person.

• Use a credit card to make payment. This offers additional protection if you purchase online. Asking a customer to pay by wire transfer or prepaid card is illegal, and any breeder that pressures you to do so is most likely a scam. Paying via a digital wallet app is also a red flag for a scam.