OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Several puppy scams in Oklahoma have prompted a consumer alert from the Better Business Bureau of Central Oklahoma.
The local branch of the nonprofit has received numerous calls, complaints and reports regarding online pet scams being run by several companies claiming to operate out of Oklahoma. Officials said some people have paid nearly $1,000 for puppies they never received, The Oklahoman newspaper (https://bit.ly/2h3FLD5 ) reported.
A Better Business investigation revealed that photos of puppies on some websites had been lifted from other websites. Spokesman Sean Rose said several people were scammed a second time when website operators would connect them with shipping companies that requested additional amounts of money for transportation.
Four websites have already been taken down after the bureau’s investigation, and the bureau has identified at least 10 companies relating to the scams with known losses to victims accumulating to almost $10,000.
“The difficulty with tracking this type of scam, as it is with any kind of online scam, is once the scammer knows you’re on to them they can shut down the website and start up a new one with a completely different name, look, feel and so on,” bureau president Kitt Letcher said.
The organization is advising consumers to avoid buying pets online and to check a breeder or shelter’s credentials. Families can also adopt a pet from local shelters.
___
Information from: The Oklahoman, https://www.newsok.com
Please read our comment policy before commenting.