Woman Shares Puppy Scam Warning After Almost Falling Victim 3 Times
CHURCHILL (KDKA) -- The holidays are the time of year scam artists kick things up a notch, and a woman from Churchill looking to get two puppies suspects she was almost scammed three different times.
Tami Warfield fell in love with the idea of two Yorkie puppies.
Fortunately, she didn't send any money to the people behind the online ads she answered because they certainly sound like scams.
The first was someone she thought was from Ohio who advertised on Craigslist. He was offering free puppies if she paid the shipping.
When she said she would go pick them up; "He replied that he was a very busy man and didn't have time to meet me," said Warfield.
She said he wanted her to send money Western Union, to which she said she would pay for the shipping herself with US Airways.
He insisted on a payment with Western Union, so she asked him: "Is this a scam?" No repsonse.
The second and third ads she answered also wanted money sent Western Union.
She says the one dog owner went from being local to being in Portland, Ore., when she suggested picking them up.
Warfield says she couldn't talk on the phone to any of the people behind the ads, just text and email them.
"Same excuse, they had a phone issue," said Warfield.
Caitlin Vancas from the Better Business Bureau says there are number of the red flags.
"Consider it a red flag if the breeder asks you to wire transfer money to them," said Vancas.
She also says you should be concerned anytime you can't go see the dog in person. Finally, she says if you're dealing with an actual dog breeder, you should research them.
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