Scam warning as fraudsters pose as online puppy sellers during lockdown

Scam warning as fraudsters pose as online puppy sellers during lockdown

CREDIT: Pixabay

Scam warning as fraudsters pose as online puppy sellers during lockdown.

POLICE have issued a warning to anybody considering buying a puppy to be wary of online fraudsters purporting to be selling puppies and dogs after a rise in incidents over the past week.

Social media-based selling site Facebook Marketplace and the buying and selling website Gumtree are two places involved in a number of the reports, according to Staffordshire Police.

And officers are warning people that even when paying via bank transfer, they may not get their money back from the bank.

A spokesman for force said: “Please be vigilant when browsing animals for sale and do everything you can to make sure the adverts are from genuine sellers before parting with any money.

“If anything arouses suspicion at all or doesn’t seem to quite add up, please, please don’t send them any money.”

To report any suspicious sellers, or if you do fall victim to any fraud, send a direct message to Staffordshire Police on Facebook or Twitter.

Information can also be given anonymously by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


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Tara Rippin

Tara Rippin is a reporter for Spain’s largest English-speaking newspaper, Euro Weekly News, and is responsible for the Costa Blanca region.
She has been in journalism for more than 20 years, having worked for local newspapers in the Midlands, UK, before relocating to Spain in 1990.
Since arriving, the mother-of-one has made her home on the Costa Blanca, while spending 18 months at the EWN head office in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol.
She loves being part of a community that has a wonderful expat and Spanish mix, and strives to bring the latest and most relevant news to EWN’s loyal and valued readers.

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