Puppy Scam targets pet lovers
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The I-Team has a warning before you buy a puppy.
It's known as the puppy scam. Online sellers rope people in with adorable pictures of four-legged friends. But consumer experts tell the I-Team that in most cases, these puppies don't even exist.
Dreams of having a new furry friend were shattered for one Illinois family.
New Lenox residents Maria Polchinski and her daughter Abigail Polchinski can't get enough of their Australian shepherds, so Abigail went online to buy another one. She says she found an irresistible pooch on a shopping site. She paid $450 dollars for the dog and delivery. It was supposed to be a surprise for her mom.
The seller demanded she use a pre-paid card, sending her a list of stores where she could find one.
"I went to jewel, bought the card and put the money on the card, then the man had me text the number on the back of the card so he could take the money off of it," she said.
She received a certificate of ownership and delivery documents.
But then, the seller raised a red flag by sending another email, demanding that she pay an additional $1,800 for a required "special delivery." If she didn't, she was told she could be charged with cruelty to animals.
Her mother intervened.
"I said absolutely not, you're not paying that $1,800. That's when I called them, and they threatened me also. They said she's going to go to jail if you do not pay," said Maria Polchinski.
"They were still pushing me, pushing me to send more money to them and I was just crushed. I was like I don't have the money and I can't do it," her daughter said.
The I-Team called the man who sold the family the puppy.
The number went to a Google voice account and the seller never called back. However, he did text reporter Jason Knowles, asking for his email and subsequently sending the same information along with pictures of Australian shepherds.
"She's lost that money and she works hard for it and we're angry. Just very,very angry and I don't want it to happen to anybody else," said Maria Polchinski.
"I'm sad. I wish we had the puppy already. It was supposed to come the next day and it never came and I'm heartbroken over it," said Abigail Polchinski.
The Polchinski's have complained to the online site in hopes that it may eventually prevent the phony seller from posting ads, but he could easily move to another site. There are most likely other sellers out there just like him, consumer experts warn.
They say the best way to buy a puppy is research a breeder and find one that a friend has used.
Or better yet, go to an animal shelter.
The Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau both say the puppy scam is common. Here are tips from the BBB when trying to buy a pet:
