There are numerous ways area residents are being scammed over the phone or the internet, and a St. Thomas mother and daughter have been bilked out of thousands of dollars in what city police are calling a puppy scam.
The two were searching the internet for the dog of their dreams, a cavapoo. They found a website that apparently was offering adorable puppies at reasonable prices. So, the family transferred an initial payment. It would be the first of many.
The puppy did not arrive as advertised and the scammers, posing as a shipping company, forward several fake tracking documents with demands for more money. The funds were to cover immunizations, storage fees and care of the puppy.
To date, the family is out almost $7,000, with no puppy to show for it.
St. Thomas Police remind residents to exercise caution when purchasing online. Fake websites and emails can be created and deleted quickly. Watch for red flags. For more information visit canadianantifraudcentre.ca And if you think you may be the victim of a puppy scam, call St. Thomas Police.
