Better Business Bureau warns of increase in pet scams during pandemic
This photo provided by the Provo Police Department shows a puppy that was rescued after she and her owner were trapped in a moving garbage truck in Provo, Utah, Tuesday, June 4, 2019. Provo Police Sgt. Nisha King said Tuesday officers rescued the puppy and her 43-year-old owner earlier that morning. They were sleeping in the dumpster when the truck collected and compacted the bin's contents with them still inside. The driver stopped the machine after hearing the man call for help. He sustained minor injuries.[(Provo Police Department via AP)]
The Better Business Bureau is warning Minnesotans of an increase in pet scams that are occurring during the pandemic.
The BBB cited the rise in the number of people working from home and the upcoming holiday for the rise in pet scams.
The ability to tell a customer they cannot visit the animal in person before paying for it has also provided an excuse for scammers, according to the organization.
So far, there has been an estimated loss of $2.8 million in pet scams in 2020. More than $3 million is expected to be lost by the end of the year.
The BBB urges customers to follow these recommendations when purchasing a pet online:
- Avoid buying a pet without seeing it in person
- Avoid wiring money
- Beware of websites or ads with spelling errors
- If the price is too good to be true, it’s probably a scam
- Get two references from the breeder