Fake breeders are cheating families and breaking hearts by offering up animals that don't exist

Some websites selling puppies look legitimate but are not

This Sept. 29, 2015, photo provided by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine shows seven week-old puppies born by in vitro fertilization at the Baker Institute for Animal Health in Ithaca, N.Y. The advancement opens the door for conserving endangered species of canids and for eradicating heritable diseases in dogs. (Michael Carroll/Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine via AP) (Michael Carroll)

The sad truth is, there are those online who will take advantage of a family’s desire to add a new puppy to their home by arranging the sale of animals that don’t really exist.

Dreama Jensen with the Better Business Bureau of Northern Indianasays many people who want a specific breed will often search online for what they’re looking for. Some websites that look legitimate, however, are not. They will demand payment up front, such as a wire transfer, and never provide an animal, while ignoring repeated attempts to reach them after the fact.

One way to avoid this is to put a little extra effort into the search. Sometimes the description and picture of the dog you are interested in will be lifted directly from a legitimate breeder. You can copy the text and do a search and find the exact same wording and photos on multiple websites. That’s a warning sign. Also, of course, the demand for instant, untraceable payment methods is never a good sign.

The BBB recommends always visiting the breeder in person, no matter where they are, before you buy an animal unseen on the Internet. Check references and talk to other customers rather than simply believing online reviews, which can easily be faked. Make sure the veterinarian they claim to work with is legitimate and has good things to say about the breeder. Search for the domain name on whoislookup.com to make sure the website is from the country it claims to be from. And refuse to use instant payment methods, opting instead to write a check or use a credit card. If a breeder demands a wire transfer, don’t give them your money.

And as always, reach out to the Better Business Bureau at 574-675-9351 if you feel someone is trying to take advantage of you.

Tommie Lee is the anchor of the Truth Radio Early Edition on 1340 AM WTRC. The Scam of the Week with Dreama Jensen is heard Thursday mornings on Truth Radio 1340.

From the Elkhart Truth: http://www.elkharttruth.com/news/Truth-Radio-1340/2016/01/15/Fake-breeders-are-cheating-families-and-breaking-hearts-by-offering-up-animals-that-don-t-exist.html