North Bay police say two complaints came in last week involving what's called a "puppy scam."
In the first instance, the victim posted a ‘puppy wanted ad’ on an on-line website and got a message advising that they were giving away dogs from British Columbia. As part of the program the victim would receive the dog after she accepted a cheque and e-transferred the money to a shipping service to cover their cost.
After this was done she received a call from her bank warning that the cheque was fraudulent and she had to pay the bank the amount of the cheque, just over $2,000.
In the second report, the victim responded to an ad they saw on-line.
The victim was put in contact with a person stating they just moved to Halifax and were unable to care for their dog. The victim was told that the dog will be free but she would have to pay for the shipping from Halifax. The victim e-transferred $500.
However they received another request for funds to cover insurance, and then became suspicious. The matter was reported to the police and identified as a fraud.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre there has been an increase in online shopping fraud including the non-delivery of goods. There has been an increase in dog adoption during this Covid-19 crisis.
But it’s not just puppies! Gym equipment, treadmills, and even Lego blocks are being used by scammers to get your money.
When it comes to fraud protection you have to take your time and look for the red flags:
- Spelling mistakes. Read emails, messages, or websites. Misspelled common words=Red Flag
- Buy from companies or individuals that are known. No reviews=Red flag
- Reviews: check the vendor’s feedback. If there is none, or very little, don’t take a chance.
- Why is someone selling you product from so far away?=Red flag
- Use a credit card when shopping online; many offer protection and may give you a refund. You can call the customer service number on the back of your credit card.
- Regularly check your credit card statements for frequent or unknown charges.
