Stop Puppy Scams
How to Avoid Puppy Scams
1. Email may be the initial form of contact when locating a breeder through the site. This should not be the only form of contact. Once you have your initial questions answered and feel you want to move forward with the purchase of the puppy, ask for a phone number to talk to the breeder. If they refuse to give a phone number or they state that their phone is out of service, walk away from the sale.2. Avoid sending money through Western Union. There is no way to protect the funds in case a problem of fraud arises. This is the most abused method of payment and should NEVER be used to send or receive money for a puppy.
3. Every listing on the site will show the location of the breeder. The location is something that the breeder designates upon their account creation. If they ask you to send money to a distant location (i.e. Nigeria, Africa, London, etc.), or even a different state than the one shown on the listings, discontinue the purchase and report them to Puppyfair.com.
4. Always use Paypal or another escrow service when purchasing a puppy. Visit www.paypal.com or www.escrow.com for more information.
5. Ask the breeder to send a pedigree and additional pictures of the puppy you are interested in. Require a specific item to be in the photo, like a soda can or your name on a piece of paper. If they refuse to send additional pictures or state their camera is broken and are unable to send additional pictures, discontinue the sale.
6. Once you have determined that the Breeder you have chosen has the puppy you want, ensure that you have a clear contract before the purchase of the dog or puppy. The contract should specifically state what puppy you are going to receive, what registration, you will receive and the time-frame to receive the registration papers, what type of health guarantee comes with the dog and what is the process of reimbursement and/or return if the dog is sick, etc. Most contracts will state that you need to have the pup seen by a vet within a specific time-frame. A clearly defined, signed, contract will protect both the Buyer and the Breeder and will avoid any problems that could arise from miscommunication. If you or the Breeder make an agreement that is not included within the contract, get it in writing.
7. Save copies of all emails, including the header information, in case there is any dispute. The header contains information that can be used to trace the email's sender.
8. Remember breeders are frequently scammed also. A breeder may want information from you. They will want hold a check for a number of days. Most breeders like the seller protection that is offered by paypal.com.
9. Always talk to the other party on the phone. One of the easiest ways to get information is to ask for it.
9. It isn't always possible, but if you are able finding a breeder near you, in your home state, is probably best.