Yuma police warn of online puppy fraud

YUMA, Arizona (KYMA, KECY) – Police are warning the community of scammers claiming to be selling puppies on multiple Facebook groups using a fake account.

The Yuma Police Department says scammers are demanding payments in money orders and money transfers, including through social media applications. They pretend to ship the puppy but must collect personal information such as the victim’s home address. The scammer will continue to ask for more money by intimidating the victim by sending graphic corpses and Google images of the victim’s home.

According to police, there are a few things to consider when looking for a new pet or other item online.

  • Payment Options – Wire Transfer, Money Order, Western Union, Prepaid Visa, and Moneygram are all warning signs when it comes to payments. When you send money through these payment methods, getting your money back is essentially impossible. Because of this, these forms of wire transfer are the method of choice for scammers.
  • Always check the owner – Google the property online and see what comes out of it. This is a great way to see if it’s listed through an agency, or if it’s even listed.
  • Beware of email or text only contacts – the scammer will avoid meeting you in person or talking to you on the phone.
  • Never Provide Personal Information in Advance – The most typical scam asks you to provide personal information before the transaction is completed.
  • Finally, but very importantly, ask to see in person the item you are about to buy before doing anything. Make sure the property is really for sale.

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