Puppies have a way of making out heart melt. They are cute and cuddly and make perfect additions to our families. Popular breeds are for sale worldwide, making it easy to find the exact puppy you’re looking for.
Just like with anything involving money, you need to use caution. Puppies are an easy target for scammers, requiring only the upload of photos and a functioning website. Imagine being excited about a new puppy, thinking it is on the way. Then, after some time passes, it never shows up, getting your hopes up and leaving you with less money. If this happens, you’ve been scammed. Scammers are not always easy to spot, which is why we’re here to help.
Adding a puppy to the family is a great experience that should be fun from start to finish. While most of the time, it will be enjoyable, there are some cases where you’re at risk for scams. Instead of getting your hopes up, we have some ways that you can shop safely. Following our guide, you can shop confidently knowing that you’re guaranteed to get a puppy or your money back.
How to Spot a Scammer: Guideline for Puppy Buying
Do some digging
There are not many breeders out there that lack information. Part of their business is providing details to potential customers. They know that those shopping for puppies want to know that their puppy will be healthy, if looking for bullmastiff puppies for sale you will find on their site lots of information regarding to the puppies which gives confidence on the process. They also want to see how the parents are, checking in on the genetic history for useful clues about their future family members. You want to go with sites where breeders are ready and willing to answer questions. But don’t just stop there. Start digging.
Ask for information about registration and veterinarians, contacting both to get a third-party confirmation. You might not get all the details, but you can at least confirm that the site and breeder are legit. Organizations back most legitimate and popular breeders, so keep a lookout for reviews and or rewards.
Find out routine for puppies
Any good breeder wants to raise healthy puppies. Most of them in the business will go to great lengths, including strict diets and feeding schedules and even raising them in a particular kind of environment. When you get in contact with a breeder, find out the schedules of the puppies. Ask about essential things like vaccinations and feedings, both puppies and mommies.
Ask about warranty
When buying a puppy, not everything can be insured. Genetics are at play, and each puppy is different and could have a different lifespan. Some breeders will have warranties just in case something happens in which they are to blame. Ask about their guarantees and warranties before making the purchase official.
Make sure they have the puppy
If you see an ad for puppies for sale with a ton of pictures, don’t be fooled. Images are easy to score online, from both free and copyrighted sources. Before going further and considering your purchase with more seriousness, make sure they have the puppy. Ask breeders for identifying marks or unique features of a few of those that you’re interested in. As puppies grow and get bigger, you’ll be able to tell if it is them by checking for their unique look.
Pay with caution
When you decide to go for it and finally buy a puppy, it’s time to think about how you’re going to pay. You will want to pay with PayPal or using a credit card. Each of these comes with a guarantee if you never receive your puppy. You also need to be aware that scammers are known to request things like money orders and/or checks. They may also request Western Union but, remember; you cannot recover it once it is sent. There has also been a wave of scammers requesting Google Play or other popular money apps. Stick to payment methods that you know are secure to keep from losing money.
Use common sense
Last but not least, use your common sense. If you stumble upon an online breeder with an offer that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Check online to find the going average of the type of dog you’re in the market for. Pure breeds go for much more than mixed breeds, with some up into the thousands of dollars. Scammers know that they have to be more careful with higher amounts, understanding that the more money, the more digging people will do. They attempt to track those that will only look at the price, thinking they’re getting a good deal.
Also, keep in mind that scammers don’t discriminate. We often get this idea that scammers are from foreign countries and have an accent or a lower English level. A lot of scams have a reputation for coming from Africa or India. But this is not always the case, with some scammers speaking perfect English and located in the United States.
Buying Puppies Should be Fun
There are not too many people out there that aren’t fans of puppies. They are cute and cuddly and provide companionship and love. The purchase of a puppy is an investment that will be a part of your life for years. Because there are emotions involved, it is easy to get caught up and not think. This is how scammers can take advantage of customers, giving them good deals or high expectations.
To avoid scams, keep your eyes open, and always trust your gut feeling. Use your common sense and remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it more than likely is. Buying anything online comes with the potential for risk. Protecting yourself, identity, and money is essential. Puppies are no different and still come with a bit of uncertainty. Take the steps outlined in our guide to take out the risk and have fun browsing for your family’s next member. You should be stressed out about the name or your puppies first outfit, not about your purchase from an online breeder.
