Undersheriff Warns of Puppy Scam on Social Media Market Place

While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, Sheridan County Undersheriff Lieutenant Doug Sanders warned residents about a scam involving the online sale of puppies and other pets through the use of Facebook Marketplace. 

The fraud typically begins when a buyer finds a puppy advertised for sale on sites such as Facebook Marketplace and contacts the supposed breeder to arrange payment and delivery.

Undersheriff Lt. D. Sanders

Green Dot cards are prepaid debit cards that can be loaded with cash and used like traditional debit cards but do not require a bank account, making transactions difficult to trace once funds are transferred.

Sanders said in many cases, the buyer is asked to pay not only for the animal but also for transportation, either through the seller or through a recommended pet transport company. 

Undersheriff Lt. D. Sanders

According to Sanders, several red flags can signal a scam, including the absence of a legitimate website, photos that do not appear to show the same puppy, images that do not match the geography of the claimed location and communication from multiple individuals requesting payment. Other warning signs include requests for payment through pre-paid cash cards, such as Green Dot cards, and repeated demands for additional funds after the initial payment is made.

The Undersheriff said these scams are difficult for law enforcement to track because suspects often use burner phones or mobile applications to create fictitious numbers and request payment methods that are hard to trace. 

He urges buyers to be patient, research each possible seller carefully and avoid rushing into a purchase. If a deal appears too good to be true or the seller pressures immediate payment, it is likely a scam.