Mount Forest resident loses almost $2,000 in puppy scam

French bulldog puppies stick their heads out of a basket. (Shutterstock.com)

A Mount Forest resident has lost just shy of $2,000 after being the victim of a puppy scam.

On April 6 around 3 p.m., Wellington OPP were called with a fraud report, saying the resident was the victim of an online sales scam.

Police said the victim contacted the unknown seller through social media, where they were posing as a dog breeder.

The victim agreed to buy a puppy, sending money by e-transfer. The suspect then said more money was needed to bring the puppy from Northern Ontario. The victim then thought the incident was suspicious, leading them to contact police.

More than $1,900 was lost.

OPP is offering the following tips to protect yourself:

• Be wary of websites that contain grammatical errors and spelling mistakes
• Only buy from companies or people you know by reputation or from previous experiences
• Look for reviews, but remember some could be fake
• Analyze the seller’s profile: Look where they are located, how old the profile is, if they’re using a stock photo as their profile picture
• Use a credit card when shopping online, as many use protection and could give you a refund if you are scammed
• Know the market value of the item you’re buying
• If a deal sounds too good to be true, it likely is
• Scammers will often create a sense of urgency and try to pressure you into a deal

More information is available here.