“When the dog didn’t show up, that’s when I knew.”
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — As some people look to add a pet to their family around the holidays, one local woman has a word of warning to watch out for your money and to be on the lookout for convincing scams.
Deborah Geiser of Hillsboro had her heart set on getting a teacup Yorkie. That particular breed can run as high as $5,000.
“I want a puppy so bad, but what do I do?” she wondered.
Like many people, Geiser turned to the internet for answers. Online, she found a pup for around $600.
After filling out the online form, Geiser immediately got a text from someone claiming to be the breeder. Following an initial payment, she started getting emails from the supposed transporter — saying there were unforeseen shipment costs.
First, it was an additional $810 for a crate. Next, it was $390 for an anti-pressure vaccine and another $400 for documents, followed by a $790 permit fee and an additional $790 for expired insurance, racking her bill up into the thousands.
“When the dog didn’t show up, that’s when I knew,” Geiser explained. “No, this is a scam, and they just want more money from me.”
Pet scams remain consistently profitable for scammers, in part because their multi-tiered setup allows them to convincingly go back to a consumer several times to ask for…
