Durban North resident loses R2 550 in puppy scam

DURBAN North SAPS are investigating a case of fraud after a local resident was scammed out of R2 550 in an online puppy scam.

In recent months, the station has recorded an increase in the number of online fraud cases, especially when it came to purchasing items and pets online.

Station spokesperson Sergeant Nonhlanhla Shozi warned residents to be wary when purchasing online and to trust reputable websites.

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“We’ve recorded a number of cases at the stations with people paying for pets online, specifically puppies. In the most recent incident, the victim spotted a puppy – a breed was not specified – that she wanted to purchase through a website. The suspects informed her that she needed to pay a deposit, and she paid an amount of R2 550. However, once she paid the amount, she was not able to make contact with the suspects and realised she’d been scammed,” she said.

In January, Carole Hibbert, an admin of The Puppy Scams in South Africa Facebook Group, which has more than 7 000 members, spoke to Northglen News about how to avoid falling victim to scams.

The group also helps victims of online puppy scams and provides information on potential scam websites or individuals pretending to be breeders.

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“The one thing we stress is for victims of these scams to open a case with the SAPS. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The simple way to avoid being scammed is to ask the person you’ve reached out to, to send you a WhatsApp video of the puppy, especially if they are out of the province. The other suggestion is to say you have a friend who would like to view the puppy and would they share a pin location?

“In many cases, the pet courier scams have websites with spelling errors and stolen images. Do your homework and conduct a reverse-image search of the puppy you want, and oftentimes, you’ll find the image has been used elsewhere. We encourage those who have fallen victim, or suspect they might have been scammed, to reach out to us,” she said.

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