An airport scam is duping puppy lovers. ABC News reported that Patricia Mills, 39, wanted to buy two French bulldog puppies for her daughters through an ad she found on Craigslist. The seller said she had two puppies and had to move but wanted to leave them with a "loving and caring home."
"They had logos and I got a chip number and a veterinarian check," says Mills of the official looking ad.
She then went on to wire $200 for the two puppies as the seller said that the money was for liability insurance that would be refunded the next day when the puppies were delivered.
The seller then asked her to request a refund and wire the money to a second location and she noted the seller stared to become "hostile."
The seller told her that the puppies were at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport but they need another $1800 for paperwork, ABC News reported.
She called authorities such as the U.S. Customs office and none of the people she talked to were familiar with the paperwork fee or the boarding place for animals at the airport.
She eventually had to file a fraud report after learning that the airport doesn't have a facility for animals. Mills lost approximately $800.
The Associated Press reported that this incident has happened to another of people, duped by wanting a new puppy in time for the holidays. There have been about 15 victims per month that have fallen for the puppy scam, reported the AP.
Bryan Anderson from the Mooresville Police Dept. said to ABC News., "All it is is a scam to get you to send more money. It always picks up during the holidays," he said. "People want to buy dogs during Christmas."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
