Pet sale fraudsters cheat victims out of £280,000 during lockdown

Police in South Yorkshire say the criminals are taking advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to dupe people into putting down deposits for puppies and kittens which were advertised online but don’t even exist, in an incredibly convincing scam.

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Dannielle Lee, who is part of the force’s cyber crime team, said 669 people had fallen prey during March and April, between them losing £282,686, according to Action Fraud.

Victims responded to adverts posted on social media and a number of online selling platforms.

The fraudsters asked them to put down a deposit to secure the purchase, claiming clients could not come to see the animal first or pick it up due to the lockdown.

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After the initial payment is made, more and more funds were requested to cover insurance, vaccinations and even delivery of the pet.

Police have urged people to protect themselves from such scams by doing their research, including looking up reviews for the site, or person, they are buying from.

“Trust your instinct. If you cannot physically go to see the animal in person, ask for a video call. If the seller declines, challenge them on why. If you have any suspicions, do not go ahead with the purchase,” said Action Fraud.

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If choosing to go ahead with the purchase, it advised people to pay by credit card or a service like PayPal rather than making a bank transfer, which offers little protection.