Police issues urgent pet scam warning after Sheffield buyers conned out of cash

A police warning has been issued about a pet sale scam in South Yorkshire after reports of six buyers conned out of cash.
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South Yorkshire Police said this month alone six animal lovers in Sheffield and Doncaster have lost cash after paying to reserve pets they hoped to buy.

South Yorkshire Police has issued a warning about a pet scamSouth Yorkshire Police has issued a warning about a pet scam
South Yorkshire Police has issued a warning about a pet scam

But the fraudsters involved then vanished and the pets were never seen again.

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PC Gavin Johnson, from South Yorkshire Police’s fraud team, said: “Pet fraud is when the offender advertises pets such as puppies and kittens for sale online, then when a victim expresses an interest they are asked to pay a deposit to secure the purchase.

“In South Yorkshire, we are aware of six victims who had paid deposits ranging from £50 up to £600 after seeing pets for sale on sites including Facebook and Gumtree. Unfortunately, it emerges the pets don't exist, the details of the 'sellers' are false, and the victim then realises they have been scammed.”

Nationally, Action Fraud received 524 reports of pet fraud in April – nearly six times as many reports as in 2019.

Some scammers are taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic by saying the pet cannot be collected in person due to the lockdown, and it will be shipped to the victim's address instead, but it never arrives.

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PC Johnson added: “These fraudsters are professionals and can use very clever techniques to convince you that the pet and the sale are genuine, for example sending you what they claim are recent photographs or videos of the animal you are buying. Always do your research and if you suspect something isn't quite right, it probably isn't.”

The force is advising buyers to ask to see the animal being purchased and to challenge the seller if they decline before handing over cash.

Buyers are advised to avoid paying for pets by bank transfer and to use a credit card or a payment service such as PayPal instead for added protection against scams.

To report an incident of pet fraud call Action Fraud on 0300 1232040.