Gumtree selling scam of four-month-old puppy bought in 'extremely poor health' sparks police warning

Police in Paisley have warned of fraudulent puppy sellers after a local resident was involved with the sale and purchase of a four-month-old Collie puppy in ‘extremely poor health’.
Police have warned residents to be vigilant when buying puppies online (Pic: Stock image)Police have warned residents to be vigilant when buying puppies online (Pic: Stock image)
Police have warned residents to be vigilant when buying puppies online (Pic: Stock image)

On Tuesday January 26, police were informed of the scam which came to light after a local resident responded to an advert on Gumtree offering the sale of a Collie puppy.

On taking possession of the dog the new owner immediately became concerned and took it to the vet who confirmed that it was in extremely poor health. The paperwork for the Collie was also fake.

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Inspector Tracy Harkins from Paisley Police Office said: “I would like to warn local residents to be extremely vigilant when purchasing a pet online. On this occasion the victim attempted to ensure the legitimacy of the seller but as is often the case, the fraudsters were able to manipulate the situation and deliver the puppy.

"If you are buying a pet from an unknown source always go to the home address of the seller and never agree to take a pup without seeing the mother and home situation first. Any reputable breeder will be more than happy for this to occur.

"Due to the pandemic, puppies and kittens are in high demand and prices have increased dramatically. With people willing to pay in excess of £2000 for a puppy, more criminals are becoming involved in this type of fraud.”

If you have any information regarding this type of crime or know of any stolen Collie puppies please contact Police Scotland on telephone number 101 or if you wish to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers on telephone number 0800 555 111.

A spokesman for Gumtree said: “The welfare of animals is extremely important to us and we were saddened to hear about this incident.”

“We strongly encourage our users to always check medical records and to never purchase a pet before going to see it in person. We ask anyone thinking of welcoming an animal into their family to familiarise themselves with our advice on safely rehoming pets.

“All ads have a “report” button, which users should immediately use if they have any doubts or suspicious about a seller. Our dedicated safety team will investigate and can take immediate action such as removing the ad, blocking the offender from the site and reporting the case to the Police.”

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