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18/5/11 – Puppy scams – Nine News Perth

18/5/11 – Puppy scams – Nine News Perth

Presenter:
Dog lovers are being warned about a puppy scam that has conned nine people in WA in the past two months.  The scammers claim they are eastern states’ breeders selling pure breds for bargain prices.

Reporter:
It’s made its way around the world and now the Cameroon puppy scam has hit WA.  Pure bred dogs at purely fake prices.
 
David Hillyard, Consumer Protection:
They are bargain basement prices for purportedly pure bred dogs – they just don’t exist.

Reporter:
22 year old Nyssa Gilham thought she was buying a pure bred Pug from Sydney at half the usual price but the puppy never arrived.  Her $400 went straight into a bank account in Cameroon, Africa.

Nyssa Gilham:
I was devastated.  I couldn’t believe that someone could be so nasty and cruel.

Reporter:
Jessica Radisich from Bunbury lost $1,800 in the scam.  She was trying to buy and American Staffi.

Jessica Radisich:
He was very believable.  He had updated photos, everything.

Reporter:
Consumer Protection says if you are looking at buying a dog over the internet, only deal with registered breeders and beware of sellers who want the money sent by wire transfer.  Unfortunately for the scam victims, they won’t see that money again.

Nyssa Gilham:
Look into it before you go ahead and buy a puppy over the internet.