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Wednesday, December 4, 2024

French Bulldog puppy scam warning after unrelated Nottingham address used to take money for non-existent dogs

A French Bulldog puppy scam warning has been issued by police after fraud victims travelled to Nottingham from as far away as Bradford and Leicester  and had paid a £500 deposit to collect dogs that did not exist.

When they arrived at an address in Clifton the promised French Bulldog puppies were nowhere to be seen and the people living there knew nothing about the proposed sale.

The victims then tried to ring the seller on a phone number listed on the on-line advert but it was switched off.

This was one of three reports the force received on Thursday (29 April 2021) from people falling for the French Bulldog puppy buying scam, including from the innocent resident.

One of the victims showed a text message confirming the address, but it was soon established that his property was being used as part of a scam and he didn’t even own a dog.

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Nottinghamshire Police is warning local communities after several reports of individuals being scammed whilst trying to purchase puppies online.

Detective Inspector Ed Cook of Nottinghamshire Police is leading the investigation.

He said: “The victims had seen the advert to buy the dogs online.

“No dogs have been stolen and this appears to be a horrible case of fraud with a number of victims now falling for the scam and losing hundreds of pounds in the process.

“The occupants at the address in Clifton knew nothing about the scam and are the innocent party.

“The victims in each case had to contact their bank to try and get their money back, as well as reporting this crime to the police and Action Fraud.

“We are appealing to anyone buying a dog online to do your research beforehand and be aware of signs that it could be a potential scam.

“No one should purchase or hand over money if you’ve not seen the pet.

“We advise never to make any purchases online unless from a reputable seller or organisation and preferably by using a third party payment system like Paypal which offers protection from scammers.

“If any offer of free or cheap puppies are being advertised, please be aware. Be wary of discounted price for the animals or if they want any additional money.

“Purchasing a new pet is a decision that should never be taken lightly and we would urge anyone considering doing so to follow the RSPCA’s guidance. Not only will this help keep your money safe but it will also ensure the health and welfare of your new furry friend.”

People who have lost money through a scam should report this immediately to the police by calling 101.

•  Dog-loving police officer gets to join the canine section

•  Rushcliffe MP Ruth Edwards April 2021 column: Pet theft, online scams and domestic abuse

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