A COUPLE spent thousands of dollars on a new addition to their family but instead discovered that they had been scammed.
August and Mike Monagan-Allan from Lockport, New York paid a local dog breeder almost $4000 for a Golden Retriever puppy.
August and Mike eventually found Sadie, a golden retriever puppy from a local breederCredit: WKBW
Pet scams are reportedly on the rise and took off during the pandemic when lots of people wanted to buy a dogCredit: WKBW
At the end of June last year, the pair searched around the local area on Google for their new puppy.
The couple clicked on one of the first web results that featured pictures and descriptions of a number of different dogs.
August and Mike believed that they had found their dream puppy.
Mike told ABC’s WKBW: “The website seemed legit.”
The pair got in touch with the supposed “owner” of the puppy who requested that they made the payment through a BitCoin ATM.
Mike explained: “Their CashApp wasn’t functioning, so that’s when they said they only accept BitCoin.”
As the transaction for the puppy continued with the owner, more and more costs were being demanded.
While it was originally claimed that the puppy was fully vaccinated, the pair were then asked to pay for the shots.
They were then told that the pooch had to be shipped to Lockport, despite them believing the owner was in the local area.
It was then apparent that they has been scammed and Mr Monagan-Allan said: “They wanted another $1,200 for something else.
“At that point we’re like, no we’re not sending you anything else.”
After they asked for a full refund, contact with the owner was immediately cut off.
“We don’t know even if this supposed puppy even exists,” Mike said.
7 Problem Solver Michael Schwartz investigated the scammer by calling the number used by the pair to contact the supposed breeder.
He was told that he had the wrong number and noted that the area code was outside New York.
Despite being left distraught after they lost their money and the puppy they never received, the Morgan-Allans began looking again at the end of last summer.
In the end, the pair visited a local breeder and met their new puppy Sadie before buying her and bringing her home.
The four-month old pup is doing very well in her forever home with the delighted owners.
August and Mike have been warning others that no payment should have to be made before viewing the puppy they are interested in.
The puppy who is now four-months-old is happy in her new homeCredit: WKBW
Source: the-sun.com
