12/08/2023
Please be aware of a new puppy buyer scam.
There is a website which claims to be based out of Canada, and they offer teacup Poodles to be shipped anywhere in the world. In fact, if you are a Missouri buyer, they might even offer shipment to a state and federal licensed facility in your home state.
Southwest Auction Service has reported this website after three different consumers have contacted their business about picking up their newly imported puppy. Here is how it works. An unwitting consumer makes contact with the teacup website, and a person on the other end tells you they will ship to a USDA licensed class B dealer. They even give you the class B dealer’s contact information and license number so that you can do some research. It all looks credible because they are referencing real businesses with real websites and authentic USDA license numbers that show up on a simple Google search. Everything checks out except that the dog never arrives.
Please be aware. I’m sure there are others following similar and even more complex scam models.
-Matt Rold
Animal Care Program Manager
