NEWS RELEASE
MICHIGAN ATTORNEY GENERAL DANA NESSEL
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LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is urging consumers to be wary of puppy scams as many people seek to purchase or adopt dogs during the holiday season.
Many people enjoy gifting kittens, puppies, and other pets to loved ones during the holidays, which creates an atmosphere ripe for scammers to exploit. Michigan residents in recent years have been tricked into paying for pets that do not exist or have adopted pets with undisclosed health issues, behavioral complications, or falsified medical records. Attorney General Nessel recently launched an investigation into an unknown individual on the pet adoption website RescueMe.org who is accused of misleading Michigan consumers by allegedly falsifying vaccination records for an animal sold through the website.
“While the holidays inspire many to bring in the joy with a furry friend, it’s important consumers exercise caution when searching for a new pet,” Nessel said. “Always thoroughly research any online purchase to ensure you are not the latest victim of a scam.”
In addition to the deceptive practices of advertising puppies that do not exist or charging exorbitant fees, scammers are taking advantage of the holiday season as they use it as a reason to avoid in-person visits and demand additional fees.
Attorney General Nessel released a Public Service Announcement in 2022 with tips to help consumers spot and avoid puppy scams. Consumers should remain hyper-vigilant and use these best practices:
- Make sure the person you’re gifting the pet to wants the pet and is ready for ownership.
- Research the breed and breeder.
- If the breeder claims to have registered the puppy, research the pet.
- Do not purchase a puppy sight unseen.
- Arrange for safe transport of the pet.
- Use a credit card to make the purchase. If it turns out you have been scammed, it is very unlikely you will ever get your money back if you have paid through cash, check, or through platforms like PayPal and Venmo.
- Retain all documents and communications from the breeder.
- Consider contacting your local shelter for adoption.
Each year, consumers in the U.S. spend more than $1 billion buying puppies without realizing they may be doing business with scammers, puppy mill operators, or both. Puppy mills are inhumane dog breeding operations that keep dogs in overcrowded and unhealthy conditions and, depending on location, many are not regulated or inspected. Breeders hide their poor conditions by meeting buyers at offsite locations or selling through pet stores or online.
To view all the holiday scam alerts, visit the Department of Attorney General’s website. Michigan consumers who believe they have been a victim of a puppy scam can file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team:
Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form
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