AN RSPCA inspector has warned residents in East Lancashire to make sure they are buying puppies from a registered licensed breeder.
The warning comes after police discovered fraudsters were using online buy and sell websites steal cash from families wanting to buy puppies.
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North West RSPCA inspector Jason Bowles said it is very important to make sure you are aware of the condition the puppy has been kept in before you buy it.
He said: “The worst thing you can do is to go online and buy a puppy without knowing any history about the breeder or the seller or the environment the puppy has been kept in.
“The puppy might look healthy but you need to know what has happened to its parents and about the condition it’s been kept in. I would suggest you see the puppy with its mother before you buy it.”
Action Fraud, the UK’s internet crime reporting centre, has noticed a rise in reports about fraudsters who advertise a puppy for sale, after claiming they need to rehome it because they have moved abroad.
Once a sale is agreed and payment is made, usually by a bank transfer, the pet does not seem to materialise and the fraudster will then ask for further payments for courier charges and vet bills, police said.
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