PupPal Help
How to Avoid Fraud...
Unfortunately, the dog breeding and puppy industry has been an easy target for scammers looking to take advantage of innocent dog lovers. We have compiled a non-exhaustive list to help avoid these scams. Adherence to these principles will most likely insure that you do not fall victim to a scam.
- PupPal.com is set up to conveniently connect dog lovers with reputable breeders. Although email is a quick and easy form of communication when first starting your search, you should always speak to the breeder in person before exchanging any money. If a breeder is reluctant to give you his/her telephone number, you should avoid doing business with this breeder.
- Be sure that the location of the breeder (located at the bottom of each listing) matches the location where the breeder requests the funds to be sent. NEVER send money to a different country, or state, than that designated by the breeder at the bottom of their listing. There are many clever reasons that can be given as to why the funds need to be sent elsewhere but it is never worth the risk. Don’t do it!
- Do not use western union! There is no way to track who is receiving the payment on the other end. In recent years, Western Union has been a favorite among scammers.
- Ask the breeder for additional documents, including pictures, health certifications, etc. Requesting that a certain object be included in the photo is a good idea. Remember though that some breeders receive several requests daily and taking pictures of each puppy for each customer can be a time consuming task.
- Always demand that a contract be formed between yourself and the breeder. Subjects that should ALWAYS be included in a contract are; whether the puppy will have limited or full registration, whether or not the puppy has been spayed or neutered and/or if it is required, health guarantees, return policy, and deposit policy. If at any time an additional agreement is reached between you and the breeder, it should be reduced to writing. Often times you have spoken to several breeders and the breeder has most certainly spoken to several customers. A written contract ensures that both are on the same page and protects both parties to that affect.
If at any time you feel that a breeder is involved in fraud, report them to PupPal. Although we do not pre-screen or make any guaranty as to breeders on this site, we will investigate allegations of fraud and remove breeders from our site if we feel they are involved in fraud. If you have been the victim of fraud, you have the right to seek a legal remedy.
