Scam Is a Four Letter Word
I do not use this word a lot, but I HATE Scammers. These are the lowest form of cowards and thieves. So I thought I would share some facts that I know about the puppy scamming business, why they exist, and why we can’t get rid of them.
First things first, why do I hate them…Well, because they prey on vulnerable people, they steal their money, and in a ripple effect they steal my business, photos, identity, reputation, and time. I am speaking for myself as a breeder in this blog, but most of my breeder friends (and there are LOTS of reputable Dachshund breeders here in the USA) would agree with me on this, it takes so much of my time trying to convince people I am real. I get a steady stream of messages about our Kennel and our puppies every single day. Don’t get me wrong, I love the busy part of this, and I love interacting and communicating with my clients and friends, but what I don’t like is wasting my time trying to convince you that I am in fact a reputable breeder. I am more than willing to do this, but it would be so much easier to get right to the point of business. I could be spending that time with my puppies and family. They steal my business by robbing vulnerable people of their hard earned money, that they could have spent on a legitimate puppy from a legitimate breeder.
These scammers are relentless. They create entire websites, Facebook pages and groups, and even have Instagram and TikTok accounts. They are constantly reinventing and disguising their true identities, while stealing mine and my colleagues’. They use our photos, our dogs’ names, and even web addresses that look like ours to fool you. They look very legitimate from the outside, but there are easy ways to tell if you know what to look for. So it’s very important to educate yourself so you do not fall victim to their games. They are constantly sending private/direct messages to buyers telling them about how they obtained their new puppy, what a great experience it was, and are even nice enough to send you a link to the Group/Page/Website for you to see for yourself. These sites usually have Rehome or Adoption in the name (red flag). Then they have “puppies” priced WAY below market value (biggest red flag!!!!) They tell you to send a deposit, or a gift card, or something of that nature. Then they disappear, POOF….deposit lost and no puppy. If they don’t disappear, they ask for more money for bogus reasons…document fee, vaccination fee, shipping crate, insurance…I have heard it all. A real breeder will never ask you to pay by gift card. Ever.
Why do they exist? Because it’s lucrative, because people keep them in business, because it’s easy pickings preying on someone excited and emotional about the prospect of the “Great Deal”. These scammers almost never originate in the USA. That is why they need the money in a gift card, wire transfer, or some other form of payment that can’t be reversed. We breeders have been tirelessly trying to fight them off, but they show up on every post on every platform disguised as a friend. We need your help! Please, if you want to purchase a Dachshund, and the deal sounds too good to be true, IT IS!! There is no such thing as a cheap, well-bred Dachshund puppy. If you find a great deal, ask me or one of my colleagues! We can let you know if they are legitimate or not. Do not pull the trigger until you have done your due diligence: request a live video chat with the breeder and the actual puppy, ask to visit in person if you are close enough, ask for their veterinarian information, and ask for references. Any legitimate breeder will have no problem doing any of these things. If they hesitate, or flat out refuse….RUN!!
You, the client, and us, the breeders, are the key to lessening the effect these scammers have on us. Through education from us, and patience from you, we can have a positive effect on this new culture. I wish you all a very wonderful second half of your Summer, and we always wish you the warmest regards from Pint Sized Paws.