Dogsey

A Canadian couple who placed an advert for a puppy on an online classified ad website have been conned out of more than $1000 by an out of province scammer. Roger and Shelly Hunt wanted a husky puppy. With Roger Hunt off work on disability, they didn't want to pay a large amount of money, so placed the advert, hoping to find a dog needing a good home. An e-mail arrived from “Caroline”, explaining that her daughter had died, leaving Bella, a 13-week-old husky puppy, and offering to give them the puppy for free, if the Hunts paid the travelling costs. After seeing pictures of a husky puppy, the Hunts “fell in love”.

Travel arrangements were apparently made and the Hunts sent money to “Caroline”. “Caroline” e-mailed a travel itinerary and the Hunts prepared to collect their puppy from the airport. However, on the morning of collection, an e-mail from “Caroline” stated that Toronto airport would not transport Bella any farther because the transport company had “failed to collect insurance on the pet”. The pup would be stuck there until a fee of $1300 was paid. The Hunts managed to transfer $750, with “Caroline” agreeing to pay the balance and refund the Hunts later.

Having bought toys and dog food, the Hunts travelled to the airport to collect their new puppy. There was no puppy, nor any record of any puppy travelling. In total, they lost $1047.

Because “Caroline” is in a different province, there is not much that can be done. A police spokesperson said that fraud over the internet is common, especially around the Christmas period and warned people to be “savvy”.