The CBS News video highlights two separate puppy scams affecting residents in Long Island and New Jersey. The main issues outlined in the video are:

1. The Scam Mechanism:
   • Fraudsters are hijacking Facebook profiles to post fake ads for puppies, especially popular breeds like teacup Yorkies.
   • Victims, believing they are purchasing puppies at a low cost (often advertised as a “rehoming fee”), end up showing up at these addresses, only to find no puppies available.
   • The scammers often claim that the dogs are “free,” and the payment is only for rehoming, creating a sense of legitimacy in the eyes of the buyers.
2. Victims’ Financial Loss:
   • Two main victims—Chris from New Jersey and Jane from Long Island—report people arriving at their homes, believing they had already paid for their puppies. The average payment victims made was around $300 per puppy.
   • With at least six known victims, this translates to $1,800 in total losses for just these two cases. However, the broader scope of the scam is likely much larger, considering the ease with which scammers can target multiple victims with just a few fraudulent posts.
3. Psychological and Emotional Impact:
   • Victims are left devastated, not only financially but emotionally. The incident of a mother showing up with her young daughter to pick up a non-existent puppy demonstrates the deep disappointment and heartbreak caused by these scams.
   • The scam’s emotional toll is evident, especially in the situation where the scammers (or hackers) make victims feel helpless, saying “I am sorry, but let’s call the cops,” as one victim responded.

Financial Impact and Loss Estimates:

• Individual Loss: Each victim paid around $300 for a non-existent puppy. This is well below the true cost of a purebred Yorkie, which typically ranges from $2,000 to $3,000. The financial loss for each victim is $300, but the actual value of the puppy they believed they were purchasing is much higher.
• Collective Financial Impact: If there are at least 6 known victims, the total loss could amount to approximately $1,800.

However, the scale of this scam could be much larger. Fraudulent posts like these can reach dozens or hundreds of people, potentially escalating the financial loss to thousands of dollars across multiple cases. Victims not only face monetary losses but also the time and effort wasted in hopes of receiving a puppy.

Connection to Larger Issues:

• The Challenge for Reputable Breeders: The increase in online scams is partially due to the difficulty legitimate breeders face in reaching potential buyers. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok restrict pet sales, and reputable breeder websites struggle to appear on the first page of Google search results due to scammers’ advanced skills in SEO and advertising. This makes it harder for ethical breeders to compete with scammers who use deceitful tactics to lure in unsuspecting buyers.
• Increased Sophistication of Scammers: The rise in hacking and fraudulent activity, as seen with the hijacking of Jane Dietl’s Facebook page, shows how tech-savvy scammers have become. They can exploit trustworthy platforms and impersonate legitimate sellers, making it difficult for buyers to distinguish between legitimate breeders and scammers.
  In addition to the growing scam problem, there’s a larger, often overlooked issue: the increasing tension between animal rescues and ethical breeders. Some animal rescue organizations have become vocal critics of breeders, particularly purebred dog breeders, often painting them with a broad brush of negativity. This has led to a demonization of responsible breeders who prioritize the health and well-being of their animals, provide thorough documentation, and ensure their puppies are going to loving homes.
• Boutique Puppy Mill Rescue’s Sway Public Opinion: One potential motivation behind this vilification is the competition between breeders and rescues for pet adoption revenue. Animal rescues often operate as non-profits but can still make significant sums from adoption fees and donations. By casting breeders in a negative light, rescues may be attempting to shift public opinion in their favor, driving more individuals toward adoption rather than purchasing from breeders. While animal homelessness and irresponsible breeding and neglectful ownership is undeniably an important cause, this aggressive stance against breeders—especially those adhering to ethical standards—can inadvertently harm both breeders and buyers, making it harder for responsible breeders to offer information, advice, healthy, well-bred pets while fostering a misleading view of the adoption versus buying debate. It makes it difficult for breeders to speak up and voice their own opinions.

Recommendations:

• Buyer Vigilance: If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Buyers should be skeptical of offers that seem unusually cheap or overly generous.
• Verify Seller Identity: Buyers should always ensure that they are dealing with legitimate, verifiable breeders, and should ask for proof of the puppy’s lineage, health checks, and other documentation.
• Report Suspicious Accounts: If a profile seems suspicious or appears to have been hacked, it should be reported immediately to the platform (e.g., Facebook) and authorities.

Conclusion:

This puppy scam incident is more than just a financial issue—it’s a growing problem with broader implications in the pet industry. The proliferation of fraudulent posts on platforms like Facebook and Google’s inability to rank ethical breeders effectively are enabling scammers to thrive. As this story shows, unsuspecting buyers are being tricked into paying hundreds of dollars for puppies that don’t exist, all while the scammers use sophisticated methods to hide their tracks. Being vigilant and aware of these tactics is crucial for anyone looking to adopt a new pet.