Dog scams target holiday shoppers: How you can avoid falling for one

Some parents may be searching online for the perfect pet as a holiday gift for their kids.

But the Better Business Bureau warns it’s getting harder to spot the fake ads from the real ones.

Three types of dogs, the French bulldogs, Dachshunds, and German shepherds, seem to be the three most-popular breeds of dogs that scammers are using to make adopters think they have a dog when actually they don’t.

Some of the common red flags include:

• Seeing popular breeds sold at unrealistic prices.
• Sellers who refuse in-person or video meetings.
• Extra fees for shipping or vaccinations.
• High-pressure tactics.

Experts suggest seeing pets in person, using reverse image search to verify photos, knowing typical market prices and visiting local shelters to avoid fake offers.

Source: NBC Bay Area