https://petscams.com/puppy-scammer-list/melissapugpuppies-com/ Combating online Pet Scams by exposing websites used for fraud. Thu, 28 Oct 2021 20:43:33 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://petscams.com/puppy-scammer-list/melissapugpuppies-com/#comment-20996 Thu, 28 Oct 2021 20:43:33 +0000 https://wpswyft.local/puppy-scammer-list/melissapugpuppies-com/#comment-20996 I stumbled upon the following web address when looking for a dog I could adopt on 10/25/21: https://melissapugpuppies.com/. The site claims to be a service committed to helping individuals and families acquire high quality puppies. After seeing a dog I liked, I filled out an inquiry form for a dog and was reached out to via text on 10/24/21 by the following phone number: 575-586-6164. The person texting me claimed to be from Melissa’s Pug Puppies and asked where I was located. They indicated that they were located at the following address: 4457 South 300 E, Ogden, Utah 84405 and would be able to ship the puppy to me. We agreed on a price of $600 for the dog and $150 for the delivery. On 10/26/21 I sent them my name, address, phone and email along with a payment of $750 to the Venmo account @Mario_bance10. Shortly after I received an email from info@boltshippingservices.com with a delivery report and tracking number. Shortly after I was contacted via text message by the same number telling me to confirm the email and then promptly after I received another email along with a text saying I needed to pay $1,500 for Pet Insurance which would be refunded in full upon delivery. I promptly sent the money the same day to the same Venmo account. The following day 10/27/21, I received yet another notice that I would need to put down an additional deposit of $2,300 for crate rental which would also be refunded 100% in full upon delivery. The same day I sent the $2,300 to the same Venmo account. Today (10/28/21), the seller contacted me saying there was another action item to be completed prior to the delivery of my puppy, which included vaccinations and permits amounting to a total of $3,029. Having reached my venmo payment threshold for the week, the seller requested I transfer the money via bitcoin. Starting to feel a bit skeptical about this process and all its charges I informed some colleagues about the situation and was directed toward the following site: https://petscams.com/puppy-scammer-list/melissapugpuppies-com/ where I learned that this was a scam. I contacted the seller about my skepticism and asked for a refund and was denied. Taking matters into my own hands, I contacted both Venmo and my bank JP Morgan Chase. Chase denied me any assistance and Venmo won’t get back to me for 7-10 business days.

]]>