BBB Warns Of Fake Dog Breeder Scams

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota is warning people about a rise in scams involving dogs.

The agency has cited three breeders after they didn't have any dogs to give people who paid for them. Those breeders are Fenando Pomeranians, Happy Husky, and Maliz or Manuh French Bulldogs.

All three claimed to be located in the Twin Cities and all had authentic-looking websites. The Better Business Bureau believes they just stole images of dogs from real breeders and pretended to have them for sale.

Some tips to keep in mind are that many legitimate businesses may not be accredited by the Better Business Bureau, so it's good to do research on a breeder before buying.

Also, phony breeders may also include hidden fees, use wire transfer payment methods, and will usually communicate with you via e-mail only.