The Better Business Bureau indicates pet fraud reports are five times higher in 2020 than in 2017. People between the ages of 35 and 55 represented half of the fraud reported to the BBB in 2020.
Source: Daily Paws, December 8, 2020. Link. According to the BBB Scam Tracker, the financial losses are astronomical as well: the average individual amount lost is $750, with the projected total for 2020 at more than $3 million.
INSIGHTS: Animal health pros may wish to share this information with personal networks to reach would-be new pet owners before they encounter a scam. We can personally attest to the challenges and confusion of searching for a replacement dog.