‘I paid £500 for my dream dog online. It didn't exist’

Data shows Brits have lost £7.2m to pet fraud since 2019

- NICOLE WOOTTON-CANE

When Kate Margolis found her dream dog online, she didn't think for a second she could be falling for a scam.

A web designer herself, she said she was “blown away” by the breeder's website and got in touch with him to find out more.

He later called her and quizzed her on her home, lifestyle, and plans for the dog. He told her in order to secure a puppy, she'd need to send a deposit of £500. Then, in three months, she would be able to come and choose her new pet.

But just days before she was due to collect the dog, the man contacted her and said her puppy had eaten plastic and died. Then, when she tried to find out more, he took down his website, blocked her on everything, and disappeared.

"At first I thought that's really strange," she said. "A reputable breeder has allowed a puppy to find some plastic and chew it and die - something doesn't add up here.

"I replied to him and asked for my money back. That's when he disappeared - his website came down, his phone stopped ringing, and my £500 vanished into thin air."

Data from Action Fraud shows Brits have lost £7.2m to pet scams since 2019, with 14,300 reports in that time. Speaking to The Independent, fraud bosses warned criminals are using social media to "prey" on people looking to buy their next pet online.