Online Purchase

Scam Type

Online Purchase Scam

Business Name Used

Homeland Shih Tzu

Date Reported

Sep 24, 2022

Victim Postal Code

78636

Total Dollars Lost

0

Scam Description

The scam is about purchasing Shih Tzu puppies. Claiming they are AKC registered, they posted pictures of puppies on line with the story that the discounted puppies needed to be sold in order to make room for a new litter of puppies expected at the end of Oct. For only $600.00 dollars you could have a beautiful purebred shipped anywhere in the US. If you wanted 2 puppies, they would wave the shipping fee.
Once you paid the money through Zelle, Venmo, or PayPal, they would ship the puppies to your nearest airport accompanied by a “puppy nanny” who would then personally hand the babies over to the buyer.
When our purchase had been confirmed, we were told that the crate charge would only be $30.00 which would be deducted from an insurance charge of $996.00. I was told that the $996, less $30 would be refunded when we showed our I.D. to the person bringing the puppies from the original location.
They never provided an itinerary other than time of arrival…with no mention of where to pick up the puppies or any other info. When I questioned the seller, Michael Segoviano, about this, he replied, “We will send the itinerary once you have paid the crate fee.”
That was the red flag moment. I started asking more questions that never got answered. When we called the Austin airport to ask about the shipping company going by the name, U-S Pet Shipping, we were informed that no one at the airport had ever heard of that company.
I texted Michael and told him that I believed he was running a scam and to please call. I never heard another word.
I contacted our bank and put a stop to the transaction as PayPal said it would take 5 days to investigate. Our payment had not posted yet, so I was able to stop our money from leaving our acct. However, I’m sure loads of people have not been so fortunate.
Please learn from our experience. Ask to facetime to see the puppies live! A very simple ask that would’ve uncovered this scam sooner.
Question, question, question everything! These people pray on the hearts and hopes of people who are animal lovers to their core.

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