We would like to alert the community to a scam involving the sale of puppies. The SCSO has received two reports from residents who reached out to scammers who were posing as breeders. In both cases, the victim and scammer reached an agreement on the price of the puppies and the scammers subsequently asked for a deposit via PayPal, Zelle, or gift cards. The victims then agreed to meet the scammers at a specified location to pick up the puppies, but the scammers never showed up.

In some cases, the scammer will offer to ship the puppy. If the victim agrees to have the puppy shipped, the scammer will ask for an insurance deposit and/or vaccine fee prior to delivery. The puppy never arrives.

If you believe you have been the victim of a scam or would like to report suspicious activity, please contact the Stafford Sheriff’s Office at (540) 658-4400.