Pet scamming on the rise as sick little boy left without sausage dog puppy

Animal loving Brits have lost more than £1.5million to pet scammers since the start of the pandemic.

Reports of suspected scams have risen sixfold from 694 in March to September 2019 to 3,989 for the same period this year.

In one case, the family of a schoolboy cancer victim was tricked into handing over cash raised by well-wishers to buy him a sausage dog.

Scammers also used the ­address of animal charity Blue Cross as a collection point to dupe victims.

And other fraudsters have taken sick pets from their mothers after lying about their real age, leaving buyers facing huge vet bills.

Billy Green was left heartbroken after a callous fraudster stole money he had saved up to buy his dream dog (Lisa Green / SWNS)

Becky Thwaites, of Blue Cross, said: “Criminal gangs have seen Covid as an opportunity.

“We’ve seen a massive increase in fraud – people paying deposits for dogs which don’t exist, illegally smuggled puppies, underage puppies and poorly-bred puppies.”

Billy Green, 11, spent lockdown in hospital after a bone marrow transplant for leukaemia. Locals in Wakefield, West Yorks, raised the cash to buy him a pup and mum Lisa, 47, paid a £250 deposit on selling site Pets4Homes, which they had used before.

“They sounded so genuine, so we sent the money,” she said.

Billy with sister Willow and parents Lisa and Martin (Lisa Green / SWNS)

But then Billy, who had already chosen the name Prince, spotted the same dog on YouTube.

“They had just screenshotted the video,” said Lisa. “We tried getting in touch but there was no answer. I was upset because people who didn’t have a lot of money had donated.”

But friends started a new fundraising drive and Billy came home to a new pet from a reputable breeder.

Cats Protection says kitten buyers have also been scammed.

Emma Bradbury of Lincoln had a £300 vet bill because her “eight-week-old” cat was malnourished and too young to have been taken from his mum.

“He was actually five weeks and wasn’t properly weaned,” she said.

A spokesman for Action Fraud said: “Criminals will use every ­opportunity they can.

"They may use the pandemic as a reason why you cannot see the animal. In that case, ask for a video call and if you have any ­suspicions, trust your instincts and do not pay any money.”