An Arkansas man, Grant Tomlin, says he was scammed out of $16,000 by a breeder who promised him a chocolate Labrador retriever puppy named Maggie.
The Scam
Tomlin started looking for a new dog on TikTok after losing his previous chocolate Labrador retriever to cancer four years ago. He found a breeder called Prestige Retrievers in Shreveport, Louisiana, and paid a deposit for the puppy. However, the breeder could not meet him on Father’s Day and offered to ship the puppy instead.
That’s when the fees started piling up. Tomlin paid $1,000 for a crate rental, another $1,000 for paperwork, and additional fees that continued to add up. Each time, he was promised the puppy was on its way and was even provided a tracking app showing the puppy en route. But the puppy never arrived.
The excuses went on for two weeks, and by then, Tomlin had spent more than $16,000. He is now planning to file a complaint with the Shreveport Police Department and Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.
Warning Signs
Consumer experts say that if someone you’ve never met insists on certain payment methods, it’s a major red flag and could indicate a scam. Tomlin made payments using Cash App, Zelle, Apple Pay, and an overseas bank account.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
