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Puppy scams soar amid pandemic; official issues warning

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Posted at 2:54 PM, Jan 02, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-02 14:54:44-05

NEW HOPE, Pa. (AP) — After searching for a puppy for several months, Tara Hughes saw a picture of a French bulldog puppy who won her heart. Plus, she said, the owner, who inquired about a fenced-in backyard and ability to care for the puppy, gave her the impression that the dog came from a loving home. Then came the signs that something just wasn’t right. It was Hughes’ first introduction to the world of puppy scams, a crime that is claiming more victims as a growing number of families seek animals amid the pandemic.