All Yolanda Mosby of South Euclid wanted was a new puppy for her family, but reports all she got for her money was nothing but heartbreak.
Mosby told News 5 she fell in love with a Teacup Yorkie posted on a website called Treasured Micro Puppies, paying $695 for the dog.
Mosby said the company told her the dog would be delivered in just a few days, but then she said the company kept adding additional charges, totaling $1,795.
"They told me they would fly the dog through Minnesota to Cleveland Hopkins Airport, in a specialized air conditioned carrier," said Mosby.
"And when I refused to send them anymore money, they said you're going to be arrested because the dog is yours now, and you're abandoning the dog."
Mosby knows she made a mistake, paying the company via a Western Union wire transfer, so she had no way of tracing her payment when the company failed to send her the dog.
Cleveland Better Business Bureau President Sue McConnell told News 5 up to 80% of pet websites may be fraudulent.
The BBB fraud tracker web page reports 906 cases nationwide.
McConnell said puppy websites post pictures and testimonials, but in some cases the photos are misrepresented, and are taken from other sites.
"They are exploiting the cute little pictures of puppies, people that want to have an animal," said McConnell.
"Those same picture were used on many other scam websites as the same people claiming to have purchased puppies."
The BBB posted this warningon its website.
News 5 reached out to the company via its web page about this case, but we're still waiting for a response.
Meanwhile, Yolanda Mosby issued a warning of her own.
"Just imagine what it would feel like to lose your child, that's what it felt like to lose this puppy," said Mosby.
"If you want to buy a pet, find a local person, or a kennel, or a breeder that you can go to where you can physically see the dog."
