Woman Almost Bit By Puppy Scam

PLYMOUTH, Mass. -- A Plymouth mother trying to get a dog for her daughter almost got scammed instead.

"I initially inquired about one puppy. She said I could have two for free," said Plymouth's Debi Smith.

VIDEO: Woman Almost Bit By Puppy Scam

NewsCenter 5's Lynn Jolicoeur reported that the seller claimed said she had to bring two Yorkshire terriers to Nigeria from Connecticut after her father got sick. She said she was forced to sell the dogs because they were not adjusting well to the African heat.

"I thought something's too good to be true, something's too good to be true. I started to have my doubts, but continued on -- you never know," Smith said.

The seller who had placed her ad on livedeal.com said she would only charge for the dogs' crates through her uncle's Nigeria-based pet transport company.

Smith called an airline that told her it was a scam. Then livedeal.com sent her an e-mail warning her not to correspond with the seller anymore.

The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said aside from scams, it sees lots of people surrender animals they bought online and can't handle.

"There's lots of things you can't find out like behavior, what the medical issues are," said Meagan Rock of the MSPCA.

Some breeders said they use the Internet to advertise their business, but for the protection of their animals, that's where the online activity has to end.

"It's very important I meet the person and know where my puppy is going to live," said pug breeder Joyce Finnegan.

Finnegan said she makes buyers sign contracts and agree to return the dogs to her if they have any problems.

Smith has bough two other dogs online.