SHAWANO, WI – The Shawano County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents after a recent scam involving the fake sale of a puppy happened just days ago close to home. Sheriff George Lenzner says the case highlights how active scammers are in the area, especially online.
According to Lenzner, the victim believed they were purchasing a puppy but was told to pay using gift cards — a major red flag. He says scammers prefer gift cards because the money is untraceable and nearly impossible to recover once the codes are shared. In this case, the victim scratched off and turned over $4,000 worth of gift cards.
Lenzner adds that Facebook has become a popular platform for these types of crimes, with scammers using fake profiles and convincing listings to make their offers look legitimate. He warns that while some items for sale online are real, others are set up purely to steal money or financial information.
Authorities urge residents to slow down before sending money online, verify who they are dealing with, and avoid any transaction that requires payment through gift cards. Taking extra time to check out a seller could prevent thousands of dollars in losses.
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