Granny falls victim to chihuahua con

An animal-loving family seeking a companion for their beloved rescue dog have lost £200 after getting stung in a online puppy con.

Mandy Stackhouse from Bloxwich shelled out the cash thinking she was going to get a chihuahua delivered from a breeder in Scotland.

However, the dog never materialised and the family have been left out of pocket and upset.

Animal experts from the region today warned about the con, which is sweeping the internet.

Grandmother-of-one Mandy, of Tintern Crescent, Mossley, said: "I was searching on the internet for a new little companion for our Jack Russell, Scruffbags.

"I found an advertisement for a litter of five chihuahuas that was supposed to be in Coventry. There were photos of the litter and lots of relevant information, everything seemed totally above board.

"I exchanged emails with the seller and then spoke to him on the phone. He was happy to send one of the dogs to us but it would have to be by courier as he had recently moved to Scotland.

"I joked 'this better not be a scam' but he seemed completely genuine."

Ms Stackhouse, aged 41, ordered the dog last Thursday and was told it would be delivered to her door by Friday evening. She then sent £200 to the seller via a money transfer to an address in Cameroon.

"He said that's where his account was based and that was the best address to send the money to," the mother-of-two added.

"I then got a message saying the couriers could not deliver the dog unless I paid up another £322. That's when alarm bells started to go off.

"After I told them there was no way I could pay that, everything stopped.

"We are heartbroken now. I just want people to know that this is going on so they don't fall into the same trap."

Jenny Dhanjal of Walsall-based K9 Search UK, which reunites missing dogs with their owners, said it was a common scam on the internet.

"We have heard of this scam before but Mandy's story really brings it home.

"This isn't like ordering your weekly shop from the internet. You need to see them in person to make sure they are right for you."