Mother tells of con over puppy

A woman from Telford claims she has been duped out of nearly £600 in an internet puppy selling scam.

Victoria Stevens said she saw the English Bull Terrier puppy advertised on a free classified advertisement website for £100.

She ordered the dog for her 15-year-old son Joshua on October 30. Now, after a string of e-mails and telephone calls since placing the order she has paid a total of nearly £600 -but has not received the dog.

And the company, Pet Air Delivery Agency, is insisting she needs to pay a further £120 before they send the dog.

Police are now investigating the case, along with that of another woman, who has claimed she has handed over £400 for a puppy which she also has not received.

Mrs Stevens, 37, of Stirchley, said: "I saw the puppy and ordered it and they e-mailed me back for a delivery fee of £100, which I thought was really good and the puppy was free to a good home.

"Then they asked for £210 and it just went on from there for vaccinations, a delivery box, a microchip and now they claim they want more for custom charges.

"Then the last e-mail stated I don't love the baby so I can't have it. But really there's no puppy, it's an imaginary puppy, but everything, including the man on the phone, sounds so convincing."

Mrs Stevens said she could not believe she kept paying more cash.

"I'm absolutely devastated," she said. "All I wanted to do was buy my son a birthday present. I would never do such a thing to someone, especially just before Christmas."

Chris Ammonds, Telford police spokesman, said another woman, from Madeley, had also spent about £400 through a website where she thought she was buying a chihuahua.

A spokesman for the Pet Air Delivery Agency said it was a genuine delivery agency, but wanted another £120 off Mrs Stevens.

By Crime Correspondent Kirsty Marston