Porcupine Soup is reporting the New York State Police are warning residents of an ongoing puppy scam. The department has received multiple calls from people cheated out of hundreds of dollars after answering classified ads for purebred puppies. Victims report the seller provides a photo of the breed the buyer is looking for along with a request that a deposit be paid. Once the deposit clears, a non-existent, fictitious address is provided to the buyer, and then directed to that location to pick up the puppy. Of late, the fake addresses have been situated in St. Lawrence County. Police warn of several common themes: The buyer is asked to make the deposit via payment apps, such as Zelle or CashApp; all communication with the alleged breeder takes place via text; an address for the puppies is not provided until after the deposit is made; that same alleged breeder sends the victim stock photos of whatever breed the buyer is looking for. The American Kennel Club advises that a reputable breeder will always communicate via phone or video chat (if not in person) before selling you a puppy. Avoid paying a stranger using apps such as Venmo, as it is harder to get your money back if you do not get what you paid for. Paying by credit card or PayPal are typically the safest options. Learn more at porcupine soup [dot] com.