The deposit-and-disappear scam: underpriced purebred puppies
What happened
A documented scam pattern. High-demand breeds like French Bulldogs, Boerboels, Samoyeds, poodle mixes and Golden Retrievers are advertised far below their real price to hook bargain hunters. In South Africa a French Bulldog legitimately costs roughly R20 000 to R70 000, so a "Frenchie for R3 500" is almost always bait. You are asked for a deposit by EFT or e-wallet to "hold" the puppy. Once you pay, the seller either vanishes or begins inventing extra fees, and the photos are usually stolen from real breeders. Rule of thumb: if the price is far below the market for that breed, treat it as a scam until proven otherwise. Verify the breeder with KUSA before paying anything, and never pay a deposit before a live video call and, ideally, an in-person visit.
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