(Omaha, NE) –  If you’re in search of a new family pet, you’re not alone. The demand for animal adoptions tends to rise during the holiday season, but so does the prevalence of scams. Numerous scams exploit online animal adoption platforms, some of which may not even be legitimate. As consumers turn to the internet to find new pets, experts say a shocking 80% of sponsored pet advertisements may be fake.

How the scam works:

Like many frauds, this one has adapted and evolved over the years. The early versions typically involved scammers posting a simple classified ad offering a free pet, with the owner explaining that he or she was being relocated to another country, or could no longer keep the animal for some other reason. But while there was no charge for the animal itself, the scammers insisted the potential buyer pay for transportation and other costs associated with getting the pets to their new owners.

More recently, these frauds involve the sale of animals at low prices – usually well below the charges of actual breeders. Similarly, later requests ask for additional money for shipping costs and other expenses that supposedly go to third parties.

How to avoid pet scams:

·         Do your research! Only purchase from a reputable dealer. Check BBB Business Profiles on BBB.org for complaints and customer reviews before you make the purchase.

·         Don’t buy a pet without seeing it in person. If that isn’t possible, request a live video call to view the animal, meet the breeder, and evaluate the facility.

·         Conduct a reverse image search of the picture of the pet you are considering. If the same picture appears on multiple websites, it’s likely a fraud. You also can search for distinctive text from ads or testimonials, to see if the seller copied it from another website.

·         Avoid wiring money, or using a cash app or gift card. These payment methods offer no way to get your money back if you are the victim of fraud.

·         Do research to get a sense of a fair price for the breed you are considering. Think twice if someone advertises a purebred dog for free or at a deeply discounted price, it could be a fraudulent offer.

·         Consider reaching out to a local animal shelter. Many shelters are looking for fosters to help relieve animal stress and reduce overcrowding at their facilities.

If you think you have been scammed or have found a suspicious website, report it to:

·         BBB Scam Tracker

·         Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

·         Petscams.com - tracks complaints, catalogs puppy scammers and endeavors to get fraudulent pet sales websites taken down

For more information on puppy scams, see BBB’s full report on puppy scams.

If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB Scam Tracker. Your report can help others avoid falling victim to scams. Find more information about scams and how to avoid them at BBB.org/AvoidScams.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Four men with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office were honored this (Monday) morning at the State Capital in Des Moines, with the Sullivan Brothers Award of Valor. Sheriff Neil Gross, Chief Deputy Cody Eckles, Sgt. Jake Hoss, Deputy Bill McDaniel were presented with the award by Governor Kim Reynolds, Kelly Sullivan, representing the Sullivan family, Col. Nathan Fulk with the Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa DPS Commissioner Stephan K. Bayens.

Commissioner Bayens explained the origin of the award lies with five brothers from Waterloo who enlisted in the U-S Navy during World War II.

The award itself was established in 1967 and later renamed The Sullivan Brothers Award of Valor, to recognize the heroic efforts of First Responders, Peace officer and Firefighters. Commissioner Bayens said the award recipients are selected by a committee within the First Responder community. He said the award is for those who go above and beyond the normal expectations for their position in public service.

(from Left to right): Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg; Gov. Kim Reynolds; Chief Gross; Chief Deputy Eckles; Sgt. Hoss; Deputy McDaniel; Kelly Sullivan; Commissioner Bayens and Col. Fulk.

The four men from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Bayens said the incident they were involved in began to unfold on July 12th, 2021, when the Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a suicidal subject barricaded inside of a home in Elk Horn (IA).

Once contact was made with the barricaded subject, for more than two-hours, negotiators spoke with him and tried to reach a peaceful resolution and surrender, but gunfire erupted from inside the home. After another round of negotiations, it appeared the subject might peacefully surrender, but then black smoke was seen coming from a window of the residence, flames began to engulf the structure and authorities lost contact with the subject inside. Ammunition was heard going-off in the home as the result of the intense heat.

Putting their own safety aside, the four men breached the house in an attempt to rescue the barricaded subject.

Once the fire was extinguished, law enforcement learned all the exterior doors had been screwed shut from inside, and a fully loaded rifle was near the suspect when law enforcement made entry.

A Lifesaving award was presented to Caleb Crocker, who was working at a group home in Guttenberg for Iowans with disabilities when it caught fire last December.

Iowa Public Safety Commissioner speaking in Capitol rotunda as Caleb Crocker of Guttenberg and Andrew Kreig of Cylinder sit to the left and on the right are Shelby County Sheriff Neil Gross and Deputies Cody Eckles, Jacob Hoss and William McDaniel. (RI photo)

Commissioner Stephne Bayens says Crocker was treated for smoke inhalation after he rescued residents.

Another Lifesaving Award was presented to Andrew Kreig, of Cylinder, a farm hand in rural Palo Alto County, who rescued an elderly person from a burning home on November 28th of last year. Someone who noticed smoke coming from the home called Kreig and asked him to drive over and check. Bayens says when Kreig arrived, the home was on fire, the door was locked and he could see someone was inside.

Governor Reynolds opened the ceremony this (Monday) morning in the Capitol Rotunda.

(Creston, Iowa) – A collision this (Monday) morning in Creston caused $5,500 damage, but no one was injured. According to the Creston Police Department, a 2024 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 72-year-old Charles Glenn Sinn, of Oskaloosa, was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 8:38-a.m., and preparing to turn left into the Casey’s parking lot, when the trailer the pickup was pulling was struck from behind by a 2011 Chevy Aveo, driven by 27-year-old Megan E. Banda, of Creston. The accident caused minor damage to the trailer, but the car driven by Banda was declared a total loss.

Sinn told Police his turn signal was on, but Banda told Police she did not see a turn signal. No citations were issued.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – Officials with the Page County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday) released a report on arrests that occurred between November 27^th and December 16^th. Those arrested/Booked into the Page County Jail include:

11/27/2023 Mark Duane Harvey (64) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.

11/27/2023 Jesse Eugene Hutton (34) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for Burglary and Criminal Mischief (X2)

11/27/2023 Collin James Johnson (21) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for Theft and Lottery Theft. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office on an active warrant.

11/28/2023 Robert Edward Goforth (59) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for violation of probation. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office on an active warrant. Goforth was arrested at the Nodaway County Jail in Maryville Mo.

11/28/2023 Brandon Keith Stogdill (39) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for violation of probation. Stogdill turned himself in at the Page County Sheriff’s Office.

11/30/2023 Tina Marie Bak (55) of Brooksville Florida. Booked into the Page County Jail for operation without owners consent and possession of prescription drug.

12/02/2023 Jeffrey Richard Pape (61) of Emerson Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of controlled substance.

12/03/2023 Donte Dangelo Fuller (41) of Glen Carbon Illinois. Booked into the Page County Jail for disorderly conduct. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.

12/03/2023 Jillian Marie Metzger (42) of Braddyville Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for reckless use of a firearm. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office

12/05/2023 Mark Duane Harvey (64) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.

12/06/2023 Dawson Allan Squires (25) of Red Oak Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for contempt of court. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office. Squires was arrested from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

12/09/2023 Clinton Keith Glasgo (47) of Essex Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance.

12/09/2023 Nicole Marie Nicholas (38) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance and introduction of a controlled substance into a controlled facility.

12/13/2023 Juanesha Shanee Bivens (31) of Porterville California. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.

12/14/2023 Shane Matthew Michener (34) of Norfolk Nebraska. Booked into the Page County Jail for interference with official acts, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, criminal mischief and attempted burglary.

12/15/2023 Aaron Craig Whitehill (26) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for violation of probation.

12/15/2023 Gelena Ann Gladman (40) of College Springs Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.

12/16/2023 Eric Delyle Smith (49) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for prohibited acts, possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and felon in possession of a firearm.