Losses from ‘heart-wrenching’ puppy scams increase 1,000% over last two years

French bulldogs, cavoodles, golden retrievers and Maine Coon cats among the breeds police say are most commonly used in fake pet ads and scams. Photograph: Michael Camilleri/Getty Images/500px

For Lea Gemini, it was love at first sight when she saw the French bulldog advertised in the picture, “she just had the most gorgeous eyes, as soon as we saw that face, that was it.”

But despite paying $10,500, all she got was heartbreak.