NEW SCOTLAND — A Voorheesville resident, Suzanne Picard, says she was nearly scammed by an ad that was printed in The Enterprise last week.

The Enterprise runs free classified ads for lost or found pets or for pets that are free for adoption.

The ad that ran last week said free golden retriever puppies — one male and one female — would be “perfect for families with children and other pets.” It also said, “I will not re-home to just anyone.”

Suzanne Picard’s family had their beloved 10-year-old golden retriever, Abby, die in April so Picard was excited to see the ad. “We adored our dog and loved her so much,” she said.

She emailed the address in the ad and was asked a series of questions, such as if she had a fenced-in yard or knowledge of golden retrievers.

“She said, ‘I want to be sure my babies are going to a good home,’” Picard told The Enterprise on Monday. The woman she dealt with said they were missionaries and couldn’t take the puppies with them on their travels.

Picard was to pay $100 through PayPal for airfare for a puppy, and a courier was to deliver the dog to her Voorheesville home.

“Stupid me; I gave her my home address,” said Picard.

In the email exchanges that the Picards had with the scammer, which Picard shared with The Enterprise, Picard even gave the scammer information for the veterinary clinic that had cared for Abby.

“I can assure you your babies will be spoiled and cuddled a lot,” she wrote. “We have a fenced in backyard with no garden in it, just grass to play in and also a kiddie sized pool that our Abby really enjoyed. If you would feel better, I do know how you feel — I would be the same way. You can contact our Vet and they can tell you what you need to know.”

In a phone call, Picard’s husband asked what church or congregation she represented for her missionary work and got a vague answer: “We help the unfortunate.” The woman had a strong accent and Picard asked what nationality she was and she said Mexican but didn’t sound Mexican, Picard said.

The scammer, in the email exchange, described herself as a 46-year-old woman and sent a picture of a man and a woman with two little girls in matching flowered dresses sitting on their laps, presumably meant to look like a family portrait, along with pictures of golden retriever puppies.

The scammer wrote, “Meanwhile is against my religion as a christian & my Work as a missionary member to do what is not or right. I am not after money for our babies …. Their safety is my primary concern where they will be taking very good care of and made member of the family.”

Also the area code for her phone number was in Chicago yet she said she was in Canada.

The Picard family members put their heads together and decided, “Something was not right,” said Picard.

They did not send the money.

“I was pretty heartbroken,” said Picard.

The Enterprise has withdrawn the ad and has alerted the Altamont Police who are looking into it.

Altamont Officer Robert Traina said this is the first he has heard of this particular scam, using a dog as bait for airfare money.

“Nowadays, people are trying anything and everything to scam people for money … Buyer beware. You have to be cautious when something is for free,” Traina said, whether on social media or a print ad.

Traina also advised that people looking to adopt pets go through a humane society or other reputable organization.

By Monday afternoon, Traina reported that the scam was not just local or even confined to New York state; he had found evidence of it, with the same contact information as listed in the Enterprise ad, online in Chicago and elsewhere.

He also shared with The Enterprise a list of “red flags” for puppy scams from the American Kennel Club, including being aware of copycat or stock photos of a dog; “sketchy payment” as through wiring money or gift cards; not communicating in person or through a video phone call; or if the “price is too good to be true.”

The American Kennel Club referenced a Better Business Bureau report on nearly 10,000 scams during the last three years related to “businesses” selling dogs or puppies and said that the Federal Trade Commission estimates only 10 percent of victims report these crimes so the number could be much higher.

Sixty percent of the reports indicated the consumer never received the pets they purchased while others received pets that had health or genetic problems and did not get documentation for their pet.

“Scammers love to try to take advantage of people when they are in high emotion situations,” the ACK quoted Steve Bernas, president of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois, as saying. “The excitement of buying a new pet can cloud good judgment, and victims can be hurt financially and emotionally when they realize they have lost their money, and hopes for a new pet.”