A FAMILY who travelled almost 200 miles to collect a new puppy were left empty-handed due to a scam.

Sussex Police are urging people to be aware of puppy scammers after a family paid £500 for a golden retriever puppy and travelled from Shropshire to East Grinstead to pick it up, only to find they had been conned.

Neighbourhood Police Inspector in Mid Sussex, Darren Taylor said: "This is not the first time we've seen scams like this.

"Unfortunately, with all the different scams going on during lockdown, the puppy ones have been coming to the forefront.

"The scammers say they are selling puppies and set up a false address, and the homeowner has no idea their address has been plucked out of thin air.

"They build up a rapport with people and advertise the puppies.

"This particular family paid a £500 deposit and travelled down from Shropshire with their children to an address in East Grinstead and when they got there the homeowner was completely oblivious of course.

"You can never be 100 per cent perfect but I can't emphasise enough how important it is to see the dog before making any payment, and to check on the conditions too.

"Not only did this family lose a lot of money but the children are devastated, and the scammer walks away £500 better off. It is very sad."