Ostertag Kennels

Victim Location 14305

Total money lost $490

Type of a scam Online Purchase

I am a disabled veteran in search of a young dog to train as a service animal (my former dog passed away from cancer last year). I researched online for a Doberman Pinscher puppy which I found at an AKC affiliated kennel in Powhatan VA at an excellent price. The name and location of the kennel is legitimate; I even contacted people who had favorable reviews of their own purchases from this breeder. Feeling confident that I was in fact purchasing from a reputable individual, I sent money for the deposit on the puppy. The red flags started when the "owner" told me that they would be shipping my puppy via airlines instead of the previous arrangement for me to drive from NY to VA and pick him up. A friend of mine did further research and obtained an email address different from the one I had been communicating with. I reached out only to discover that the REAL kennel owner was aware of the scammer using their information and this has been an ongoing issue that Powhatan VA local law enforcement and the FBI have been looking into. I’m definitely miffed about losing money, but more annoyed that I still don’t have a dog. I can only hope that this horrible experience will prevent someone else from being roped in and that my situation can assist the real breeder in stopping this crap once and for all.

Just to be clear it sounds like Ostertag Kennel is a legitimate kennel but someone else is using their information to scam people.

Is that correct or did the real owners of Ostertag Kennel take your money?