Then came the signs that something just wasn’t right. The “owner” first insisted upon a deposit, then wouldn’t communicate on the phone and was hesitant to meet in person. Hughes later learned the puppy, which she had hoped to make part of her family, wasn’t real. That was Hughes’ first introduction to the world of puppy scams, a crime that is claiming more victims as a growing number of families seek animals amid the pandemic. In fact, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro recently issued a warning about scams increasing in frequency, including “pet sale scammers” who are posing as online retailers, charging hundreds or thousands of dollars for a puppy or kitten, plus airline and transport fees.