A man in Harbin, China, claims he was scammed after buying what was advertised as a champagne-coloured puppy, only to discover the dog’s fur turned completely white after its first bath.
According to the buyer, he paid RMB1,400 (approximately RM820) for the puppy after seeing photos and videos posted by the seller on WeChat. The seller also instructed him not to bathe the dog for the first seven days after delivery.
Although he noticed the puppy’s fur appeared slightly lighter than in the advertisement, he said he trusted the seller and followed the instructions.
After waiting a week, he finally bathed the puppy and was shocked to see the fur colour wash away, revealing a completely white coat.
The man said he repeatedly tried contacting the seller through WeChat and phone calls, but received no response. The phone number later became unreachable.
He has since lodged a complaint with the local market supervision authorities.
Industry insiders believe the puppy’s fur had been dyed using inexpensive chemical colouring to make it resemble a more valuable breed. They said the instruction not to bathe the puppy for seven days was likely intended to delay buyers from discovering the deception.
Consumers are advised to purchase pets only through reputable platforms and avoid making direct payments through social media to reduce the risk of similar scams.
