LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reissuing a consumer alert on puppy scams after her department launched an investigation into an online "puppy scam" that is making rounds on social media.
According to investigative subpoenas released by the attorney general's office, an unknown individual who goes by the alias "Abby Stratiskii" is accused of falsifying vaccination records for an animal sold through the pet adoption site RescueMe.org.
In May of this year, Stratiskii posted her dog, named "Toby," on RescueMe.org, placing him up for adoption after facing an alleged eviction notice due to his barking. The subpoenas indicate that two people responded to the listing wishing to adopt Toby and paid Stratiskii a $250 adoption fee, the documents state.
Two people in Kalamazoo claimed they found Toby, a corgi mix, available for rehoming on RescueMe.org. The individuals scheduled to meet with Stratiskii to see if they were fit to take ownership of the dog. According to the individuals, later deciding they wanted to adopt the dog, they were given Toby's vet paperwork and in return gave Stratiskii a $250 check.
Stratiskii is described in the documents as a petite, white female with brown hair and appeared to be in her 30s and drove a Honda Fit.
The documents show that the adopters received veterinary and vaccination records for the dog that were allegedly falsified. Companion Animal Clinic, a veterinarian based out of Plainwell, Mich., caught several discrepancies in the records it received. The records, which were supposedly produced by the company Companion, included a falsified letterhead and a fake doctor, penned "Dr. Christine Lee."
The attorney general's department said they have identified at least two other similar animal adoption postings on RescueMe.org linked to Stratiskii.
Attempts to uncover Stratiskii's true identity have been initiated. RescueMe.org, Facebook and a company that issued a rabies tag for the dog called PETIQ have all received a Civil Investigative Subpoena.
Nessel released a statement, telling consumers to stay vigilant when attempting to adopt and animal through social media.
“Animal lovers want to provide homes for pets in need. Unfortunately, bad actors sometimes take advantage of this generosity," Nessel said. "When looking to adopt online, consumers need to be vigilant against those looking to deceive them."
The full documents can be viewed here:
