Police are once again warning area residents frustrated from stay-at-home orders and lockdowns due to COVID-19 to be extra vigilant if they are shopping for pets online.

Officers said Internet fraudsters are skilled at their craft and many unsuspecting people are becoming victims of robberies, scams, frauds or thefts.

The warning comes as three puppies were reunited after being stolen while advertised for sale online by scammers.

Peel Regional Police said the three pups were the victims of an online scam. Officers executed a search warrant at a residence in St. Catharines and located the puppies safe and sound after a search.

Officers said the pups were fraudulently obtained in Mississauga between March 8 and 9.

“A woman went to two different addresses in Mississauga responding to ads posted online for puppies for sale,” Peel police said in a news release. “The victims contacted police when they went to cash the cheques and discovered they had been cancelled.”

Police said in all three cases, “the woman provided personal cheques to purchase the puppies in excess of $3,000 each.”

“Users of online classifieds websites, whether buying or selling, can be vulnerable to crimes,” police said. “The exchange of goods for payment has varying risk factors, whether via mail or face to face.”

Dejanay General, 22, of Hamilton, Khalid Ali, 20 and Jacob Bell, 23, of St. Catharines, have been charged with theft and robbery offences. They appeared in court on March 27.

Police said there are many types of scams fraudsters will use to deceive people into giving them money, personal information, or property. Understanding these various types of scams is an effective fraud prevention tool.

You can check out their website at peelpolice.ca for tips on how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud.