Arkansas man says puppy scam costs $16K

"She was pretty much my best friend," Tomlin said.

"Went with me everywhere, did everything I did. So it took me four years to get to the point where I wanted another dog," he said Friday. 

Tomlin said he started looking on TikTok and found a breeder called Prestige Retrievers in Shreveport. According to Tomlin, the breeder had a chocolate Lab puppy named Maggie available for $600.

He said he paid a deposit, but the breeder could not meet him on Father's Day. The breeder offered to ship the puppy instead.

That's when, Tomlin said, the fees started piling up.

"Every time I turned around, they were needing more money for this or more money for that," he said. "And their messages were always followed up with, 'If you pay this, the puppy is on its way.'"

Tomlin said he paid $1,000 for a crate rental, another $1,000 for paperwork, and additional fees that continued to add up. Each time, he said, he was promised Maggie was on the way and was even provided a tracking app showing the puppy en route.

But Maggie never arrived.

The excuses went on for two weeks. By then, Tomlin said he had spent more than $16,000 and still had no puppy.

KTBS 3 called the breeder but didn't get an answer.

A visit to the breeder's listed address on Hartman Street in Shreveport raised more questions. The house was vacant, and a man moving into the home said he had never heard of Maggie or Prestige Retrievers.

"Money is secondary. We're upset about that, but we're more concerned for the safety of the puppy and the welfare of the puppy," Tomlin said.

KTBS 3 also looked into the shipping company, Laser Ship On Track. Its listed phone number does not work, and online reviews are mixed. Some people reported the company to the Better Business Bureau as a scam, while others said it is legitimate but takes a long time to ship items.

When asked how he would feel if he never gets to meet Maggie, Tomlin said he would be heartbroken.

"I would be devastated," he said. "You know, like I said, it's been four years. Our main concern is the safety of the puppy. I want to bring Maggie home."

Tomlin said all communication was through WhatsApp and email, and he made payments using Cash App, Zelle, Apple Pay and an overseas bank account.

Consumer experts say if someone you've never met insists on those payment methods, it's a major red flag and could indicate a scam.

Tomlin plans to file a complaint with the Shreveport Police Department and Louisiana Attorney General's Office.