A Kijiji seller sent cute photos of a puppy and gave a bogus address to a woman in Ontario looking to buy a dog on the classified website.

Puppy mills and unethical breeders may continue to exist even if Kijiji Canada stops the commercial sale of animals on its site, but at least Kijiji would not give them an easy platform to thrive on. Secondhand marketplaces such as Used.ca, OfferUp, BuySellTrade.ca, letgoCanada and Craigslist do not allow profiting from the commercial sale of animals on their sites. As the leader of classifieds sites in Canada, Kijiji should set an example and exclude breeders from selling animals on its website, sending the message that animals should not be sold as just another item via classified ads.

Follow these tips given by The Hamilton Spectator:

Tips to detect a puppy scammer — from the victim's view:

• Ask in advance for the breeder's veterinarian information

• Photos of the puppy are not enough, as they can be fake. Ask the seller to send a customized photo — for example, a picture of the dog with the breeder holding up two fingers

• Never give a deposit before seeing the dog in person

• Scammers will try and pressure you, saying others are interested and the deposit will secure it

• Never ignore your gut. If it feels wrong, it probably is

Ontario Provincial Police tips to detect puppy scammers:

• Know who you are dealing with — independently confirm your seller's name, street, address, and telephone number

• Resist pressure to "act now." If an offer sounds too good to be true, it usually is

• If the buyer wants to use a service you have not heard of, be sure to check it out to be sure it is reliable — check its website, call its customer service hotline and read its terms of agreement and privacy policy. If you do not feel comfortable with the service, do not use it

• Never wire money or use a bank-to-bank transfer in a transaction

• Always try to deal locally when buying or selling anything of high value

• Do not sell to or buy any animal from someone who is unable or unwilling to meet you face-to-face

• Never buy any animal that you have not seen in real life and had inspected by a professional