I spent hundreds of dollars on an adorable Boxer puppy, I was crushed when I discovered the truth

A WOMAN has spent hundreds of dollars on an adorable Boxer puppy only to discover an inconceivable truth.

Joan Reddout from Vassar, Michigan, purchased the 12-week-old dog from an online "breeder" in October last year.

The 72-year-old was a former home health aide who stopped working after a car accident and was in search of a companion.

She looked in Michigan but the local breeders were selling show-quality purebred boxers for $1,800 to $3,000.

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The woman admitted her dream to own a new dog was looking bleak.

She said: "I've been looking for a boxer puppy and I've been going online.

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"But I can't afford that.

"I just wanted a boxer puppy."

Then in early October, she spotted someone selling boxers out of Billings, Montana.

She was immediately drawn to the advertisement of brown-and-white boxer puppy named "Gemma."

The dog appeared super lovable and very intelligent in the picture.

The "breeder" claimed his puppies were American Kennel Club registered and were socialized and raised with children.

Even better, they did not have four-digit price tags.

She said: "I had talked to people who had gotten puppies from out of state and they did fine."

When Joan inquired, the seller claimed to have some puppies being shipped out later that day.

If she could get him the money right away, "Gemma" would be hers that very night.

According to Detroit Free Press, who obtained the email exchange between the two parties the dog was described as attentive and lovable.

The email further stated the puppy was $600 and the shipping fee would be $155 - a total of $755.

Joan admitted she wanted to see the puppy in person, however, the tyranny of distance did not allow for it.

Regardless, the online seller was pushing to close the deal quickly.

She said: "He didn't want me to send a check.

"He had to have the money right away so he could pay for the puppy's flight and everything."

The breeder asked her to send the sum via the Zelle app, however, Joan did not have access to it.

So the seller suggested she buy Visa gift cards, in which she did, buying two - one with $500 on it and the other with $255.

She was then asked to provide photo evidence of the cards and the receipt.

She said: "He didn't want me to put his name on the back.

"His name was Frank Thomas, at least that's what he told me his name was."

The final nail in the coffin was when someone else involved in the scam asked for extra cash to cover a weather-insured carrier for the dog.

She was allegedly advised to pay $799 upfront and later get $700 refunded once the crate was returned.

"I said, 'I'm sorry, I don't have that kind of money.'

"I said: 'I can come up with the $99 but the other $700 I can't come up with.'

"It took me a year to save up for the puppy to begin with."

Later, the seller asked her to just pay an extra $500 - which Joan also could not afford.

She said: "He said, 'Can't you put it on your credit card..."

"I said, 'No, I'm on a limited income.'"

The dog never arrived and she has now lost $755 due to the Visa gift card scam.

The U.S. Sun has reached Joan for comment.