A MOTHER has spoken about her disgust and anger after falling for a free puppy scam circulating on social media. 

Kelly Summer said her mental health was damaged after losing money when she tried to purchase two puppies advertised on Facebook.

She hoped getting a dog would aid her bipolar and be a distraction from other things going on in her life. 

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It was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy that had initially caught her eye, and she paid £150 to the alleged owner for the dog, who was going to drop it off at her house in Droitwich.

However, the breeder and puppy have yet to arrive.

Miss Summer then tried purchasing a Golden Retriever on the same page for £165 - but this breeder kept asking her for more money to cover microchipping and fuel costs for her to deliver the puppy.

She spent £265 towards the Golden Retriever but never received the puppy.

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She said: "It is disgusting.

"I do not know how they can scam people out of money and sleep at night.

"I have been in tears every day - my other half has been dealing with the backlash, my dad and his friends."

Many pages have cropped up on Facebook to advertise "free puppies" to a good home.

Worcester News has contacted Facebook for a comment, and they said they are looking into the issue.

Miss Summer added: "It is ridiculous.

"The posts are still up there, and they are scamming people to get money for nothing." 

Adam Clowes, Dogs Trust Operations Director, has advised anyone purchasing a puppy.

He said: “When buying a puppy, do your research first, and if something doesn't feel right, don't do it.

"If an advert seems too good to be true, it probably is.

“Never pay for a puppy upfront, and always go to see the mother with the puppies, visiting multiple times before you commit.

"Ask to see vaccination records; any legitimate breeder would be happy for you to come and see the dog with its mother and give that kind of information. And no legitimate breeder would ever ask you to pay for an animal’s vet bills before you buy it.

“People often get overly invested in a picture of a puppy and scammers are out there to take advantage of that. It's incredibly sad.”