A FLINTSHIRE woman has been scammed out of giving away her puppy.

North Wales Police is investigating the matter after a woman, wishing to remain anonymous, was approached by people wanting to buy the puppy - worth thousands of pounds.

The perpetrators initially approached her on Facebook Market Place to buy some jewellery she was selling. When they attended her address, in the Mold area, to pick up the jewellery, they enquired about also buying one of her puppies.

After a price was agreed and payment appearing to have been made, they left with both the puppy and jewellery.

However, it soon became clear that, despite Facebook Market Place saying it had, payment had in fact not been made.

The woman contacted the perpetrators, who initially said the payment had been frozen but should go through in the next day or two. After further false promises about when the money, over £3,300 pounds, would enter her account, and then claims that the payment had been made, the woman contacted the police.

The victim says she is absolutely devastated for the puppy's sake, as much as the fraud itself, and wants to raise awareness of the dangers scammers.

"I just feel awful as I wanted her to go to a loving home," she said.

"But these people won't care for her. I just hope she's at least sold on to nice people and a loving home."

A North Wales Police spokesperson said: "We received a call on Saturday, July 31, to reports of an incident of fraud in Mold after it is alleged a puppy was sold, but no payment had been received.

"We are currently investigating the matter and ask anyone with information to contact officers on 101, or via the live web chat, quoting reference Z111163."