Round Lake Man Faces Charges In Online Puppy Scam

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A 41-year-old Round Lake man faces felony charges for allegations he ran an online puppy scam, posting advertisements and collecting money from buyers who never received their pups.

Mondum Hycenth has been charged with theft, wire fraud, seven counts of burglary and seven counts of forgery for accusations he set up an online business that claimed to have puppies for sale, according to a news release from the Illinois Attorney General's Office. Hycenth has pleaded guilty to all the charges and is next expected in court on March 12.

Officials say families hoping to add a puppy to their family fell victim to the scam. They sent money through a money transfer service and Hycenth collected the money from a transfer services in retail stores, according to the news release.

He used a false ID and signature when signing for the payments, authorities said.

“Puppy scams aren’t much different than romance scams, in that they manipulate an individual’s emotions and desire for companionship in an effort to steal from them,” said Sean Fitzgerald, Chicago special agent for Homeland Security Investigations. “As with any business transaction, I urge consumers to research the seller, request recommendations and to refrain from purchasing a pet without seeing it in person. Conducting this type of research, prior to sending a payment, can help save consumers from experiencing a significant financial loss.”