Have you spotted an adorable Ragdoll kitten or Bulldog online at an unbelievably low price or even listed for free? If someone is asking you to pay delivery or adoption fees with a gift card, don’t do it! This is most likely a scam. Sadly, we see that pet delivery and adoption fraud have been on the rise. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), reports of pet scams surged in 2020, quadrupling compared to previous years, as more people turned to online platforms to adopt pets during lockdowns and scammers saw a new opportunity. Scammers prey on this emotional desire to bring a new furry friend into the family, often offering popular breeds at prices that seem too good to be true. Allow us to share a bit of our expertise on recognizing these scams, learn how to protect yourself from falling victim to them. Ensure your next pet adoption or purchase is safe and secure.
How Pet Delivery Scams Work
Scammers will often set up convincing websites or social media profiles, offering purebred pets at suspiciously low prices. They’ll ask for upfront payments for pet delivery agency services. Scammers might go so far as to supply fake tracking numbers via Airpets International and travel dates to keep their victims engaged. They often withhold important details about the pet or postpone the shipment entirely until specific payments are received. Unfortunately, once the money or gift card is sent, the pet never arrives—because it never existed in the first place. These scams can be really sneaky, playing on your emotions with cute photos and heartwarming stories.
Common places where these scams show up include platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, social media or local newspapers. Rarely, if ever are any legitimate breeders or pets found on these platforms. Even if, by chance, the animals are real, they are most likely a result of poor breeding or not what the photo depicts.
Pet Adoption Scams: A Good Deed Gone Bad
In adoption scams, fraudsters take on the guise of animal shelters or rescue organizations, appealing to your kindness by claiming to have pets in urgent need of homes. They might request donations, adoption fees, or even insurance payments for animals that don’t exist. Often, they’ll use emotional stories about the pet’s condition to manipulate you further, asking you to cover veterinary costs such as vaccinations, deworming, or spaying/neutering, typically through gift cards or other untraceable payment methods.
To protect yourself, it’s crucial to thoroughly research any shelter or adoption agency before sending money. Look for online reviews, check their registration status, and verify their reputation through trusted platforms. Authentic shelters will always provide transparent information and never ask for payments via gift cards or other prepaid options. Stay cautious of organizations that are reluctant to offer details or photos of the animals and always insist on direct communication and documentation before proceeding.
How to Spot Pet Fraud
Here are a few signs to watch out for:
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Too-good-to-be-true prices on rare or expensive breeds.
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Emotional stories that make you feel like you need to act quickly.
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Requests to pay using gift cards, cash app, or wiring money via Western Union, MoneyGram. These payment methods offer no way to get your money back if you are the victim of fraud.
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The seller can’t provide proper details or a verifiable address.
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Generic or stock photos of pets, which you can often find through a reverse image search like Google Lens.
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The seller asserts that you won't be able to meet the puppy in person before adoption.
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The breeder’s website lacks details about the sire or dam of the litter, and/or the breeder cannot provide evidence of health records or AKC certification.
Source: https://www.snbonline.com/about/news/puppy-and-pet-scams
Tips to Protect Yourself From Online Puppy or Kitten Scams
Here’s how you can stay safe:
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Research on the seller/shelter: Check their credentials and look for reviews.
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Verify websites or social media pages: Be cautious of recently created profiles.
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Avoid eGift Cards as payment for pets: We strongly recommend never using gift cards or prepaid cards to pay for pets or any kind of service. Always use secure payment methods.
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Trust your instincts: If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is!
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Don’t pay upfront without seeing the pet in person.
Check an Official Pet Scammer List
In case of doubt, refer to the pet scammer list from the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA). This valuable resource allows you to search for known animal scammers by entering a breeder’s name, a website, or even the name of a shipping service. If fraud cases have been reported, the website will inform you, helping you avoid potential scams before it’s too late. The database is regularly updated with the latest reports, making it a reliable tool for identifying fraudulent breeders or transport services.
dundle’s Commitment to Keeping You Safe
At dundle, we’re dedicated to helping you avoid falling victim to pet scams. Here is what we see: in 2024, 35% of the overall fraud cases reported by our customers in France were linked to pet scams, with Poland (17%) and Spain (16%) following closely behind. Most scammers asked for payment via Neosurf Gift Cards (85%), along with other prepaid options like paysafecard and Steam cards. These methods are popular with scammers because they’re anonymous and difficult to trace.
How dundle Fights Back Against Pet Scams
Our dundle Risk Department actively monitors all suspicious activity, and we’ve put in place blocks and rules to prevent fraud in certain regions, especially when combined with specific products based on the reported cases and data we see. Our entire company is committed to keeping customers informed and safe. That’s why we write these articles to hopefully warn users before it’s too late. To further strengthen our fraud prevention efforts, dundle has recently become a member of the Merchant Risk Council (MRC), a global non-profit association focused on payments and fraud prevention for eCommerce companies.
How to Report Pet Scam
If you suspect you’ve fallen victim to a pet scam, don’t panic and don’t feel ashamed. Act quickly by reporting the incident to:
1. Your payment provider: While gift cards and prepaid methods are hard to trace, reporting them immediately may improve your chances of blocking the transaction.
2. The platform where the scam occurred: Whether it’s a website, social media, or a classified ads site, let them know about the scam so they can take action.
3. Local authorities or the police: File a complaint with consumer protection agencies or fraud reporting centers in your area.
4. The website where you bought the gift card: While it’s not their responsibility if you were scammed and even if you won’t get a refund, it’s still important to inform the website. This helps them monitor fraud cases accurately and take steps to protect their customers.
Be Aware of Common Scams to Stay Safe Online
By staying informed on types of delivery fraud, you can avoid falling into the trap of pet scams and others like it. At dundle, we’re here to help, ensuring you can not only adopt or purchase pets online, but live your digital life safely. Always take steps to verify breeders and shelters before committing, and remember—your peace of mind (and your future pet!) is worth the extra care.
