Online Pet Adoption Scams

Fraudsters are going after future pet owners by placing a false ad for pets online then scamming them into more money after they are emotionally invested in the cuddly ball of fuzz.

Online pet adoption scams. The best way to avoid being scammed by those who are selling pets online is to educate yourself on the warning signs of a typical online pet scam. As more consumers turn to the internet to find new pets more scams are popping up online. In a typical pet adoption scam the scammer will create a fake website related to a particular breed of dog or cat using words to tug on your heartstrings such as puppy or kitten the adoption service will be advertised on classifieds websites social media phishing emails or by other means to lure in more potential victims. A scammer on craig s list facebook or e bay is selling a purebred puppy or kitten often for free or at a deeply discounted price for the breed.

Expensive animals like bulldogs or toy breeds are offered at very low prices. Experts say a shocking 80 of sponsored advertisements about pets may be fake. With online scams on the rise please be aware of the many different types of pet scams. Bbb scamtracker has 907.

Here s how the scam works. Do consider adopting from a local shelter or rescue group instead of buying a pet online. You see a puppy or kitten for sale on the internet and. In a typical pet adoption scam a criminal will create a fake website with a domain name related to a particular breed of dog or cat potentially combined with words like puppy or kitten the service will be advertised on classifieds websites social media via phishing emails or by other means to drive traffic.

You can look up adoptable animals near you at petfinder and the shelter pet project. Bbb says overall pet scams make up 24 of reported online scams with an average dollar amount lost at 700. Scammers have been around since the dawn of time taking advantage of trusting individuals to get what they want. Here s how the scam often works.

Animals are offered up for adoption at no cost all you have to do is pay for the shipping. An unusually high proportion of victims of online pet scams are in their late teens or 20s according to the bbb. The staff at embrace has even been pulled into a pet adoption scam. There are online pet adoption scams that can be dangerous.