How many animal lovers do we have out there? Adopting from the Humane Society, local vet or pet store, or using a trusted breeder are all wonderful ways to obtain a healthy happy pet. Sometimes, we take to social media or the internet for pet purchases. Not everyone who sells animals online are reputable. Some will sell you a sick or dying animal, while others take your money and the pet never existed. Let’s take a look at the unscrupulous world of pet scams.
We all know the internet is the place to go for purchasing anything and everything, however, you should not go there to buy a pet. Pet selling scams involve a fraudster posting fake ads online promising free or cheap animals. They ask for money for shipping, deposits, shots, or other fees and the buyer gladly pays. The buyer is left waiting on a pet that never arrives and is ultimately out whatever money they sent the scammer. Other times, the pet actually does make it to the buyer only for them to find out it is unhealthy or from an overseas puppy mill and have been mistreated. Internet or Social Media ads/posts will have stolen photos or generic images of popular pet breeds and try to lure potential buyers with incredibly low prices or sometimes even free animals. Of course, there is the little matter of shipping fees or a pet deposit they charge up front as well. A scammer knows how to create that sense of urgency in someone by pressuring buyers to act quickly on pets that are either almost gone or only on sale for a limited time. A scammer may provide fake vet records or registration certificates and documentation to make the sale seem as legit as possible. They may request payment through Western Union or MoneyGram, ask for custom fees once initial payment is received, and/or not allow a buyer to meet the pet in person before purchase. Scammers sometimes pose as dealers of exotic pets; think monkeys, big cats, snakes, certain birds, or even kangaroos. Buyers will pay outrageous prices to have exotics imported from other countries only to discover they were never real in the first place.
Signs of a Potential Scam:
- The price seems too good to be true and/or the pictures seem generic.
- The seller is located too far away and/or insists on only shipping the pet.
- The seller asks for payment through unusual methods and /or provides fake documentation.
- The seller is pushy or demanding.
How to Protect Yourself
- Do your research before agreeing or making any payments.
- If possible, meet the pet in person first and ask the seller for references from other buyers.
- Don’t allow yourself to be rushed into anything.
- Use a secure payment method.
- Beware of free or cheap offers and never send money until you have the pet in your possession.
Don’t let yourself be fooled by a scammer. Knowing the red flags and what not to do is very important and can keep you and your family safe from potential criminals.
